Topic: 78 cb550 shifting/transmission issues

[bookah]

Hi all, I have recently run into a few issues that I would love your feedback on.

• The first is that I have troubles downshifting occasionally. I commute on this bike, so I encounter this near daily. Essentially when I press down, it's like it's stuck, or like I'm already in 1st. This problem is in no way consistent, but it's very annoying and I'm worried that it's a sign of a larger looming problem. This never happens upshifting.
• The second happened today for the 2nd or 3rd time since I've owned the bike (only since april). Gear slippage. On my way into work I was in 4th, and boom neutral. My hand was not cupping the balls of the clutch or anything, just riding.

I have been listening to the sounds my transmission makes when shifting gears in hopes that I hear (hopefully don't hear) anything unusual. I sometimes hear a little clink (single), like if you were to take the blade of a knife and drag it against a household fan wire/mesh cage thing  . Not a lot of clinks, just a single when I shift, and randomly. But it's audible.

What do? 

[links56]

I would pull the clutch cover and check the clutch out.

[akabek]

When I had gear changing problems similar to what you described I grabbed a service manual and did a step by step  clutch adjustment.  If that does not work then what link56 suggested.

[enwri]

Check you still have all the springs on the arms and wheels that press against the detent mechanism on end of the shift drum.
It holds it in gear, and holds the drum in the right place so the shifter can grab the next pin when it has to.
If not, the shifter sometimes cannot reach the next pin to pull the drum around. Springy lever but no effect.

[RevDoc]

What oil are you running? I was having some similar issues with Angie. As akabek suggested, double check your clutch adjustments & see if that solves it. If not, I dumped my oil and, after reading Hondaman's recommendation, I switched to Rotella 15-40 diesel oil for the zinc levels and low foaming. No more issues since.