shifting problems

[manwhoride]

Anyone experience any problems down shifting coming to a stop? I have experienced several times “running into a wall” so to say trying to down shift. Sometimes the wall will start at 5th gear. Letting the clutch out just a little engages the tranny enough to slip into gear most of the time. Other times it will not shift up or down. I have to get into any gear and move the bike and then It seem to find itself and shift again. This has never happened at speed going into or coming out of a twisty. This problem doesn’t happen at a stop, it happens as I am coming to a stop down shifting. We (the dealer and I) spoke with Yamaha and they claim ignorance. “First we have heard of this problem.” They tell me they will tare into the bike but if nothing is found the dime is on me. I am not a novice rider, and this is not pilot error. Just looking for anyone else experiencing or have experienced similar problem.

 

[Bogey907]

Yep, I've had exactly that problem. Usually happens when I let it slow almost to a stop before shifting down from 5th. I try to avoid doing that.

Otherwise, my bike is fine with about 20K miles on it. I wouldn't pay to have it torn into.

 

[manwhoride]

Anyone experience any problems down shifting coming to a stop? I have experienced several times “running into a wall” so to say trying to down shift. Sometimes the wall will start at 5th gear. Letting the clutch out just a little engages the tranny enough to slip into gear most of the time. Other times it will not shift up or down. I have to get into any gear and move the bike and then It seem to find itself and shift again. This has never happened at speed going into or coming out of a twisty. This problem doesn’t happen at a stop, it happens as I am coming to a stop down shifting. We (the dealer and I) spoke with Yamaha and they claim ignorance. “First we have heard of this problem.” They tell me they will tare into the bike but if nothing is found the dime is on me. I am not a novice rider, and this is not pilot error. Just looking for anyone else experiencing or have experienced similar problem.

As I read through threads I see that soaking the clutch plates seem to help shifting issues. I wonder if soaking the plates would aliviate my problems?

 

[johnny80s]

Yep, I've had exactly that problem. Usually happens when I let it slow almost to a stop before shifting down from 5th. I try to avoid doing that.
Otherwise, my bike is fine with about 20K miles on it. I wouldn't pay to have it torn into.

I think Brian is having trouble when the bike is moving and he is down shifting like on the freeway.

 

[FJRBluesman]

Yep, I've had exactly that problem. Usually happens when I let it slow almost to a stop before shifting down from 5th. I try to avoid doing that.

+1
Not very often but it happens and I deal with it.

 

[C&C]

I've seen it occasionally myself; letting the clutch out, as you mentioned, works every time.

 

[wfooshee]

Clean up and lube the shift pedal, make sure it's returning to center between each shift.

 

[S76]

Mine does that on occasion. Like you say, let the clutch out and it will shift again. Don't force it or your next post will be about it jumping out of 2nd gear.

 

[manwhoride]

Mine does that on occasion. Like you say, let the clutch out and it will shift again. Don't force it or your next post will be about it jumping out of 2nd gear.

Well, one thing in my favor so far and that is that the tech at the dealer rode the bike and was able to duplicate the shifting problem. He said he had never experienced anything like this before and called Yamaha to get them involved. I only have 4500 miles on the bike and don't ride very agressively at all. But this issue happened two day after getting the bike. We'll see what if anything Yamaha chooses to do. I don't have Y.E.S I have another extended warrantee company. However, and fortunately I am still covered by Yamaha for the year. I'm getting nervous as I am hearing that Yamaha never replaces wlith new a problem they determine is fixable. I'm worried about the level of competency at my dealer digging into a gear box of an FJR.

 

[Bogey907]

Please keep us posted on what develops.

Mine has done it occasionally since new also. I don't think shift lever hygiene is the problem.

 

[cometman]

Sometimes mine won't shift into 1st from neutral when at a stop light or stop sign. I shift up to 2nd and then back down to 1st or just start out in 2nd. Only problem with shifting I have ever had.

 

[BwanaDik]

Get an AE, problem solved!!

Actually, I've had something similar on the AE as well as a number of other bikes (with manual clutches, sheesh, how so YESTERDAY) of different brands. However, it only occurs when doing a "high performance stop", i.e., hauling it down hard enough just before the ABS kicks in. It's like the trans can't keep up with the dramatic slow down of the rear end. Never had a problem other than having to fiddle around with the clutch/shifter a little to get everything back organised once I've stopped.

