Bike Runs, no power to rear wheel.....

So I was on my 77 KZ1000 cruising down the road at a pretty good pace when all the sudden the engine just revs up and powerflow to the rear wheel is gone! I can shift the bike into any gear without touching the clutch with the bike running and it just sits there. I have taken the clutch discs and plates out, measured them and such....... all well on the good side of the service limit in the manual. I haven't taken the clutch basket out yet though. Anybody have any problem like this before?

Have you checked the cable,for PROPER adjustment?

Also,have you adjusted the clutch,at the adjuster(behind the small cover) on the left-side of the engine(sitting on the bike)?

Sandy wrote:

Have you checked the cable,for PROPER adjustment?

Also,have you adjusted the clutch,at the adjuster(behind the small cover) on the left-side of the engine(sitting on the bike)?

Above..... and does clutch "feel" normal? Clutch lever feel ok? Any strange feeling or noises just before you lost it?

All the above, Plus

Without the engine running and with it in gear can you move the bike?
If you can take the side cover off and check for a loose sprocket nut and the sprocket just rolling on the threaded part of the shaft.

Yes, the countershaft sprocket has come off. Been there, done that many a time. It always happens on deceleration like shifting down off a highway ramp, then no gears. Happens from using aftermarket sprockets with no hole for the lockwasher to lock into or not using the lock washer. After having this a few times, I insist on the proper sprocket and use the lockwasher.

Mine came off on the toll road in 5 o clock traffic,, sucked big time, in addition to the lock washer, I also use locktite

mine came off in the middle of my first ride after I got the bike finally fixed. And the worst part is that it came off with a fight threatening to ruin the bike again. Felt like my chain broke. The sprocket came all the way off and flew somewhere. And yes everybody Ron is right, the aftermarket does not come with the right holes for the assortment of lockwashers to lock down the sprocket, unless you modify the washers to work with the smaller holes. After loosing the first sprocket, and only lucky enough to be within a small distance of a friend who just happened to be home on that specific day, that was willing to give me a ride to the dealership that was 3 miles away from his home, 4 from your bike, and the dealer just happens to have that one sproket that you need for 38 bucks, you are gonna want that sprocket whether you like that price or not. Don't forget I had to borrow insufficient tools from the auto store and it was 85 degress already with my hot black jacket!

Yep...been there too.
And it WAS from not using the proper locking washer,or an old one that should have been replaced.
I was lucky though,because the nut and the sprocket stayed inside the clutch cover.
This happened to me 3 times(over a 5 year period),before I figured out what I was doing wrong.:blush:

This happens to everybody! My last one was a few months ago. I had to fashion my own lockwasher as I had an aftermarket sprocket, but this was after-the-incident. :blush:

Nice to hear I'm not the only one.

Mine popped off and went bub by while the sprocket spun on the output shaft. Probably right as i decelerated cresting the hills out side of town.

Sucked figuring out WTF at the bottom of the hill away from life support, no cell coverage at this spot. Had to abandon the bike and hitch a ride home to pick up the truck. Luckily it was still there when I came back and a bro came by to help me load it up.

Needed to machine a few mm off the sprocket to give more threads to keep the stock lock nut on the output shaft. Plus used red lock tight.

Overall a PITA I don't want to go through very often.