KX 125 actuator arm for kdx220/kdx200
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KX 125 actuator arm for kdx220/kdx200
I can't find the thread now, but there was one (thank you!) about using a kx125 clutch actuator, on the kdx's.
To get a very soft clutch feel, I scooted my clutch perch as far medial (in!) as I could while still having two fingers in full contact. This is a stock clutch lever mind you, so it's long and ugly, but we're talking about levers, so we WANT long !
...
The kdx200/220 actuator arm (the one sticking out of the clutch cover, connects to the cable) is about 1" from pivot to pivot. The kx125 is about 1 1/4" pivot to pivot.
Why do I care about pivots and a stupid 1/4" of difference ? you might ask.
The answer is because levers are awesome. By changing from the stocker to the longer distanced kx125, the effort required to pull the clutch is next to nothing, less than hydraulic in feel. Yesssssss, that good.
After a quick setup to make sure the clutch was actually engaging fully (6th gear, front tire against a tree, let the clutch out slowly.... stall = good, slip = bad!) I rode around and was very pleasantly surprised with how light the feel was. I was sitting at a redlight and when it changed to green (yay green!) I actually tried to pull in the lever and drop into first gear, forgetting I was already in first, and had the clutch lever pulled in all the way to the grip. Yowza this stuff good !
Anyway, I'd like to thank whoever it was that figured this out 20 years ago, it's a GREAT modification, and I'm very happy with the effortless action now. Show me some arm-pump inducing singletrack baby, I'm ready ! :D
To get a very soft clutch feel, I scooted my clutch perch as far medial (in!) as I could while still having two fingers in full contact. This is a stock clutch lever mind you, so it's long and ugly, but we're talking about levers, so we WANT long !
...
The kdx200/220 actuator arm (the one sticking out of the clutch cover, connects to the cable) is about 1" from pivot to pivot. The kx125 is about 1 1/4" pivot to pivot.
Why do I care about pivots and a stupid 1/4" of difference ? you might ask.
The answer is because levers are awesome. By changing from the stocker to the longer distanced kx125, the effort required to pull the clutch is next to nothing, less than hydraulic in feel. Yesssssss, that good.
After a quick setup to make sure the clutch was actually engaging fully (6th gear, front tire against a tree, let the clutch out slowly.... stall = good, slip = bad!) I rode around and was very pleasantly surprised with how light the feel was. I was sitting at a redlight and when it changed to green (yay green!) I actually tried to pull in the lever and drop into first gear, forgetting I was already in first, and had the clutch lever pulled in all the way to the grip. Yowza this stuff good !
Anyway, I'd like to thank whoever it was that figured this out 20 years ago, it's a GREAT modification, and I'm very happy with the effortless action now. Show me some arm-pump inducing singletrack baby, I'm ready ! :D
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Re: KX 125 actuator arm for kdx220/kdx200
Nice!
Good write up!
Good write up!
newbbewb wrote:^what he said.
*side note...I'm drunk, so try to read what I'm trying to say, instead of what I actually typemasterblaster wrote:Man 6 riders you rock.
- Tioli
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KX 125 actuator arm for kdx220/kdx200
I don't know if someone else figured it out but I remember reading some time ago that Kawasaki lightened there KX125 clutch by making the arm longer. One came up on eBay and by the pictures it looked the same so took the punt (KX1989) it turned out to be 5 mm longer which was good but I then extended the KDX one 5mm further than that, no issu and its super light which is good as when I converted my clutch to auto it tightened it up again to now ok.
Very bottom of page 20
Very bottom of page 20
2001 KX125 with a 1997 KDX Tioli Hp motor
My KDX journey starts at the bottom of this page:
http://www.trials.com.au/forum/viewtopi ... &start=160
Trials.com.au / Forum / All about...me! / My long time friend the prancing horse / page 9
My KDX journey starts at the bottom of this page:
http://www.trials.com.au/forum/viewtopi ... &start=160
Trials.com.au / Forum / All about...me! / My long time friend the prancing horse / page 9
- 6 Riders
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- Posts: 2124
- Joined: 12:58 pm May 01 2013
- Country: USA
- Location: Washington
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KX 125 actuator arm for kdx220/kdx200
What year 125 rod did you use? Any particular E-bay search term that we should use?ohgood wrote:I can't find the thread now, but there was one (thank you!) about using a kx125 clutch actuator, on the kdx's.
To get a very soft clutch feel, I scooted my clutch perch as far medial (in!) as I could while still having two fingers in full contact. This is a stock clutch lever mind you, so it's long and ugly, but we're talking about levers, so we WANT long !