 

[Intech]

Sometimes mine won't shift into 1st from neutral when at a stop light or stop sign. I shift up to 2nd and then back down to 1st or just start out in 2nd. Only problem with shifting I have ever had.

I have experienced not going back into gear after a stop and in neutral. Usual correct by clutching and rolling forward or back a little. Never while moving, though.

 

[boomerang]

Mine does that on occasion. Like you say, let the clutch out and it will shift again. Don't force it or your next post will be about it jumping out of 2nd gear.

Well, one thing in my favor so far and that is that the tech at the dealer rode the bike and was able to duplicate the shifting problem. He said he had never experienced anything like this before and called Yamaha to get them involved. I only have 4500 miles on the bike and don't ride very agressively at all. But this issue happened two day after getting the bike. We'll see what if anything Yamaha chooses to do. I don't have Y.E.S I have another extended warrantee company. However, and fortunately I am still covered by Yamaha for the year. I'm getting nervous as I am hearing that Yamaha never replaces wlith new a problem they determine is fixable. I'm worried about the level of competency at my dealer digging into a gear box of an FJR.

When I first got my 06, I had a lot of shifting issues. Like you say,some times it wouldn't down shift,or it would be hard going into first,or would be hard going from 1st. to 2nd. After the first 3 or 4 oil changes the problem had all but gone away. I now use 20W40api/sj and the only time I notice any problems shifting is when my oil starts getting dirty and is ready to be changed.

 

[rok312]

See this thread: Clicky

My '07 was horrible...until I did the clutch soak. Do it...you'll experience a brand new bike with a clutch that shifts like butter. I sh1t you not.

 

[johnny80s]

Brian try a clutch soak. I bet that fixes it. Read thought the thread that was posted by rok.

 

[jameswilson]

Hi,

I have a similar issue with an 07AE 4,000 miles. In the last month or so, in the morning or in the rain, the bike has several times bogged down hard when coming to a stop, one time it stalled. When restarted the bike was fine. It felt like the clutch was not disengaging. I have been thinking electrical due to the link to moisture (morning / rain).

Please let us know what you find.

 

[manwhoride]

Hi,I have a similar issue with an 07AE 4,000 miles. In the last month or so, in the morning or in the rain, the bike has several times bogged down hard when coming to a stop, one time it stalled. When restarted the bike was fine. It felt like the clutch was not disengaging. I have been thinking electrical due to the link to moisture (morning / rain).

Please let us know what you find.

10-4

 

[manwhoride]

As promised I am following up on the results of the shifting problems...Be it a gremlin, dumb luck or I fixed it myself here is the answer..

We fjr owners have been blessed with an adjusting ring on our clutch and brake levers. That said, all else failing, and my brain about to explode I said to myself, self coma, fiddle with the adjusting ring to see if that will give enough clutch free play before engaging and disengaging to make a difference. In all honesty, I feel a little silly even sharing this as I am relatively sure the type of clutch the fjr uses has nothing to do with the engaging or disengaging by adjusting the clutch lever. However, I either wanted to see more free play or in fact taking the adjustment from the #5 position to the #3 position the clutch engaged with about a ½ inch more free play before coming to the handle bar than it did on the #5 setting. Now, my novice mechanical talents in full play I deduced that if the clutch engages with at least 1 1/2” to spare before all the travel is gone and flush to the handle bar perhaps my desire to come up with a reasonable solution has won out. Or, my crack pipe is jammed up, and I had a taste of normality for a moment, and I actually fixed the problem. However, when I told the “Master Mechanic” at my dealer what I had done with the results of my genius he in a very arrogant way told me that no way what I had done would fix the problem I was having. He went on to explain all about tolerances of the gears and how the synchronization worked in the gear box, and with a wet clutch it is impossible for the lever adjustment to make a difference relative to clutch free play. He told me that that only adjusts rider comfort, and I told him I now had about 1000 miles of perfect down shifting since I made the clutch lever

“more comfortable.” It has never done it since… If he is right, and it was gremlins, I just ask that you allow me to feast on the victory of ignorance for the time being. However, if anyone of you that have had the same problems as I mentioned in the previous thread, and you still experience this problem, see if dumb luck will work for you by adjusting the ring to the # 3 position if it is at the # 5 position.... Nuff said!!

For the record, I am not telling Yamaha International the problem if fixed, just in case the tranny grenades. After all, what I did won’t fix the problem….right?