Page 1 of 1

'84 Honda Nighthawk 700sc Won't Shift...works occasionally

Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2006 4:03 am
by jsw513
So about two weeks ago I crashed my bike. I high sided in some grass after losing control and the bike fell on it's left side. The only reason I couldn't drive my bike away is b/c the cluth lever snapped off. I trailered it home, replaced the clutch lever, and my bike ran. It made some funny rattling noise coming out of the left side gearbox( i think) ran for a few minutes, and it stopped. About a week after the wreck, I was driving and it didn't want to leave first gear after leaving a stop light. I rode it all the way home in first gear, 10 miles or so, that was awful.

I decided to bleed the clutch lines, figured perhaps some air got in there. After doing so, the bike was shifting again. Approximately 5 miles later, it stopped shifting. I bled again, and it worked, but this time for less than a mile. I tried bleeding one more time, and it won't go into anything but first or second gear.

Does anyone have any suggestions? Would I be correct in assuming that I need to replace the hydrolic lines, master cyclinder? Unfortunately i do not have the funds to drop it in the shop and tell them to do their thing. Please help, this is my primary source of transportation.

Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2006 4:09 am
by ZooTech
With the engine off and the tranny in gear, will it roll freely with the clutch lever pulled?

Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2006 4:21 am
by jsw513
no, there is a slight resistence. Like the clutch is not disengaging completely. I can force it back and it will roll somewhat smoothly.

Posted: Tue Oct 17, 2006 7:34 am
by ArcticHarleyMan
jsw513 wrote:no, there is a slight resistence. Like the clutch is not disengaging completely. I can force it back and it will roll somewhat smoothly.
By forcing it back, do you mean the clutch lever? If so, I would check the lever operation, then the clutch cable for kinks/fraying, etc., then the clutch hydraulic actuator, then the hydraulic lines and fittings for leaks, etc.

When you bled the lines, did you make sure that you had the master cylinder topped up each time? Some times the level may look good, but there may be air trapped in the lines still. Bleed the lines at least 3 or 4 times.