...
The kdx200/220 actuator arm (the one sticking out of the clutch cover, connects to the cable) is about 1" from pivot to pivot. The kx125 is about 1 1/4" pivot to pivot.
Why do I care about pivots and a stupid 1/4" of difference ? you might ask.
The answer is because levers are awesome. By changing from the stocker to the longer distanced kx125, the effort required to pull the clutch is next to nothing, less than hydraulic in feel. Yesssssss, that good.
After a quick setup to make sure the clutch was actually engaging fully (6th gear, front tire against a tree, let the clutch out slowly.... stall = good, slip = bad!) I rode around and was very pleasantly surprised with how light the feel was. I was sitting at a redlight and when it changed to green (yay green!) I actually tried to pull in the lever and drop into first gear, forgetting I was already in first, and had the clutch lever pulled in all the way to the grip. Yowza this stuff good !
newbbewb wrote:^what he said.
*side note...I'm drunk, so try to read what I'm trying to say, instead of what I actually typemasterblaster wrote:Man 6 riders you rock.
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KX 125 actuator arm for kdx220/kdx200
Tioli wrote:I don't know if someone else figured it out but I remember reading some time ago that Kawasaki lightened there KX125 clutch by making the arm longer. One came up on eBay and by the pictures it looked the same so took the punt (KX1989) it turned out to be 5 mm longer which was good but I then extended the KDX one 5mm further than that, no issu and its super light which is good as when I converted my clutch to auto it tightened it up again to now ok.
Very bottom of page 20
more great info, thank you!
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- Supporting Member II
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KX 125 actuator arm for kdx220/kdx200
I was not specific in my search, just tried it out. apparently this was a 1989 year arm?6 Riders wrote:What year 125 rod did you use? Any particular E-bay search term that we should use?ohgood wrote:I can't find the thread now, but there was one (thank you!) about using a kx125 clutch actuator, on the kdx's.
To get a very soft clutch feel, I scooted my clutch perch as far medial (in!) as I could while still having two fingers in full contact. This is a stock clutch lever mind you, so it's long and ugly, but we're talking about levers, so we WANT long !
...
The kdx200/220 actuator arm (the one sticking out of the clutch cover, connects to the cable) is about 1" from pivot to pivot. The kx125 is about 1 1/4" pivot to pivot.
Why do I care about pivots and a stupid 1/4" of difference ? you might ask.
The answer is because levers are awesome. By changing from the stocker to the longer distanced kx125, the effort required to pull the clutch is next to nothing, less than hydraulic in feel. Yesssssss, that good.
After a quick setup to make sure the clutch was actually engaging fully (6th gear, front tire against a tree, let the clutch out slowly.... stall = good, slip = bad!) I rode around and was very pleasantly surprised with how light the feel was. I was sitting at a redlight and when it changed to green (yay green!) I actually tried to pull in the lever and drop into first gear, forgetting I was already in first, and had the clutch lever pulled in all the way to the grip. Yowza this stuff good !
the sellers profile, that I have bought a few items from:
http://m.ebay.com/seller?sid=dirtbikepa ... ER_DETAILS
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Re: KX 125 actuator arm for kdx220/kdx200
Is there a specific metal that is used or is it Just off the shelf mild steel?
- 19Delta
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Re: KX 125 actuator arm for kdx220/kdx200
How hard to install the KX arm? Would it be easier to just cut, extend and weld the KDX arm?
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- Tioli
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KX 125 actuator arm for kdx220/kdx200
It's easy to extend the arm. I did not use any particular metal and I don't think it's that important as the arm metal seamed like miled steel.
A few things:
I ended up extending mine 15mm longer than standard but 10 is enough, 15 is super light.
Watch the angle you add the bit in the middle. If you just make it longer it will in effect move the part the cable connects to back. This affects your adjustment range so to keep it all in the same place you have to angle it a little forward.
A few things:
I ended up extending mine 15mm longer than standard but 10 is enough, 15 is super light.
Watch the angle you add the bit in the middle. If you just make it longer it will in effect move the part the cable connects to back. This affects your adjustment range so to keep it all in the same place you have to angle it a little forward.
