QuestionHi Mark,
I recently bought an '84 Shadow 700, and absolutely love the bike. A few weeks ago I was riding it (ironically to the part store to get parts for my '81 Honda CB650) when I noticed that the shifter started feeling like it was sticking, requiring more effort to shift. I believe I was in third gear when I pulled up to a stoplight, shifted down into first gear, and waited for the light to change. I took off and went to shift up into second, but it wouldn't go. I tried repeatedly to get it to upshift, but no luck. Luckily for me I was close to home, so I rode home in first gear.
The shifter feels like it has no resistance, and will not shift out of first gear. My clutch is working fine (bike rolls when clutch is engaged). I am stumped, please help!
AnswerHi Ryan,
I suspect the shifter linkage has separated or broken. The side cover will need to be removed for further investigation.
Usually a minor fix, but all fixes are expensive.
Respectfully,
Mark Shively
Gear Shifting Faulty:
Doesn't go into gear; shift pedal doesn't return:
Clutch not disengaging
Shift fork bent or seized
Gear stuck on the shaft
Gear position lever binding
Shift return spring weak or broken
Shift return spring pin loose
Shift mechanism arm spring broken
Shift mechanism arm broken
Shift pawl broken
Jumps out of gear:
Shift fork worn
Gear groove worn
Gear dogs and/or dog holes worn
Shift drum groove worn
Gear positioning lever spring weak or broken
Shift fork pin worn
Drive shaft, output shaft, and/or gear splines worn
Over-shifts:
Gear positioning lever spring weak or broken
Shift mechanism arm spring broken
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Motorcycle Transmissions... Care & Feeding
There are certain techniques which should be adhered to when shifting a motorcycle transmission and the Valkyrie is no different. If the "dogs" are not quite seated all the way in any particular gear, a motorcycle's transmission will tend to very rapidly find a false neutral and then either grab the gear again or downshift into the next lower gear. This will create a very jerky, noisy condition which usually scares the rider into thinking the
bike is about ready to explode.
This article is to show how to stop this "false neutral" from occurring, but if one finds him/her self in that situation; one should decrease speed to almost stopped with the clutch pulled in and then "stab" it into the next lower gear with a quick, firm stab. Trying to do it slowly and tentatively is terribly destructive to the gears and will potentially break off teeth (cogs) as well as rounding off the corners of the "dogs" (very large cogs which actually do the gear engaging).
The most common reason for finding a false neutral is being tentative with one's shifts. One should not attempt to "feel" the shift from one gear to the next. Shifting should be done in an assertive manner with a quick "stab". Doing it slowly so as to not harm the internal shifting mechanics is one of the hardest, worst things one can do to the transmission's shifting assy. The transmission is designed to take considerable abuse due to the differentials in toe pressures from different riders plus the fact that there are no "synchro's" to "feel" through.
There are very large "teeth" associated with each gear called "dogs" (usually from four to twelve per gear), which actually do the engaging for each gear. The gears themselves are always engaged. Since the dogs are so large, they have flat ends which can come in contact with each other and stop the shifting forks from making a full shift. This is the situation which occurs when finding a "false neutral". The clearances are so tight that very often the tranny will pop in and out of the gear it's attempting to engage.
Tentative, or slowly trying to feel into the next gear, will round off the corners of these dogs and thereby allow a tranny to pop in and out of the gear. Due to the mechanics of the shifting design; a positive assertive shift is necessary to fully engage the gear. Don't try to "feel" the way into the next gear as one would do in a car while shifting. This "feel" in "cages" is to allow the synchronous mesh to equalize the shaft speeds of the two gears before engagement. On any motorcycle, including the Valk, the shift should be quick and firm because there are no synchros and the gears are already engaged.
One way to greatly diminish the shifting "clunk" when going from a lower gear to the next higher gear is to slightly preload the shifter with your toe just before bringing in the clutch lever and then as the clutch lever is squeezed, disengaging the clutch; firmly uplift on the toe to reach and fully engage the next gear. This "trick" almost eliminates the clunky shifts so commonly complained about by newcomers to the Valk's shifting intricacies.
Downshifting smoothly is merely done by practicing getting the engine rpm to match the shaft rpm when the clutch is disengaged just before downshifting and letting the clutch back out in the next lower gear. This can be done so smoothly that a passenger wouldn't notice the downshift at all with practice.
Downshifting in this manner also reduces rear tire wear since most of the wear to one's rear tire is done when downshifting and braking due to the coefficient of friction being compromised during this procedure unless it's done very smoothly. When the coefficient of friction is overcome by engine braking, in combination with rear brake pedal being applied; the tire instantaneously temporarily "locks up". The rider is usually oblivious to the occurrence of the rear tire locking up unless it's extreme because it is so temporary; but it, nevertheless, is quite common. If this is allowed to occur in each downshifted gear every time one comes to a stop; the accumulative effect is a greatly reduced total mileage realized on the rear tire before it's completely worn out.
Since most braking should be accomplished using the front brake (at least 75%); the rear brake should be used very conservatively on a routine basis when downshifting (using the above described technique). The extra mileage realized on the rear tire will save a lot of unnecessary replacement expense.
Marty Rood, :-)
This is good advice, as I can attest. Last year I was convinced my Valk had a tranny defect because of the shifting troubles described above. After modifying my shifting technique (per MR's advice), I've had no more gear-jumping. For me, the trick was in holding the shifter up (during upshifts) until I've released the clutch and begun to roll on power. It's easy and ensures positive engagement. –
Posted by Jim E. on GWRRA Valkyrie Board May 28, 1998 at 09:16:28:
