[JLY1987]

My new FXT was delivered yesterday 11-12-20 and with the first start I noticed a slight knocking sound coming from the what I believe is the clutch. I put a little over an hour on it yesterday with no change in the knocking. Today I get on it and its noticably louder at idle after a cold start. After driving it up to temp the knock is still there at idle but not as loud. Also after the machine is warm it will make the noise just above 30 mph. I called the dealer and they are going to pick it up and diagnosis the problem. This is NOT how I wanted to start off with my new ride ....
Anyone else have a similar issue?

 

[Hunter#]

Others have posted similar issues here.
I also have a 2020 and started making a chirping noise in Low 8-10mph High 20-30 mph. Cannot locate where it’s coming from but definitely drivetrain. Seems to go away after driving for half an hour or so and it’s louder when it’s cold outside.
Hasn’t been to the dealer yet but keep us posted.

 

[SuperBlack2020]

Have a new 2020 LE just over 55 miles on it. I have herd it. I could really hear it after first time i drove it, came home did some searching thinking i would find tons of threads about it. well there are a few on here but nothing major, just type it in the search all the old post will come up. I do not hear it as much the more i use it. For all the units they have sold i think if it was a big deal you would see more about it. So im just going with normal for now. 3 year warrenty!! that is why i went Kawasaki this time!!

do not know if this is your first machine? But i love my Mule Pro this thing is like a Caddy, Smooth butter engine, plush ride, and Quite. Built crazy strong. i came form a Polaris ATV that thing popped and groaned crazy loud felt like it could just fall apart anytime every ride but never did.

Keep us posted

 

[rototerrier]

I've had mine in to service 4 times for this issue. 2 times with 2 different dealers. One added some shims but wasn't able to resolve it. Created a case with Kawasaki and they still didn't much care and offered no assistance. Dealer's heard the issue but Kawasaki doesn't want to do a thing about it.

When cold, the clutch fingers (or whatever they are called) clatter and pop. Once it warms up and the heat gets transferred into the clutch it tends to dissipate and eventually go away completely. Once it cools back off, it'll do it again.

During the warm summer months with ambient temps > 70, mine never makes a sound.

So, basically, 8 months out of the year it doesn't do it and the other 4 it does. I've pretty much learned to ignore it now that I've tried so many times to resolve it.

Having taken it in so many times, I just figure if the clutch breaks once it's out of warranty, I have plenty of evidence to use against them to get them to honor a warranty repair.

 

[JLY1987]

I'll keep this in mind if it comes to that. Mine is doing EXACTLY what you described. After it heats up I never heard it at idle. I love the machine but for the price I paid I expect it to be 100% . I'm keeping all my contact with the dealer and kawasaki well documented.

 

[roadhog2546]

Good luck, I've had all the same problems with my clutch on a 2019 fxt ranch, took it in a few times, they put the button spacers in, helped for a short time, finally it got so loud at 5700 miles they replaced it under warranty and said I wore it out, it never failed me it's just the knocking sound, when other people hear that noise they wouldn't buy one, it sounds like the motor knocking, I've heard if you blow the clutch out with air hose now and then they will last longer.

 

[cookie_monster]

Well probably not what you wanted to hear but it's "normal".

Well it isn't but it is.

The knocking sound comes from the engine pulley, right side of the machine. It isn't quite tight enough and it rattles, and sounds exactly like a main bearing "knock".

Sometimes you can tighten the retaining bolt in the middle and it'll solve it, other times it won't. It has everything to do with tolerance stack-up. Every single machining operation has a tolerance, sometimes it's .0005" but if the dampener is on the looser end of the tolerance and the crankshaft is on the smaller end, you end up with a little looseness-and a knocking sound. Most of the time you can tighten the crank pulley bolt a little more and it'll solve 99% of it. Sometimes not.

I've tightened a few of them and seems to have solved them. Not everyone complains about it. Those that do, I tighten them up. The knock really doesn't hurt anything, but as quiet and smooth as the rest of the machine you hear it a lot more and it gets annoying.

The bad news is that it's no fun to get to. Ideally on a lift but it's doable on the floor too.

 

[Zebrafive]

Well probably not what you wanted to hear but it's "normal".

Well it isn't but it is.

The knocking sound comes from the engine pulley, right side of the machine. It isn't quite tight enough and it rattles, and sounds exactly like a main bearing "knock".

Sometimes you can tighten the retaining bolt in the middle and it'll solve it, other times it won't. It has everything to do with tolerance stack-up. Every single machining operation has a tolerance, sometimes it's .0005" but if the dampener is on the looser end of the tolerance and the crankshaft is on the smaller end, you end up with a little looseness-and a knocking sound. Most of the time you can tighten the crank pulley bolt a little more and it'll solve 99% of it. Sometimes not.

I've tightened a few of them and seems to have solved them. Not everyone complains about it. Those that do, I tighten them up. The knock really doesn't hurt anything, but as quiet and smooth as the rest of the machine you hear it a lot more and it gets annoying.

The bad news is that it's no fun to get to. Ideally on a lift but it's doable on the floor too.

How much do you have to take apart to tighten this pulley? Is there a torque spec, or do you just try and make it tighter?

 

[ghumphri]

Noticed the same noise on my new 2021 LE. Goes away when warm. Have only about 10 miles on it LOL. Going to run it and see how it goes. I’m sure it’ll be just fine. That’s what the warranty is for.