Intermittent Shifting Problem

[charismaticmegafauna]

CRIPPLE FIGHT!!!!

I agree -- automatic transmissions (or, at least 'AE's) are the answer.

Just like (most of) the rest of the (non-motorcycling) world...

 

[wfooshee]

Mine will not shift under power. Apply pressure to the shifter, and it clicks with a brief breathe of the throttle. It won't budge if it's pulling, though.

Except for one bike, that's always been my experience. That one had a pre-select mechanism where you could kick the next gear but it didn't actually shift until you breathed the throttle.

RH, how big a disk do you have your graphics library on??!?!?! Always some kinda picture for the occasion!

 

[RadioHowie]

automatic transmissions (or, at least 'AE's) are the answer.

Which begs the question....if you stop an AE in 5th, is it also difficult to downshift to 1st without rocking the bike?

 

[mcatrophy]

automatic transmissions (or, at least 'AE's) are the answer.

Which begs the question....if you stop an AE in 5th, is it also difficult to downshift to 1st without rocking the bike?

Yes, it likes to be rocked and rolled a bit.

 

[RadioHowie]

automatic transmissions (or, at least 'AE's) are the answer.

Which begs the question....if you stop an AE in 5th, is it also difficult to downshift to 1st without rocking the bike?

Yes, it likes to be rocked and rolled a bit.

Thanks, boss.

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

Unless the clutch is dragging, the gears should shift nicely.

Interestingly, I was talking with a sales-dude at a Yamaha shop today (they have a new AE on the floor) and, as I've never ridden one, I asked if he had -- he said yes, lots -- and he offered that about the only problem he has is forgetting that it's not 'fully automatic' and stopping at lights in 5th gear (it doesn't want to take off well in 5th).

Then, the light came on (for me) and I asked: "Does it shift down OK, then?"

He said, "Oh, yea, just 'flick' down through the gears."

 

[mcatrophy]

Just remember, you were

... talking with a sales-dude...

 

[JamesK]

I've read through this thread and a few others where the problem was simply lack of maintenance of the shift linkage assembly or wrong/old oil. Neither of these is my problem as I've recently re-lubed the shift (and brake) linkage assembly and the oil is only 2k miles old and the exact brand and type I've run for many years. My clutch fluid is only 5k old and clean, and the clutch hydroponics are properly bled and not leaking. I'm running the Gen I clutch slave cylinder which I've had on the bike for the past 80k plus miles.

I've looked through all these threads but not even this one, which has the most technical info quite describes my problem.

shift problem site:fjrforum.com

https://www.fjrforum.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=117409
https://www.fjrforum.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=117219
https://www.fjrforum.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=19386
https://www.fjrforum.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=128799

To start with I should mention that my FJR has around 183k on the clock and is still running with the original clutch. The clutch, based on various tests I've read in other threads is not exhibiting any slipping. Also I remember reading that ScooterG was still on his original clutch at 220k when he "retired" that bike.

The Problem

In the past few weeks (which included 2 oil changes) I've been experiencing intermittent down shifting problem going from 2nd into 1st gear, while slowing down under brakes and equally when stopped and going from Neutral into 1st (but this is more rare).

Basically the clutch is pulled in, the bike is still slowly rolling and when I try to get it from 2nd (past N which I can see light up due to the issue) into 1st the shifter feels kind of "fluffy/spongy/springy" and instead of clicking into 1st seems to bounce back to N. Sorry for using such highly technical jargon, but I really can't think of a better way to describe this since that's exactly how it feels. Now after one or two gentle stabs at the shifter the transmission goes into 1st gear, without any unusual clunking or anything out of the ordinary. Aside from this intermittent issue (which seems to be increasing in frequency) the trans works as is has for the past 180k.

My hope is that this is simply a manifestation of "tired" springs in the clutch basket, which sometimes (I guess when the trans has not synched as well as other times) don't release the pressure off the clutch enough.

There is also NO issue shifting up and I have not been able to reproduce this with the engine turned off which makes me hopeful that the problem is not due to bent dogs or other serious issues.

The reason I'm guessing this is because my quite used 250 DP bike had developed a problem where it was eventually next to impossible to get it into 1st gear once the bike was fully stopped, and the problem was completely resolved with a new clutch basket and pressure springs. In this case when I originally replaced the clutch plates I only filed down the groves (made by the clutch plates) in the clutch basket and not replaced it with a new one.

I don't mind replacing the whole clutch assembly in the FJR since it's worked flawlessly for 180k miles, but it's a pretty pricey set if you also include the clutch basket so I just wanted to check with the wise folks here before forking out all that cash and possibly doing the job for nothing if the problem happens to be in the transmission, which would utterly suck as the engine is still going strong.