Final Drive
The toothed drive belt and its pulleys & coupling: specifications, handling precautions, deflection & wear inspection, belt and pulley removal/installation, and coupling-bearing service.
Chapters· Final Drive
Source: Service Manual — pp. 11-1 … 11-14src: Kawasaki VN2000-A1 Service Manual — Periodic Maintenance (Torque & Locking Agent / Specifications tables, pp. 2-7…2-13)
The VN2000 runs a clean, low-maintenance toothed belt instead of a chain — no lubrication, no slack adjustment between services, and very long life when handled correctly.
Drive belt
| Item | Standard | Service limit |
|---|---|---|
| Make / type | GATES, 133T (133-tooth) | — |
| Belt deflection (45 N / 4.5 kgf force) Measured per the Periodic Maintenance method. | 2.5 – 4.0 mm | — |
| Deflection — new belt or re-mounted engine (45 N force) Set to the tight end after fitting a new belt or refitting the engine. | 2.5 mm | — |
The final drive needs no lubrication and the belt does not stretch like a chain — but it must still be inspected for deflection, wear and damage on the Periodic Maintenance schedule. A belt that is badly worn, too loose or too tight can jump off the pulley or break.src: Kawasaki VN2000-A1 Service Manual — Periodic Maintenance (Torque & Locking Agent / Specifications tables, pp. 2-7…2-13)
Final-drive fastener torques. Remarks: G grease · L non-permanent locking agent · MO molybdenum-disulfide oil · R replace the part.
Front gear case / final drive
| Fastener | Torque | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Engine pulley inside-cover bolts | 12 N·m | — |
| Engine pulley mounting nut | 177 N·m | MO |
| Rear axle nut | 108 N·m | — |
| Rear coupling stud bolts | 44 N·m | L |
| Ring screws | 6.9 N·m | — |
| Rear pulley mounting nuts | 69 N·m | — |
Apply molybdenum-disulfide oil to the output-shaft threads and the engine-pulley nut seat before tightening to 177 N·m. The swingarm pivot-shaft torque lives in the Suspension chapter.
The belt’s tensile cords carry huge tension but no compression — mishandling before or during fitting can dramatically shorten its life even if it looks fine.
Keep battery electrolyte, thinner and other solvents off the belt. Wash off any spilled solvent immediately.src: Kawasaki VN2000-A1 Service Manual — Periodic Maintenance (Torque & Locking Agent / Specifications tables, pp. 2-7…2-13)
Minimum bend radii (handling, assembly & storage)
| Forward bend radius (teeth inside) | ≥ 63.5 mm |
|---|---|
| Back bend radius (teeth outside) | ≥ 127 mm |
Do not twist or coil the belt to make it smaller for packaging, and never pry it onto the pulleys with tools. Aggressive bending, twisting or compression damages the tensile cords and can cause later adhesion failure. To fit by hand, move the rear pulley to the forward position in the swingarm.src: Kawasaki VN2000-A1 Service Manual — Periodic Maintenance (Torque & Locking Agent / Specifications tables, pp. 2-7…2-13)
Deflection and wear checks are part of Periodic Maintenance; removal is needed for belt or swingarm work.
- Drive-belt deflection — inspection & adjustment →Method, 2.5–4.0 mm spec and the eccentric-collar adjustment, with the tension gauge.
- Quick belt-inspection checklist →The owner-level version on the maintenance page.
Drive belt removal
The belt comes off only after the rear wheel, engine pulley and swingarm are out.
- 1
Remove the rear wheel (see Wheels / Tires chapter).
- 2
Remove the engine pulley (see “Pulley & coupling” below).
- 3
Remove the swingarm (see Suspension chapter).
- 4
Before pulling the belt off, note which way the printed information (maker’s name) faces so it can be refitted to rotate in the same direction.
NoteA used belt must keep its original running direction. Reversing it shortens its life.
- 5
Remove the drive belt.
Drive belt installation
Reverse of removal; observe direction and re-tension.
- 1
Refit the belt so the printed information faces the same way as before. For a new belt, fit it so the printed info reads from the left side of the motorcycle.
- 2
Tighten the swingarm pivot-shaft nut to spec (see Suspension chapter “Exploded View”).
- 3
Adjust drive-belt deflection (see Periodic Maintenance — set 2.5 mm for a new belt).
Engine and rear pulleys, the rear-pulley coupling and its bearing & rubber dampers — removal, installation and wear checks.
Engine pulley removal
Pulley holder 57001-1572 · Grip 57001-1591
- 1
Remove the engine-pulley cover (outside, middle and inside covers — note the damper orientation: thin side faces out).
- 2
Loosen the belt fully (see Periodic Maintenance — belt-deflection adjustment).
- 3
Flatten the bent tab of the lock washer.
- 4
Hold the engine pulley steady with the pulley holder and remove the pulley mounting nut.
- 5
Pull the engine pulley off the output-shaft splines.
Engine pulley installation
Reverse of removal; use a new lock washer.
- 1
Fit the pulley grooves onto the output-shaft splines; replace the lock washer with a new one.
- 2
Apply molybdenum-disulfide oil to the output-shaft threads and the seating surface of the pulley mounting nut.
- 3
Tighten the engine-pulley mounting nut, holding the pulley with the pulley holder.
Torque177 N·m - 4
Bend one side of the lock washer over the nut.
- 5
Adjust drive-belt deflection (see Periodic Maintenance).
Rear pulley & coupling
- 1
Remove the rear wheel; take off the rear-pulley mounting nuts & washers, then the rear pulley.
- 2
On refitting, tighten the rear-pulley mounting nuts.
Torque69 N·m - 3
For the coupling: fit the dampers with their projections facing out; grease the inside of the coupling bushing and fit the sleeve.
- 4
When fitting the coupling stud bolts, apply non-permanent locking agent to the coupling-side threads and tighten.
Torque44 N·m
Pulley wear: inspect the engine and rear pulley teeth for wear, damage or loss of chrome plating; replace a worn pulley. If a pulley needs replacing the belt is probably worn too — always inspect the belt at the same time.src: Kawasaki VN2000-A1 Service Manual — Periodic Maintenance (Torque & Locking Agent / Specifications tables, pp. 2-7…2-13)
Coupling bearing & damper
The coupling ball bearing runs to very close tolerances — clearance cannot normally be measured, so judge it by feel.
Inside circlip pliers 57001-143 · Oil seal & bearing remover 57001-1058 · Bearing driver set 57001-1129
- 1
Wash the bearing in high-flash-point solvent, dry it (do not spin it dry) and oil it; spin by hand.
- 2
Replace the bearing if it is noisy, rough, or does not spin smoothly.
CautionIf you reuse the bearing, re-wash, dry and pack it with good-quality grease before fitting; turn it a few times to distribute the grease.
- 3
When fitting a new bearing, grease it, press it home with the bearing driver, fit the circlip, then press in a new grease seal level with the housing face and grease the seal lip.
- 4
Inspect the rubber coupling dampers; replace them if damaged or deteriorated.
Final-drive special tools
| Tool | Part No. |
|---|---|
| Inside circlip pliers | 57001-143 |
| Oil seal & bearing remover | 57001-1058 |
| Bearing driver set | 57001-1129 |
| Pulley holder | 57001-1572 |
| Grip | 57001-1591 |
- Periodic Maintenance: drive-belt deflection →Inspection & adjustment with the tension gauge.
- Specifications →Drive type and full bike specs.
- Maintenance: belt inspection →Owner-level checklist and intervals.
- Known problems & gotchas →Real-owner belt and drivetrain notes.