Motorcycle Repair: Hi Falcon-I have a question..., honda cx 500, push rod

Question
Hi Falcon-I have a question about a 1982 Honda CX 500 Custom. I'm having trouble getting second gear to engage. I have to really jam it, and a lot of times it ends up grinding. The problem is just going from neutral or first to second, not coming down from third to second. All the other gears work fine.

Last summer the bike was stolen and wrecked (a couple times, judging by the damage) The shifter was bent, as was the knob the shifter is attached to going into the casing. I haven't had problems until relatively recently though. I don't know if its related.

Is it possible this is a clutch problem? (I don't really want it to be a transmission problem.)
Thanks,
Dan

Answer
Hi Dan.
 My guess is that it is related to the accident.  Most likely, something cracked internally or has been bent.  

Start by double checking the shift shaft that you said may be bent.  Then check the clutch push rod that runs through the engine.  See if that is bent or broken.

If the clutch is properly adjusted and nothing is wrong with those two things, then that only leaves the transmission.

Good luck.
FALCON