Topic: Shifting to 1st gear is not easy for everyone

[aminemed]

Hi everyone

I have a 750 k2 that runs well. Had a slipping clutch issue that i fixed by adjusting the clutch cable. I do have now a more serious issue: when i shift from neutral to 1st, the gear does not engage immediatly, i need to make some pressure with my foot many times until i feel that the gear is well engaged. If not, the gear jumps sometimes from 1st to 2nd or to neutral. This is really dangerous when i need to accelerate, when it goes to 2nd gear i dont have the power expected.

Im using 20w50 oil and i dont have a lot of trouble to get into neutral

[Stev-o]

Did it do this before you adjusted the clutch cable?
What type [not viscosity] oil are you running??

[aminemed]

Yes as long as i remember the bike was doing this.

Im using bel ray mineral oil

[TwoTired]

Worn shift forks. Worn shift slider groves, worn shift drum worn shift dogs. 
Take your pick.

This wear can come ignoring clutch issues too long.

Do make sure your shift lever is tight on the shaft splines.

Cheers,

[aminemed]

Worn shift forks. Worn shift slider groves, worn shift drum worn shift dogs. 
Take your pick.

This wear can come ignoring clutch issues too long.

Do make sure your shift lever is tight on the shaft splines.

Cheers,

I see, can i make a diagnosis by opening the shift cover or does this need to pull out the.engine ? It might seem to be a minor issue but it is a real security matter for me as driving the bike under these conditions is sometimes hazardous.

Meanwhile ill tighten the shift lever

[ekpent]

 The items two-tired mentioned are inside the engine cases and not visible.

[przjohn]

Yup,what Twotired said. My guess is worn shifter fork and that causes worn shift dogs because it is jumping out of gear so riding it like that eventually ends up with no first gear at all.

Another possibility is that a PO split the  cases and did not install a shaft retaining clip. I had this happen to a bike and the bearing with the shaft moved out ever so little, just enough to cause the bike to fail to make it into first gear.

Sorry to say but unless something strange happend to the selector mechanism you are splitting the cases.

[aminemed]

Thank you for your input

Rode it again today and to get it stick to 1st gear i need to press my foot on the selector 3 or 4 times to get it engage into 1st. Otherwise, it goes back to 2nd gear

[rotortiller]

can i make a diagnosis by opening the shift cover

I  think that would be wise, it has to come off anyways if you decide to split the crankcase.

[aminemed]

Did not split the case yet. I don't know if i should open the shift cover only so i'm still trying to understand what's going on.

After riding the bike for a few miles, i've noticed that i have this issue rather when it's warm. When cold, it shifts to first gear, this is the case for instance when i cold start it on the morning. No issue during the first 5 minutes approx. Afterwards, it jumps directly from 1st to 2nd and sometimes, the specific sound you hear when 1st gear is engaged, is heard when shifting toward 2nd gear. Any thoughts ?

[strynboen]

try to thange the oil...no Word abaut brands..just thange..and see..its the easyest test

[pjlogue]

You might try changing your oil and filter and use a different brand of oil and add ~4 Oz of Rislone 3X oil treatment.  I had the same problem with getting it ('76 750K) into 1st gear.  Changed to Mobile-1 20-50W full synthetic and added Rislone 3X (4 Oz) and the problem was gone after a few minutes of riding.

Many of today's oils don't have the Zink which is needed for reducing galling on the cam.  It also is very good for reducing friction in the gear shift mechanism on our bikes.

-P.