Kawasaki Vulcan 800 (VN800) — Example photo: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

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Kawasaki · Shim-adjusted overhead-cam four-stroke, wet sump, gearbox shares engine oil, chain drive

Vulcan 800 (VN800)

Library entry covers 1995-2006

19 factory 37 guideline

Published source

2001 Kawasaki Vulcan VN800A Service Manual, Periodic Maintenance Chart 1-9

Factory workshop manual. Covers 2001 VN800A service manual.

Open the source

56 items for a 1995 model, grouped by interval the way a factory chart is laid out.

How this bike is built (what the schedule is based on)

Engine cycle: Four-stroke
Engine lubrication: Wet sump (oil in crankcase)
Oil filtration: Replaceable cartridge or spin-on filter
Valve gear: Overhead cam, shim adjusted (incl. desmo)
Ignition: Electronic (CDI / transistor / ECU)
Charging: Alternator / stator with rectifier
Battery: Wet cell (flooded lead-acid, needs topping up)
Fuel system: Single carburetor
Cooling: Liquid cooled
Primary drive: Gear or chain inside engine, shares engine oil
Gearbox oil: Shares engine oil
Clutch control: Hand lever, cable
Final drive: Chain
Front suspension: Telescopic fork
Rear suspension: Swingarm, single shock / cantilever
Front brake: Disc, hydraulic
Rear brake: Disc, hydraulic
Wheels: Cast / alloy, tubeless
Sidecar: No sidecar

Maintenance schedule

1995 Kawasaki Vulcan 800 (VN800)

On the road: every 200 mi

1 item

Check engine oil level

Pre-ride / on the road

Guideline

Each fuel stop on old machines. Dry sump: check the tank hot, engine idling or just stopped, per your manual.

On the road: every 300 mi

3 items

Check lights, horn, brake light switches

Pre-ride / on the road

Guideline
Check tire pressures

Pre-ride / on the road

Guideline
Lubricate drive chain

Pre-ride / on the road

Guideline

Lube warm, ideally at the end of the riding day so it soaks in overnight. Sooner after rain.

On the road: every 497 mi

1 item

Check chain slack and rear wheel alignment

Pre-ride / on the road

Factory

Manual: Drive chain slack - check. Factory: Every 800 km

On the road: every 500 mi

1 item

Check coolant level

Pre-ride / on the road

Guideline

Every 1,000 mi or 1 month

1 item

Check battery electrolyte, top up with distilled water

Ignition and electrics

Guideline

Wet-cell batteries on old machines need regular topping up, more in hot weather.

Every 1,000 mi or 6 months

1 item

Inspect tire tread, sidewalls and date codes

Wheels and tires

Guideline

Every 3,000 mi or 12 months

9 items

Check throttle cable(s) free play and return

Fuel and air

Guideline
Clean fuel tap filter / sediment bowl

Fuel and air

Guideline
Clean drive chain thoroughly (remove and soak, re-lube)

Final drive

Guideline

Non O-ring chains on old machines: remove, clean, soak in hot chain grease or lube, refit with the master link clip closed end leading.
Check steering head bearing adjustment

Front end

Guideline
Inspect fork seals, stanchions and fork boots

Front end

Guideline
Check footrests, pegs, rear brake and gear lever pivots

Rear suspension and frame

Guideline
Grease and check center / side stand and springs

Rear suspension and frame

Guideline
Check brake pads and discs

Brakes

Guideline
Check wheel bearings for play

Wheels and tires

Guideline

Every 3,107 mi or 12 months

1 item

Change engine oil

Engine

Factory

Manual: Engine oil - change. Factory: Initial 800 km; then every column. Columns 800/5000/10000/.../30000 km (km only)

Every 3,107 mi

4 items

Inspect, clean and gap spark plugs

Engine

Factory

Manual: Spark plug - clean. Factory: Every column from 5,000 km
Adjust clutch free play, lubricate cable and lever pivot

Primary and gearbox

Factory

Manual: Clutch - adjust. Factory: Initial 800 km; then every column
Inspect chain and sprockets for wear (measure stretch)

Final drive

Factory

Manual: Drive chain wear - check. Factory: Every column from 5,000 km
Check spoke tension and wheel true

Wheels and tires

Factory

Manual: Spoke tightness and rim runout - check. Factory: Initial 800 km; then every column

Every 6,000 mi or 12 months

7 items

Inspect coolant hoses and clamps

Engine

Guideline
Clean carburetor float bowl(s), check float level and jets

Fuel and air

Guideline

Ethanol fuel varnishes old carbs quickly in storage.
Check charging voltage and regulator / cut-out

Ignition and electrics

Guideline
Check swingarm bushes for play

Rear suspension and frame

Guideline
Inspect rear shocks for leaks and damping

Rear suspension and frame

Guideline
Lubricate control cables and lever pivots

Controls and cables

Guideline
Lubricate speedometer / tachometer cables, check drive

Controls and cables

Guideline

A dry speedo cable whips the needle and eventually kills the instrument.

