Motorcycle Repair: KAWASAKI VULCAN 1500 D 1997, kawasaki vulcan 1500, bearer of bad news

Question
ENGINE SEEMS SLUGGISH ON TAKE OFF AND POOR PERFORMANCE, ALSO POOR FUEL MPG
SEEMS LIKE THE TIMING IN TOO RETARDED
IS IT ADJUSTABLE

ALSO I PURCHASED THIS BIKE USED WITH 8500 MILES ON
IT, IT GRINDED FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR, NOW BIKE HAS
STARTED JUMPING OUT OF 2ND GEAR SOMETIMES INTO A
NEUTRAL AREA SOMETIMES WILL JUMP ALL WAY TO 3 RD
GEAR, I SUSPECT A BENT SHIFT FORK.  I AM AUTO MECHANIC, DO YOU THINK I WILL BE ABLE TO REPLACE
SHIFT FORK, ARE THERE ANY SPECIAL TOOLS REQUIRED
ETC.

THANKS

Answer
Hi Jerry, I am not too fammiliar with the Vulcan it's a cruiser and I lean more towards sport bikes but I believe the timing is not adjustable and if it is, only very minutly. The sluggishness could be a overly rich condition in the carbs. The bike probably needs some tuning. Check your air filter very carefully it may be plugged. Motorcycles are very sensitive to intake restrictions. Now the trans, you said it used to grind going from first to second, that indicates to me that either the shift drum detent spring was weak and the previous owner abused the motorcycle and bent a shift fork or the fork pin wore down and wasnt able to fully travel its groove in the drum. Gone unchecked it has no doubt damaged the engagement dogs on second gear rendering it unable to hold it's position on the primary shaft. The trans will need to be overhauled unfortunatly. Yes it will take some special tools, bearing pullers, adapters, seal drivers and guides and special holders that hold rotating assemblys like the clutch basket and starter idler gears. I hate to be the bearer of bad news Jerry, there just isnt a quick fix for the trans problem unless the shifter is just flopping around then a new drum detent spring would be the logical step.  Thanks for asking and good luck

craig