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Author Topic: 550 Shifting Woes, Your Diagnosis??  (Read 1315 times)

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Offline B.O.X.N.I.F.E.

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550 Shifting Woes, Your Diagnosis??
« on: July 03, 2009, 11:18:51 PM »
I've noticed some things about the way my bike shifts and decided to test it tonight, looking for problems. The bike:

  • Shifts easily between 1st, neutral, and 2nd while dead cold, not running.
  • Sticks in neutral between 1st & 2nd on upshift when cold, slightly warm and running.
  • Will not shift into neutral when hot. Shifts hard into 2nd

I've noticed this stuff before individually, but as a whole seems to be symptomatic of some kind of clutch or transmission problem. I tested tonight paying close attention to what the bike would do when cold, warm, running and not running. All in all, shifting performance is poor.
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1974 CB550

32 days and 5,536 miles on a CB550...

http://kerncountykid.blogspot.com/

and a couple years later, 38 days and 9,102 miles...

Forever West

... and all of it in a 4 mintue video

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Offline TwoTired

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Re: 550 Shifting Woes, Your Diagnosis??
« Reply #1 on: July 04, 2009, 12:03:13 AM »
Your clutch is dragging.
- wrong oil type?
- Wrong adjustment?
- Warped clutch plates?
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Lloyd... (SOHC4 #11 Original Mail List)
72 500, 74 550, 75 550K, 75 550F, 76 550F, 77 550F X2, 78 550K, 77 750F X2, 78 750F, 79CX500, 85 700SC, GL1100

Those that learn from history are doomed to repeat it by those that don't learn from history.

Offline B.O.X.N.I.F.E.

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Re: 550 Shifting Woes, Your Diagnosis??
« Reply #2 on: July 04, 2009, 01:26:12 AM »
Thanks TT -

I'm using Yamalube, 10-40

I will go through the adjustment procedure in my manual and will post back with the results.

Have a happy 4th! Stay safe if you ride.
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1974 CB550

32 days and 5,536 miles on a CB550...

http://kerncountykid.blogspot.com/

and a couple years later, 38 days and 9,102 miles...

Forever West

... and all of it in a 4 mintue video

<a href="Not a valid vimeo URL">WWYY?[/url]

Offline B.O.X.N.I.F.E.

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Re: 550 Shifting Woes, Your Diagnosis??
« Reply #3 on: July 07, 2009, 06:00:26 PM »
Did the adjustment according to the manual, and it shifts much better. No problems getting into neutral at any temp now.

There is still some clunkyness when shifting, especially down, when hot. It did stick in between 1st & 2nd once while still warming up. Is this most likely a symptom of warped plates or other transmission issues?

Overall though it's a much smoother experience now.
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1974 CB550

32 days and 5,536 miles on a CB550...

http://kerncountykid.blogspot.com/

and a couple years later, 38 days and 9,102 miles...

Forever West

... and all of it in a 4 mintue video

<a href="Not a valid vimeo URL">WWYY?[/url]

Offline TwoTired

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Re: 550 Shifting Woes, Your Diagnosis??
« Reply #4 on: July 07, 2009, 06:17:04 PM »
Now that you have the clutch adjusted correctly, give the trans and shift mechanism tim to develop new wear patterns, without the drag of the clutch effecting it.  It may well smooth out and behave better with time.
Cold oil does add a bit the clutch drag.

Anyway, the sticking between between 1& 2 is neutral, where there is extra travel.  You may already have some wear issues (due to the dragging clutch) with shift forks and guide rails that reduce the amount of throw the lever can impart on the gear engagement.  The only real cure for such a issue is replacement of parts internally.  I say give it some time to settle down, if it remains a problem or gets worse.  Then you have a motor out and strip issue.   But, you may find that it is livable the way it is.

Downshifts are always clunkier than upshifts unless you go to the effort of speed matching the engine to the trans gear speeds.  The gear speed matching happens naturally on upshifts.

Cheers,
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Lloyd... (SOHC4 #11 Original Mail List)
72 500, 74 550, 75 550K, 75 550F, 76 550F, 77 550F X2, 78 550K, 77 750F X2, 78 750F, 79CX500, 85 700SC, GL1100

Those that learn from history are doomed to repeat it by those that don't learn from history.

Offline B.O.X.N.I.F.E.

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Re: 550 Shifting Woes, Your Diagnosis??
« Reply #5 on: July 07, 2009, 07:01:22 PM »
Awesome, thanks. I've put a lot of miles on it with the clutch misadjusted, so we'll see if it settles down or not. If it doesn't get any worse I think I can live with it as is, at least through the summer/fall.
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1974 CB550

32 days and 5,536 miles on a CB550...

http://kerncountykid.blogspot.com/

and a couple years later, 38 days and 9,102 miles...

Forever West

... and all of it in a 4 mintue video

<a href="Not a valid vimeo URL">WWYY?[/url]

masonryman

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Re: 550 Shifting Woes, Your Diagnosis??
« Reply #6 on: July 07, 2009, 07:27:07 PM »
I was have trouble hitting neutral when hot, I don't know how old the oil was but it went away after a oil change.

mine is a 1976 550 F

Mark
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