Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums General Tech Neutral problem?

Today I started to have problems shifting the bike into neutral (about an hour into my riding day). Normally, it's an easy find. Tried from first up, from second down....by the end of the day,no luck at all. I'd see the light come on as I'd try to put her into neutral, but I just couldn't catch the spot to drop it in. Rolled the bike a bit, asked politely...no luck. No other problems shifting into or out of any other gears. Trying to catch neutral from second down has always been tricky for me on any bike I've had, but My Pretty Bonnie has never given me this trouble going from 1st up. 4800 miles on the bike. I'm worried.

I didn't want to turn the bike off using the kill switch, so whenever we'd stop, I'd just put the kick stand down, in first gear, clutch in of course. Is this as bad as using the kill switch?

Any ideas on whad up wid dis?

So far that's happened to me once, when I'd been in major traffic and the bike (and weather) was hotter than usual. I chalked it up to the oil, engine and transmission being hotter than normal since it hasn't happened again.

Oh yeah, when it was going on I couldn't find neutral for love nor money...

Part 2: I've been killing the engine when I park with the sidestand switch since I got the bike and have no negative effects. So far. It's just like a foot operated kill switch...

Is everything from the shift lever to the shift arm tight? I mean, if you rattle the shift lever, is everything (lever, shift rod, arm) tight?

?? Or, in addition to what's been said, I wonder if the clutch cable simply needs to be tightened a bit?? The gearbox is pretty solid on these bikes, I doubt it's anything internal.

jh

I went into the garage to check on My Pretty Bonnie before heading to bed- the worried mother when her child is sick thing to do. Turned the key, pulled in the clutch, and -of course- she popped into neutral, down from second, even, easy as pie.

I used to have this trouble with my shovelhead if the engine got too hot/hot day/major traffic thing was going on, but as yesterday was mid 70s and we were cruising back roads I was a bit puzzled.

I'll check the shifter assembly and clutch cable today.

Thanks, guys!

This is usually one of two things - clutch cable tension needs adjusting, or someone's moved the gearshift lever to change the pedal's height, rather than adjusting the length of the shift rod at the ball joints on the ends.

If it only happens when the bike's hot, the cable only needs adjusting a bit.

I'm having the same problem Paula. I have a very hard time finding neutral. If I hit the kill switch she pops into neutral right away, no questions asked. It's also very easy early in the day but gets harder as the ride goes on.

I haven't found a solution to this problem yet.

Paula, is there any problem downshifting while stopped?
Do you have to rev it to downshift? Is it easier to get neutral while moving? If so your clutch may need to be adjusted.

If it wasn't out too bad, it might not effect shifting while moving.

Shift rod, lever and arm seemed tight enough today, nothing rattley or loose. Wasn't sure how much to tighten the clutch cable, so I left that alone. LOL.

Sandmann- when you say "the cable only needs adjusting a bit"....describe "a bit"? Or anyone else who's suggested adjusting the clutch cable? 1/4 turn? More?

Today I was only able to take a short test drive to see if I was having any problem on downshifting while stopped (or stopping, or accelerating), no need to rev while downshifting...everything seemed fine, but it was only a quick test drive with a couple of stops to find neutral and feel the gears do their thing.

Neutral seemed to be in it's usual "place" today. Hmmmmm.

Wojo- interesting that you're having the same trouble. If it happens again (but shhhhhhh! I'm a woman, and first like to try believing that given the chance, mechanical things sometimes fix themselves, it's been known to happen) I'll see what happens if it's easier to find neutral after I hit the kill switch/kickstand down. Yesterday, by the end of the day, I couldn't find it at all- the neutral light was just TAUNTING me as it quickly blinked at me. (Until a couple hours after the bike cooled down, then no problem.)