Gen1 Down Shifting Trouble

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harpo

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Yesterday I started having trouble down shifting. It would drop down to third gear, and thats it. I would get to the next stop and It would down shift to first OK. I have'nt had this happen before, any ideas?

 
Binding in the shift linkage? Might be time to dismantle, clean and lube. I think that's what I would do first - made a big difference for me.

 
I'll start with that, Its been a few years sents they were lubed. By the feel it seemed like It was not not catching second gear, but a good linkage cleaning may do the trick.

 
Binding in the shift linkage? Might be time to dismantle, clean and lube. I think that's what I would do first - made a big difference for me.
+1 +1 +1

If the linkage is binding it won't let the shift lever return completely to the At Rest position which prevents the shift drum from being in position for the next shift. It doesn't take much lever position error to create this exact problem. To get to the root cause the foot peg assembly needs to come off. You need to get to, and clean/lube item 28 plus the hole in the lever that item 28 goes through.

ShiftLinkage.jpg


 
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On my Street Triple I have to release the clutch during each downshift to keep the transmission spinning for proper downshifts all the way into first. If I don't, I cannot get into first at a stop and I have to slightly release the clutch while stopped to get into first. This is a know Triumph feature.

 
On my Street Triple I have to release the clutch during each downshift to keep the transmission spinning for proper downshifts all the way into first. If I don't, I cannot get into first at a stop and I have to slightly release the clutch while stopped to get into first. This is a know Triumph feature.
Kawasakis, Suzukis, Hondas and Yamahas- had them all and had to do this on them all. But since the OP stated "I have'nt had this happen before, any ideas?" I kinda doubt that's his problem.

Next question: has the clutch lever engagement point moved closer to the grip? Up shifting is fine but downshifting gets stiffer as this occurs. This is a sure sign on my '07 that it's time to replace the fluid.

 
Shifter is not returning to center and therefore is not ready to ratchet the next step on the shift drum. You could probably reach under and lift it, but not far enough for an upshift, and then keep going down the gears.

The shifter and the rear brake both get gummed up. Makes the shifter not work, and makes the rear brake drag and overheat and fade.

 
I just had the same or similar issue with my 05. It has been in the garage for a while, with only a couple of short rides in the last year. I changed the oil this afternoon and took it around the block. I live in a semi rural area so the block is nearly a mile. Second time I needed to down shift it wouldn't go below third. I had to stop and rock the bike against the shifter (if that makes any sense) before it finally engaged and then again to first. Started up and rode on with out real issue until back to my garage and it did it again. First thing I looked at was the linkage but it is pretty clean and seems to be as always. I will go ahead and disassemble it and be sure but frankly it felt like it was something not moving in the tranny. Maybe not returning to center as wfooshee suggests, but if not it wasn't the linkage. I had my foot under it and over it and fiddled around with it some. It didn't feel like it was catching for the next shift. Might just be from not riding enough and the colder than usual weather, but this is Texas and I am pretty sure some of your bikes have seen a lot colder than mine ever will.

 
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