Gear Sticking on Spirit 750?

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MAKER · #1 Unread post by **MAKER** » Sun Nov 26, 2006 3:15 pm

I've been having an issue with shifting. My bike is getting stuck between neutral and first sometimes. Or rather it won't go into first.

For example, I approached a stop, clutched in, both brakes, downshifted from 5 to 1st. At the stop I popped it in N just to double check where I was. Then I went to shift down into first again, and it stuck.

I mean, I kicked the darn thing. It took such a kick that it actually bent the pedal I think. Eventually, it went down to first.

The bike is only about 5 months old, and I only have 225 miles on it.
This has happened a few times.

My question is, before I bring it to the shop, is there something that I could be doing that is contributing to this? Is there anyway I could be damaging it to make it do this? I'm a new rider, I've taken the Motorcycle Safety Courses, but I'm looking for some seasoned help.

Thanks all.

MAKER

BuzZz · #2 Unread post by **BuzZz** » Sun Nov 26, 2006 4:35 pm

I moved this topic to the garage, where it belongs.

Now, jumping on the shifter hard enough to bend it..... that would be something that could cause shifting trouble. Don't do that. You have quite likely bend a shift fork at this piont. When you take it to the dealer, act very, very stupid and contrite and don't tell them about the jumping stuff. If your lucky, they will fix anything that may or may not be messed up.

What you want to do instead of jammin' on stuff hard enough to bend it, is to try rocking the bike back and forth as your trying to shift into first. A little finess on the shifter might help as well. If the bike still doesn't want to drop into first, then you take it in to a mechanic. Please don't ram on anything mechanical hard enough to bend/break it... or if you do, don't be suprised that something is trashed. If it wasn't before, it will be now.

Sorry if I seem to be a little short with you. It's -30 outside, there's 2 feet of snow on the ground, and I just got back from changing a u-joint on MY truck in the ditch because my wife figured she could just ram the "pee" out of it to get moving in the snow. For the record, you can't do that either, when the tires melt down to pavement, the driveline will take a severe shockload, and something might break.

You think she might be happy I came and fixed it, in the snowfilled ditch at -30*.... even impressed I had a freaking u-joint to fix it with on a Sunday night..... but Nooooooo. All she was worried about was that I might make her drive the chitbox Corolla and take MY truck back. Did I mention it is MY truck? Do I sound bitter? Yea, maybe just a little.....

Anyways, treat your equipment with a little respect, folks. You don't want the speech I just gave my wife, do you? No, you probably don't. If you are going to gouge on your equipment, have the decency to be able to fix the damage.

I will now step down off my soapbox and continue to debate with my dear wife about exactly who is sleeping on the couch tonight.

Hint for those placing bets... it won't be me.

MAKER · #3 Unread post by **MAKER** » Sun Nov 26, 2006 11:49 pm

Thanks for the move, it makes much more sense here.

And thanks for the reply, I will try rocking it a bit if it happens again, but I don't think my "lack of respect" for my equipment is what caused it...

I mean, I generally just give it little flips to shift it. I don't regularly jam on it.

I guess I probably shouldn't have this time. But beyond that, why would you have to rock it? Why does it get stuck? That's what I don't get.

Thanks.

MAKER

#4 Unread post by **Sev** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 4:11 am

For the record, if you're in neutral and the bike won't go into gear, release the clutch (let the lever out), then pull it back in, then press down on the shifter. It should pop right into gear.

It seems that bikes are designed so that the drivetrain needs some friction on it to shift. Stomping on the shift peddle just bends stuff, but if you move things around a bit, by engaging the clutch I find the gears pop right into place. Good luck getting the bike fixed

BuzZz welcome to Alberta, she's a cold mistress, but you love her anyways.

CORSCO · #5 Unread post by **CORSCO** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 4:49 am

Do not go from 5th to 1st in one action. Go through the gears one at a time. Without putting a load back on the transmission, the ratchet mechanism on the shift detent can bind and not fully engage the gears. As mentioned before, if you have problems getting into neutral, release the clutch slightly to load up the transmission or rock the bike back and forth. The transmission is constant mesh which means all the gears are in constant contact with one another.
Hopefully you did not bend a shift fork which is easy to do when you slam on the shifter. Be smooth and quick with your shifts. Example, when going from neutral to first, do not ease it into gear. If you do you will hear the "dogs" of the gears slamming into each other. You want to be as quick and precise when changing gears as possible.

MAKER · #6 Unread post by **MAKER** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 7:04 am

this is all great info. thanks!

how will i know if i bent a shift fork? i was able to get it in gear and drive it ok after this.

also, should i always down shift into 4-3-2-1 and release the clutch on each of these? it seems impossible to do all the time, and my manual tells me i am supposed to down shift from 5th to fourth at like 24 mph or so...so should i then be releasing the clutch on all the gears?

it seems like a way to skid or over rev etc...

:

Lion_Lady · #7 Unread post by **Lion_Lady** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 1:48 pm

CORSCO wrote:Do not go from 5th to 1st in one action. Go through the gears one at a time.

What is recommended in the MSF class is to pull in the clutch and just keep 'tap tap tapping' on the shifter as you slow down, until you realize the shift lever isn't bumping DOWN anymore. Then you should be in FIRST.

You don't need to release the clutch with each tap, as you drop down thru gears. But once you're in neutral, things may not be matched up well enough for the gears to engage, so gently rocking the bike backward or forward an inch or so should align things and let them mesh.

My bike can be a BEAST to get into gear and letting the clutch out a bit seems to help when its being particularly difficult.

P

MAKER · #8 Unread post by **MAKER** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 1:54 pm

Lion_Lady wrote:
CORSCO wrote:Do not go from 5th to 1st in one action. Go through the gears one at a time.
What is recommended in the MSF class is to pull in the clutch and just keep 'tap tap tapping' on the shifter as you slow down, until you realize the shift lever isn't bumping DOWN anymore. Then you should be in FIRST.

That's what I thought. LOL ... thanks...

Any idea how I can tell if i bent my shift fork?

MAKER

flynrider · #9 Unread post by **flynrider** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 2:26 pm

MAKER wrote: Any idea how I can tell if i bent my shift fork?

The bike will shift with difficulty, or not at all, on one or two gears.

BuzZz · #10 Unread post by **BuzZz** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 8:43 pm

Sevulturus wrote:

BuzZz welcome to Alberta, she's a cold mistress, but you love her anyways.

Welcome to Alberta? Dude, you forget I pull wrenches in the patch. Major mechanical repair in -40* with snow blowing up my hoop is what I do for a living, and have done for 20 years. About 10 of them in the area where you are now... actually, Fairview was considered 'South' when I was working up north. I was happy to get a call to head down to civilization from Zama Lake... I spent the longest decade of my life one winter in Tuk... I'm a proud redneck Albertan, but I think the love affair is about over.
Jamacia is lookin' dam sexy these days.

And we won't even get into the freakin' straight roads that go on for thousands of miles.....

I keep moving slowly closer to B.C for a good reason.

And I did have a u-joint on my shelf at 8 o'clock Sunday night. This ain't my first rodeo....

How you likin' Fairview these days? You gone tribal yet?

Mary is always lookin' for a nice young buck like yerself.