Difficult Shifting On 2007 FJR

[slo-ride]

Difficult shifting threads are abound in this forum. It is a known issue on some bikes and can usually be resolved by soaking the clutch plates and cleaning them thoroughly. My bike is still under warranty and I just exceeded 1000 miles on it and I'm considering taking it in for a good "soaking". However, I've observed something that seems almost random but somewhat repeatable and I'd like to share it with the forum.

My day-to-day route is basic roads, two lane, with left and right turns except for one spot. This particular intersection requires me to make a left-hand turn that is a little more than 90 degrees. Say 120 degrees and the grade of the road slopes away from the turn so, in essence, I'm making a left-hand turn while going down hill. This requires slow speeds but lots of lean (fun!). I usually take the turn in first or second gear depending on the traffic situation.

Now, the odd thing that I've noticed is that prior to making this turn my gears shift like this "click-chunk" which mimics the issues described so many times in this forum. However, after I make this turn my gears shift like this "click" - no "chunk" - for about 20 or 30 seconds then it is back to "click-chunk". The difference is daylight and dark and smooth as butter! My theory is that the "wet clutch" is not wet enough but gets wetter when the bike is leaned hard thereby dipping the clutch in the oil. The clutch is lubed briefly and works very smoothly. The bike then is up righted as it comes out of the curve and the oil is slung off the plates of the clutch and the "chunking" returns.

What do ye fellow riders think? Am I on to something here? Should I add a bit more oil to the engine (exactly between the dots right now).

Thanks!

 

[sin_loki]

could be low oil? since you only have 1000 miles on have you changed it yet (silly question, but still), if not change it up, my AE starts to shift funny near the 3,000 mark, fresh oil and back to good old times

 

[SkooterG]

We'll see what some of our more technical (geeks) members say, but I think you are on the wrong track.

First, when you turn a motorcycle it leans. Doing so keeps the resultant vector (force) pretty much straight down through the motorcycle. So stuff is not being flung to any side when you turn a motorcycle. Otherwise, you would be flung off too. (Hanging off the bike in a turn does alter this slightly)

Second, the clutch plates are on the right side and a bit higher than the oil level. They are not in a 'bath' of oil, but have oil slung up on them - by what I don't know. So in your example, I just don't see the clutch plates getting anymore oil while you are making a slow turn left. I guess it's possible, but I don't see how.

 

[sin_loki]

after some searching i found this,

Heat is produced at every plate-to-plate junction. A typical stack of plates might be three or 4 inches tall and 5 inches in diameter with a plate width of 1 to 2 inches. To cool all of these junctions, special oil passages are typically drilled into the shaft on which they spin. Oil is forced through the shaft and out through radial holes that abut the inner surface of the stack of clutch plates. When oil is forced into the shaft of the transmission, it passes through this internal passageway down the length of the shaft, out the radial passageways, and into, through, and between the individual clutch plates. As the oil passes between each clutch plate, each clutch plate transfers its heat to the flowing oil. Once the oil passes through the clutch plates in the stack, it leaks out of the clutch entirely and into the open transmission case, where it falls to a common drain the and is pumped away to a transmission fluid cooler. Once it is cooled, it is again pumped back to the transmission, through the transmission shafts, and back through the plates.

in the case of my AE near oil life it may be abit slugged from cold, and small bits of clutch cause it to slip when cold.

how is your clutch fluid? if is is low it can cause "strange" things. then again i could be very wrong

 

[Scab]

If I were to venture a guess, I would think that it is an RPM difference. Chances are, while negotiating a difficult turn, you are shifting at a time that is conducive with the turn and not necessarily the usual RPM. And while we are on the topic of shift clunks, what RPM do you typically shift at? My old FJR (05') never seemed to be very fond of shifting at lower-middle range RPM's. When the RPM,s were raised a bit, she was pure butter. Also, she shifted easily at very low RPM's. So, there was a range of RPM's that achieved the smoothest shifts.