2001 KX125 with a 1997 KDX Tioli Hp motor
My KDX journey starts at the bottom of this page:
http://www.trials.com.au/forum/viewtopi ... &start=160
Trials.com.au / Forum / All about...me! / My long time friend the prancing horse / page 9
My KDX journey starts at the bottom of this page:
http://www.trials.com.au/forum/viewtopi ... &start=160
Trials.com.au / Forum / All about...me! / My long time friend the prancing horse / page 9
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KX 125 actuator arm for kdx220/kdx200
May want to check clutch disengagement with a longer actuator arm as well. The longer the actuator arm lever becomes, the smaller the movement of the actuator arm.
- Tioli
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- Posts: 267
- Joined: 06:57 am Jul 19 2014
- Country: Tasmania AUS
KX 125 actuator arm for kdx220/kdx200
I agree SwS that's why I went with the 5mm extended KX one first. It was nice but not what I was after. Turns out unbeknown to me I had HD clutch springs which made my dislike for heavy clutches worse.
The 5mm extension still gave plenty of room for cable/leaver free play. Made the transition stage slightly longer but still very much more than enough over pull.
How I was testing it was with the motor going and on a slight up hill let the clutch out to find the engagement point. Then while riding up the slight hill pull the clutch in to find the disengagement point.
5mm was better but not what I was after so cut and shut the KDX one 10mm longer and put that in. This was nice with as much free play as I wanted and over pull so I went for really light and extended the KX one 10mm which is 15mm over stock.
15mm was still well with in margins. Where there could be difference is the bike came with a aftermarket clutch purch and I put those short Chinese anodised eBay adjustable leavers on so who knows if my pull ratios are anywhere near stock. Shouldn't be to far off though as I adjust the leavers to sit the same length out on all my bikes, just after the first knuckle fingers lightly extended. This spot is usually further in than stock.
Any way 15mm extension shouldn't be a problem and 10 is probably enough.
The 5mm extension still gave plenty of room for cable/leaver free play. Made the transition stage slightly longer but still very much more than enough over pull.
How I was testing it was with the motor going and on a slight up hill let the clutch out to find the engagement point. Then while riding up the slight hill pull the clutch in to find the disengagement point.
5mm was better but not what I was after so cut and shut the KDX one 10mm longer and put that in. This was nice with as much free play as I wanted and over pull so I went for really light and extended the KX one 10mm which is 15mm over stock.
15mm was still well with in margins. Where there could be difference is the bike came with a aftermarket clutch purch and I put those short Chinese anodised eBay adjustable leavers on so who knows if my pull ratios are anywhere near stock. Shouldn't be to far off though as I adjust the leavers to sit the same length out on all my bikes, just after the first knuckle fingers lightly extended. This spot is usually further in than stock.
Any way 15mm extension shouldn't be a problem and 10 is probably enough.
2001 KX125 with a 1997 KDX Tioli Hp motor
My KDX journey starts at the bottom of this page:
http://www.trials.com.au/forum/viewtopi ... &start=160
Trials.com.au / Forum / All about...me! / My long time friend the prancing horse / page 9
My KDX journey starts at the bottom of this page:
http://www.trials.com.au/forum/viewtopi ... &start=160
Trials.com.au / Forum / All about...me! / My long time friend the prancing horse / page 9
- 19Delta
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Re: KX 125 actuator arm for kdx220/kdx200
[quote="Tioli"I]
Watch the angle you add the bit in the middle. If you just make it longer it will in effect move the part the cable connects to back. This affects your adjustment range so to keep it all in the same place you have to angle it a little forward.[/quote]
Angle? Do you have pics?
Watch the angle you add the bit in the middle. If you just make it longer it will in effect move the part the cable connects to back. This affects your adjustment range so to keep it all in the same place you have to angle it a little forward.[/quote]
Angle? Do you have pics?
- Tioli
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KX 125 actuator arm for kdx220/kdx200
The pictures start bottom of page 20 and continues over to page 21. At the bottom of page 21 is a picture of a 10 and 15mm extended arms. The longer 15mm is an example of bending the wrong way and not following my own advice.
Link to page 20 or follow the link with in my signature.
http://www.trials.com.au/forum/viewtopi ... &start=380
Link to page 20 or follow the link with in my signature.
http://www.trials.com.au/forum/viewtopi ... &start=380
2001 KX125 with a 1997 KDX Tioli Hp motor
My KDX journey starts at the bottom of this page:
http://www.trials.com.au/forum/viewtopi ... &start=160
Trials.com.au / Forum / All about...me! / My long time friend the prancing horse / page 9
My KDX journey starts at the bottom of this page:
http://www.trials.com.au/forum/viewtopi ... &start=160
Trials.com.au / Forum / All about...me! / My long time friend the prancing horse / page 9