Hey there - this will be my first post on this forum requesting tech advice, so here goes:

I am having some downshifting difficulty, mainly between 5 and 4th, 4th and 3rd. Not talking about false neutrals either. Rather, when I engage the clutch and step down on the shift lever, the lever will NOT move - until I give the engine a quick rev, let out the clutch, pull the clutch then try again, at which point the shift lever will operate normally. I lubed my clutch splines about 13,500 mi ago, did not check clutch plates at that time. Was gibt? Is it time for a clutch, or god forbid, something more involved...

Time for a bigger shoe and a heavier foot.

That is where I would start.

rossko wrote:Time for a bigger shoe and a heavier foot.

That is where I would start.

Well... That's what I would think too, but I've been ridin' this whip for about 16-17,000 before this phenomenon started, with no trouble but the usual false neutrals from lack of authority or inattention when shifting.

Now you get to have the other type of fun with your brick; disassembly and inspection. Post a lot of pictures so you can get tech assistance if you need it.

Regards

tgolden wrote:Now you get to have the other type of fun with your brick; disassembly and inspection. Post a lot of pictures so you can get tech assistance if you need it.

Regards

Hoping to get more hints than just to take it apart and look at it. Could've figured THAT out without going to a forum. I don't crack tranny cases. I just pull and replace. Hoping to not have to do that. So - does anyone have any REAL answers?

Check for correct freeplay in the clutch cable at both ends, be certain the gearbox actuation arm is moving freely, lubed, bearings aren't toast, etc. - there's a thread search here for that info if you haven't already downloaded the free service manual or have a Haynes or Clymer to hand. Then drain the gearbox oil into a clean container and look for excess metal stuck to the plug and in the oil. Those are a few first steps. Report back what you find with humour and verve and that might get the ball rolling...

Hi there, until now when I´ve had shifting difficult, checking and setting the clutch cable adjustment has solved the issue.
Best regards
JAP

Ah, some answers! (pardon my somewhat snarky sense of humour, Scorpio and all that).
Yes, I have adjusted play at both ends clutch cable, will check again. Will check shift arm as well - hadn't looked into that. Changed gear oil 20,000 mi ago, at that time there WERE a couple of troublingly large flakes of metal found therein. Will check that as well.

The perplexing thing is that I can get it to shift normally IF I do the "double clutch with a shot of throttle in between" manoeuvre, As though in so doing something is released that became stuck whilst powering down the road.

TaosBrick wrote:Changed gear oil 20,000 mi ago, at that time there WERE a couple of troublingly large flakes of metal found therein. Will check that as well.

Finding large flakes of metal in the gear oil would justify cracking open the tranny case. It may be something simple that if caught early enough, could be resolved before more damage is done. The size and shape of the metal flakes are important. In my previous life, I was involved in helicopter maintenance. All the gearboxes had chip detectors. If a chip was detected, we pulled the sensor to inspect the size of the chips. Large chips required a gearbox overhaul.


It's important to know the number of miles on the bike. You're gearbox oil change may have been the first. If it was the first, finding chips may not be as significant, because they could have been left over from manufacturing. Finding large chips in gearboxes that have had several oil changes is more significant, because they indicate new damage.

Also, if you find large chips in your gearbox oil, you should monitor the situation by changing the oil much more frequently to determine the rate at which the chips are produced. If I found chips and everything was functioning well, I'd change the gear oil 2500 miles later to check for chips. If none, check in 5000 miles and so on until you feel confident that the chip issue is over. Finding large chips repeatedly justifies cracking open the tranny for an inspection. 

Regards

I would be looking for a binding clutch. Possibly a buckled plate or not fully disengaging.
It's unlikely to be an internal issue in the box. As two wheels said check all the adjustments are as per factory, especially the arm on the gearbox it can cause this problem because its not working in the correct arc it can be giving a smaller throw distance.

Bike is closing in on 50k miles. Meticulous maintenance and record keeping was done before my tenure, which began at 28k miles. I have been trying to do the same. Guessing gear oil was changed at least twice before I got the bike - will look at sheaf of shop tickets to be sure.
  As I say, will check shift lever play when I can get to it. Have a /5 on the agenda now for a clutch and swing arm bearing job.
  Thanks all, will post again when I have the ability to examine...