gear change shaft

[edkx]

I'm being told by my dealer that it's no longer available.the newer one has a different part #.Does anyone know if they'll interchange?The schematics show the shaft being #13161,but the ordering part# is different.Thanks

[hughes]

What year 500?? I could not see that part changing that much at all. I have not needed one but I heard they can bent easy.

[edkx]

Mine's a 91.The 98 # is different.

[Polar-Bus]

I'm being told by my dealer that it's no longer available.the newer one has a different part #.Does anyone know if they'll interchange?The schematics show the shaft being #13161,but the ordering part# is different.Thanks

Kawasaki frequently superceedes older p/n's. Sometimes the superceeded part is physically updated, and sometimes the material is changed. Whenever Kawi for whatever reason makes a change in the part they will come up with a new superceeded p/n.

[THIRD FIVE]

The spline size has changed.  I ran into this on my five when I ordered a shift lever for my '95, but the motor was from an earlier bike.  They increased the spline size on the later bikes.

Ryan

[edkx]

So could you use the updated part and just use a shifter from a newer model?

[THIRD FIVE]

I didn't try it, I just used another shift lever that I already had.  It looked the same except for the spline, and I assume that is the only change, but I didn't verify.

[Polar-Bus]

Looks like Kawasaki has 3 versions of the KX500 shifter: '82-'91, '92-'93, and '94-'04. Try cross referencing other related shift and drum parts associated with the shift shaft on a newer 2000+ 500. I bet you will find the mating components are the same part #'s (also check the crankcase p/n's). I am willing to bet if you purchase a new shaft, and run a newer year shifter you will be all set.

Kawasaki won't superceede your old shaft p/n because then your older shifter won't work on the new shaft.