welding output shaft

I found the nut and the end of my output shaft of my KZ 1000 shaft to be in the condition as in the pictures... broken off!

I already found out ( I think) the only reason it is there is to prevent the shaft from moving into the gear case...
It's not to hold the cam in place, for it can't possible go anywhere, being pushed towards the gear case by the camfollower and spring..
But it is an old crack and I never had any shifting problems so the shaft stays were it is..

I'm very much thinking about leaving it as is, without the nut. This sounds crazy maybe, but for now I don't see any problem.

Would it be an option to weld the ring that goes under the nut to the axle, keeping the axle in place?
Or would the heat waeken the axle to much??

sorta looks like someone laid an impact to it without removing the peened spot in the nut :S ... you are saying you have been riding/ using it like this? :pinch:

Ideally, the shaft needs to be removed and replaced which means splitting the cases :huh: if you aren't going to do the R&R, I would at least weld the dampener to the output shaft :blink: so it can't go anywhere ..... the out put shaft is junk anyway :dry: the heat from welding on the end should not bother it. :blink:

What you have is the norm and not the exception. I have seen so many like that its not funny. They work just fine like that also, no cause for alarm.
In my opinion its from trying to run a shaft drive like a chain. Shafts were made for touring, not jerking on and off the throttle and doing hole shots after you installed a 4 into 1 header and jet kit trying to see if you can beat your buddies bikes.

Put it back together as is and forget the nut is even missing.

to etbike3135:

I am going to put some 29 smoothbores and a 4 into 1 on it, as well as a biger bore, to 1075...

but I can't see that would make any difference to the shaft going to move anywhere..

reading the manual, the problem could come when tapping the nut to lock it to the shaft, because they warn to be carefull not
to damage the shaft doing this. This is the original Kawasaki manual..

So, with your experience with the problem, weld the ring to the shaft or don't bother?

Dont do anything except leave the nut out.

edit... double post..

That's exactly how my buddy's ST was. He actually found a shaft on ebay and replaced it, but would have also probaby ridden it as is if he couldn't find a shaft available.

thanks, I know what I'm going to do!