Every 6,214 mi

5 items

Check and adjust valve clearances

Engine

Factory

Manual: Valve clearance check. Factory: Marked at 10,000, 20,000, 30,000 km
Clean oil strainers / mesh screens

Engine

Factory

Manual: Oil screen - clean. Factory: Marked at 800, 10,000, 20,000, 30,000 km
Replace oil filter

Engine

Factory

Manual: Oil filter - replace. Factory: Marked at 800, 10,000, 20,000, 30,000 km
Clean / inspect air filter

Fuel and air

Factory

Manual: Air cleaner element - clean. Factory: Marked at 800, 10,000, 20,000, 30,000 km
Grease swingarm pivot

Rear suspension and frame

Factory

Manual: Swingarm pivot, uni-trak linkage - lubricate. Factory: Marked at 10,000, 20,000, 30,000 km

Every 8,000 mi or 2 years

2 items

Check valve clearances (shim adjusted)

Engine

Guideline
Replace spark plugs

Engine

Guideline

Every 10,000 mi or 2 years

1 item

Compression test (or leak-down)

Engine

Guideline

Every 12,000 mi or 2 years

2 items

Replace air filter element

Fuel and air

Guideline
Clean and grease rear suspension linkage

Rear suspension and frame

Guideline

Every 12,427 mi or 2 years

2 items

Repack / replace steering head bearings

Front end

Factory

Manual: Steering stem bearing - lubricate. Factory: 2 years; marked at 20,000 km
Replace brake fluid

Brakes

Factory

Manual: Brake fluid - change. Factory: 2 years; marked at 20,000 km

Every 18,000 mi

1 item

Replace chain and sprockets (wear based)

Final drive

Guideline

Every 18,641 mi or 2 years

1 item

Replace coolant

Engine

Factory

Manual: Coolant - change. Factory: 2 years; marked at 30,000 km

Every 18,641 mi

1 item

Change fork oil

Front end

Factory

Manual: Front fork oil - change. Factory: Marked at 30,000 km

Every 20,000 mi or 4 years

1 item

Repack / replace wheel bearings

Wheels and tires

Guideline

Cup-and-cone and taper roller hubs need periodic repacking and adjustment.

Every 25,000 mi or 6 years

1 item

Replace swingarm bushes / bearings

Rear suspension and frame

Guideline

Every 30,000 mi or 6 years

1 item

Rebuild forks: seals, bushes, springs

Front end

Guideline

Every 6 months

1 item

Clean battery terminals, check charge and strap

Ignition and electrics

Guideline

Every 12 months

1 item

Check speedometer / odometer against a known distance

Controls and cables

Guideline

Old speedos drift with tire size and drive wear. Use phone GPS over a measured 10 miles / km.

Every 2 years

4 items

Inspect wiring, bullet connectors and ground points

Ignition and electrics

Guideline
Inspect frame, welds and lugs for cracks

Rear suspension and frame

Guideline
Lubricate brake cam spindles, check linings and drums

Brakes

Factory

Manual: Brake camshaft - lubricate. Factory: 2 years (rear drum)
Rebuild calipers and master cylinders (seals)

Brakes

Factory

Manual: Brake master cylinder cup / caliper piston seals - replace. Factory: 2 years

Every 4 years

2 items

Replace fuel lines

Fuel and air

Factory

Manual: Fuel hose - replace. Factory: 4 years
Inspect brake hoses; replace old rubber

Brakes

Factory

Manual: Brake hose - replace. Factory: 4 years

Every 6 years

1 item

Replace tires on age (regardless of tread)

Wheels and tires

Guideline

Guideline lines: Intervals here are general guidelines for the machine's era and layout, compiled for this app. They are not factory manual figures. Check your workshop manual, and edit any interval in the bike's Schedule tab.