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We are providing you with a complete installation and review of the Pen-Lock Kawasaki Differential Handle Lock that High Lifter offers for you Kawasaki Prairie Riders. It is an informative how to installation providing easy step by step directions, allowing you to complete your project with ease. 

Note: Click on the pictures to either enlarge them or take you to a link.

• HIGH LIFTER "Pen-Lock" Kawasaki Differential Lever Locking Assembly, invented by Mike Penland.
  Locks the Differential locking lever in the fully locked position so that you do not have to hold the lever back in the locked position by hand.
  Fits the following ATV's:
  Kawasaki 650/700 Prairie @ Kawasaki 750 Brute Force
• Note: Applications include all Kawasaki models with lever operated differential locks.

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• You will have to pull back the rubber-guard to give yourself access to safely cut a hole in the guard to fit the Pen-Lock through.
• High Lifter supplies you with a cutter to cut your hole out with.
• Take the supplied template and trace a hole where you need to cut.

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• I tried the supplied cutting tool but I did not have much luck, so I cut out the hole a razor knife.
• Close up of the cut(notice how thick the rubber guard is).
• If you use the cutter tool you need to put a piece of wood underneath the rubber guard when you are hammering on the cutter tool. You don't want to drive that cutter tool into your levers and wreck anything.
• Close up of finished hole.
• Note: I suggest using a very sharp razor knife if you aren't too fussy about how clean a cut you are looking for.

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• I installed the Pen-Lock and found that the Differential Handle bound up a bit. So I decided to experiment with a few washer shims to raise the Pen-Lock off of the Differential Handle.
• The first washer I tried was way too large and made the handle bind when I pulled on the lever.
• The smaller washer works great and allows the Differential Handle to pull in out perfect. I would try your install and see if this happens to you, and the handle does bind try the small washer for a quick fix.

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• You are ready to install the Pen-Lock with the supplied longer 5mm bolt. Remember to use that small washer if needed.
• Tighten down the bolt to spec.

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• You have the Pen-Lock installed, now you need to make sure the Differential Handle will lock in position.
• Pull your lever in and try pressing the button down, and see if the handle locks in position.
• Note: If the differential doesn't achieve full lock, you will need to adjust the tension on the differential locking handle cable( attached to the handle and easy to locate the adjuster).

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• As you can see the Pen-Lock is very easy to operate using one hand.
• Just pull in on the differential lever and push down on the button.
• Let go of the lever. You are locked and ready to slug through the rough stuff.

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• Here is the Pen-Lock Differential Handle in the un-locked position.
• Now the locked position and ready to rough it.
• Close up of Pen-Lock engaged.

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• Just pull on the differential handle and let go, to disengage the Pen-Lock Differential Handle lock.
• Close up of the Pen-Lock on the ATVPT 04-Kawasaki Prairie.
• Everything checks out and we are ready to do some climbing & mudding.

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• Pros:
• My first impression, is that Mike Penland was thinking when he invented this item for the Prairies.
• Just think of it as a cruise control for your Differential Lock. There have been many times when I have been in the soup, or climbing a steep hill where I needed my Differential locked. During these times I felt like it wasn't very safe to release my hands from the grips to engage the manual differential lock.
• The Pen-Lock will make difficult situations a little easier to handle now. This should allow me to have my hands wrapped around the hand grips, where they are needed to control my ATV for a more safer ride.
• Cons:
• I had to experiment a little with washers to shim the Pen-Lock, so it would not bind the differential lever. In my mind this is not a problem, simple solution.
• Bottom Line:
• I would recommend this unit to anyone that engages in any serious atving where they need to use their Differential Lock.
• It will most definitely make those steep hill assents a lot safer.
• Lock the differential, and don't touch it until you need to disengage it, leaving your hands free to do the driving

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Web site: http://www.mikepenland.net/

Ph: Mike Penland (PBR)- 706.746.2812

Note:

Mike is the 10 time GNCC Champion, 4 Time BAJA1000 Winner, 2 Time Maxxis ATV Olympic Champion and 2 Time Maxxis 12 Hours of ATV America winner Mike Penland.