The lower RPM shift is just an observation example and not one that is practical most of the time. For example, if I were to accelerate to highway speed in the lower gears, and then decide to hold that speed and just "shift-up" to high with little to no additional acceleration- smooth. Likewise, while accelerating to a moderately high RPM, through all gears- smooth. But, with a moderate acceleration, and a moderately low (RPM wise) shift- clunky.

Try stretching the RPM's a bit before shifting and see what happens.

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

The Answer:

(automatic transmission)

 

[boomerang]

With my 06 the shifting got really bad just before it's oil change. This time the dealer sold me 10-40 yama lube. It took a few miles but the shifting got a little better but I still wasn't happy. Then I noticed that some time when I shift I wasn't letting the shift lever return to the fully neutral position. AS soon as I started making an effert to let the shifter return to neutral all my shifting problems went away. :clapping:

 

[painman]

Ok, I'll be the brave one here and step out on the limb. What kind of oil do you use? :lol: Now this may sound like I'm a ....you fill in the blank, but I have heard of those who put synthetic oil in before a thousand miles and weird things happened. So hey don't shoot me I'm just the messenger. But hope you do get this problem solved. PM. <><

 

[slo-ride]

Ok, I'll be the brave one here and step out on the limb. What kind of oil do you use? :lol: Now this may sound like I'm a ....you fill in the blank, but I have heard of those who put synthetic oil in before a thousand miles and weird things happened. So hey don't shoot me I'm just the messenger. But hope you do get this problem solved. PM. <><

The dealer changed my oil at the 600 mile service period. It "chunked" before and after the oil change so no difference there. I can only assume they used Yamalube or equivalent.

I'll give it a few hundred more miles and then take it to the dealer. Who knows, it may just clear itself up.

 

[TechJunkie]

Ok, I'll be the brave one here and step out on the limb. What kind of oil do you use? :lol: Now this may sound like I'm a ....you fill in the blank, but I have heard of those who put synthetic oil in before a thousand miles and weird things happened. So hey don't shoot me I'm just the messenger. But hope you do get this problem solved. PM. <><

The dealer changed my oil at the 600 mile service period. It "chunked" before and after the oil change so no difference there. I can only assume they used Yamalube or equivalent.

I'll give it a few hundred more miles and then take it to the dealer. Who knows, it may just clear itself up.

My 08 clunked bad up to 1000 miles. I would also have it hit 2nd and sound like it was hitting gears. I was worried the gear dogs would get worn so I had it looked at at two different shops. They both said it's fine just ride it. I have took their advice and now with 2100 miles I can tell you the shifting is MUCH better. It still clunks into 1st at times but I have noticed the hitting the gear feeling and noise seems to come from me not shifting completely and firmly. Sure it still clunks sometimes from 1st to 2nd and 4th to 5th but not very often and if I shift a about 3400 rpm if almost never does it. The more I ride it the smoother it gets!

Ride and enjoy!

 

[VanHarlan]

I had a "sticky clutch" issue on my 2007 - took it in for a clutch soaking and have had 8000 trouble free - smooth shifting miles. Mine was a particular pain int he ass when down shifting. Sticking 07 clutch issue is fairly well documented.

 

[DaveInMn]

I never thought mine was a difficult shifter. When it was fresh out of the crate, it was a bit "noisy" and "notchy" , but I attributed that to being new and running the 10-40 (thinner) break-in oil that was in it. After the first service at 850 miles it smoothed noticeably. The combination of the miles and the thicker 20-40 oil, I suspect.

One thing I still notice after putting in the 20-40 is when I put it into 1st the first time in the morning (after warming up to 1 bar or so), there is a bit of a soft lunge forward. After a mile or so gentle riding (when the oil warms up), that no longer happens.

All in all after 4,500 miles, its what I would consider a very good shifter considering its a shaftie. I've had a few that were better (most of them were chain-driven); many that were worse.