Lost 1st. Gear

Energy One

K9husker

Member
I was riding last night in town and came up to a stop light in second gear, when i down shifted the lever moved freely but i had no neutral, and no first gear. It was like that entire part of the gear box box was gone. I rode a couple of miles and suddenly neutral and first came back. Is this just something that happens or is there a big time issue with the trans.
 

Fibersnake

Banjo Playing PsychoBilly
Not something that normally happens. May jsut need and adjustment of the pawls or the shift rod/lever. Some good info on here somewhere that address the shift pawls and how to adjust. Try the search feature or someone else that has more experience may jump soon.

Good luck and let us know how you make out.
 

RRRUFF

Well-Known Member
Hey K9husker, be sure your heim joints are binding up when the bike gets hot. When you shift it should spring back. Mine would stick when I would down shift and I would have to lift the shifter back up with my foot before I could make another shift. Change the heim joints no more problem. Hope its just that simple.
 

TXDOG

Wide Open Throttle
Hey K9husker,
Mine did it just the other day when I went to the shop and I told the mechanic what it was doing and he checked it out and said he did'nt see anything wrong so he lubed it up on the shift linkage and it was working fine. Well the bike had cooled off during this time and on the way home it started again. I was changing all the fluids out later that day and once I had changed everything to synthetic(AMSOIL) my problem went away. The only thing I could think it could have been was old oil in the tranny that needed to be replaced, maybe it wasn't letting everything sync properly once it had warmed up after riding, cause since I changed the tranny oil, she shifts like a dream no sticking or missing gears, and neutral is a breeze to find now. And all I did was change the oil.
 

kirk927

Member
Hey K9husker,
Mine did it just the other day when I went to the shop and I told the mechanic what it was doing and he checked it out and said he did'nt see anything wrong so he lubed it up on the shift linkage and it was working fine. Well the bike had cooled off during this time and on the way home it started again. I was changing all the fluids out later that day and once I had changed everything to synthetic(AMSOIL) my problem went away. The only thing I could think it could have been was old oil in the tranny that needed to be replaced, maybe it wasn't letting everything sync properly once it had warmed up after riding, cause since I changed the tranny oil, she shifts like a dream no sticking or missing gears, and neutral is a breeze to find now. And all I did was change the oil.
Did you use the Amsoil in the primary? I know it has motor and primary oil on the bottle, I'm thinking of doing this myself, just wanted to be sure it doesn't require specific primary oil like Revtech and Spectro primary oil.
 

TXDOG

Wide Open Throttle
Yep....checked the specs and all it requires is 20w50 in it. I'm telling you this beast runs as smooth as glass now.
 

PHATASS

Active Member
I was riding last night in town and came up to a stop light in second gear, when i down shifted the lever moved freely but i had no neutral, and no first gear. It was like that entire part of the gear box box was gone. I rode a couple of miles and suddenly neutral and first came back. Is this just something that happens or is there a big time issue with the trans.
I know this is an older post but curious if the problem was ever resolved? This same scenario has been happening to me these past several days. Just had my transmission rebuilt and hoping they aren't related.
 

bigdogtech01

Well-Known Member
I know this is an older post but curious if the problem was ever resolved? This same scenario has been happening to me these past several days. Just had my transmission rebuilt and hoping they aren't related.
Who rebuilt your transmission? They might not have adjusted your shift paw after the rebuild. Make sure the Hyme joints are moving freely on the shift linkage as well.
 

Bobby Schulz

Active Member
As said check hyme joints for no binding, and free movement...If that does not correct it you may need to adjust the shift paw on the side of the trans a little.
Its the one with the jam nut near top cover.
 

PHATASS

Active Member
As said check hyme joints for no binding, and free movement...If that does not correct it you may need to adjust the shift paw on the side of the trans a little.
Its the one with the jam nut near top cover.
Hyme joints are good. Looks like when I move the shift rode my pawl shaft moves in and out of the trans about an 1/8'' and can see fluid starting to work its way out. Also have some nasty brown oil leaking out around the shift pawl adjuster nut. Checked the movement forward and aft on the shift lever and it's equal in either direction. Really not looking forward to opening this thing up again.
 
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bigdogtech01

Well-Known Member
Hyme joints are good. Looks like when I move the shift rode my pawl shaft moves in and out of the trans about an 1/8'' and can see fluid starting to work its way out. Also have some nasty brown oil leaking out around the shift pawl adjuster nut. Checked the movement forward and aft on the shift lever and it's equal in either direction. Really not looking forward to opening this thing up again.
When you checked the adjustment were you in 3rd gear?
 
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