Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums General Tech Sticky Gears

Had a problem that just came up on my last few rides.
It's like the gear just doesn't want to shift, like it's locked up or stuck. After two or three tries, it finally shifts. No noisy clunks or grinding or anything. I'm engaging the clutch fully and giving the shifter plenty of umph with my foot, so that's not it. Downshifts are fine.
So far, it seems to be only happening on shifts betwen 2nd & 3rd, and 3rd to 4th. It shifts to first from standing still and into second just fine.
It doesn't happen every time, but most times.
Any ideas?

With what you are saying I would go for agjusting the clutch, not much else I can really think of at the moment (just got up) How many miles on the bike??

Just thought try adjusting where the gear lever resides so it is easier to get to with your foot for changing gears also check to see if the gear lever bar is not bent..

how many miles on the bike, and service done recently?

Frank

Has the bike been dropped on the left side?

Don't know if this will help any

6600 miles and change on bike
Shift rod looks ok.
No dropping, no recent service, nothing's been done or tinkered with.
Never had a problem shifting before, just appeared.
Some sort of clutch adjustment is what i'm thinking like birchr said...at least i hope that's all it is!

Does it do it at random times, or only when cold/hot/something else?

I doubt if it's a clutch problem since you can downshift okay. I never use my clutch on upshifts and it clicks right in slick as you please. Check the adjustment anyway.

How about your oil? Changed recently? if not change it and use 10W40 full synthetic motorcycle specific oil, or Rotella syn, see the tech section for oil recommendations.

Oil Forum

It does not do this every time but about every other time, so, yeah, i guess it's random.
The bike is warmed up enuf when i take it out. It has just started doing this so i haven't ridden it for a real long time to get it hot and see if it still has the shift problem.
Oil was changed about 460 miles back with Mobil 4T Racing Oil 15w-50w fully synthetic.
I don't see that the clutch needs any adjusting really, freeplay is right at what the Haynes manual says and the lever pulls in fine. Nothing has changed, nothing done, i don't run it hard...just one day it starts doing this...kinda perplexing. i might try not using the clutch for upshifts, i have only not used the clutch for upshifts when going from first to second, but rarely. If i get time i'll take it out this weekend for a bit longer before the ice storm hits next week here.
I just hope it's not a tranny problem, which i would think would be more unlikely than a clutch problem...but, i don't know, it's weird. I may have to break down and take it in.
Since it is random, it probably won't do it when i take it the dealer.

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Does it do it at random times, or only when cold/hot/something else?

I doubt if it's a clutch problem since you can downshift okay. I never use my clutch on upshifts and it clicks right in slick as you please. Check the adjustment anyway.

How about your oil? Changed recently? if not change it and use 10W40 full synthetic motorcycle specific oil, or Rotella syn, see the tech section for oil recommendations.

Oil Forum

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Check the clutch cable itself. May have a few broken strands binding it up.

Adjust the free play at the bottom (trans) end and tighten up the adjuster at the lever.
I only use the lever adjuster for short term adjustments and take the slack out ASAP.

It's not a clutch problem. Following a recent thread here, I've started upshifting without using the clutch at all. It snicks into every gear slick as a greased weasel. In your situation, I would stop riding the bike until it's checked out. Things like this can go from merely annoying to "Oh - carp!" in an instant. What if something's loose because a screw has backed out, and the screw finally falls into the gears? Not the time to keep ridin' her, IMO.

I'd agree with that.