Difficulty shifting from 2nd to 3rd [Archive]

dickhein

03-19-2005, 12:59 PM

On my new (to Me) R90/6 I have noticed that the transmission shifts well from 2nd to 3rd as long as the RPMs are below about 4000. Above 4000, it will not go into gear. It seems to lodge between 3rd and 4th. When this happens I have to tap the shift lever down into third or up again into 4th. I have tried making the shift more deliberate or just quickly. Either way the result is the same. Any thoughts on what I am facing here?

boofer

03-19-2005, 01:57 PM

Try preloading the shifter. Never had to on the airhead, but it works great on the R1100RS.

Tim

GregFeeler

03-19-2005, 04:28 PM

On my new (to Me) R90/6 I have noticed that the transmission shifts well from 2nd to 3rd as long as the RPMs are below about 4000. Above 4000, it will not go into gear. It seems to lodge between 3rd and 4th. When this happens I have to tap the shift lever down into third or up again into 4th. I have tried making the shift more deliberate or just quickly. Either way the result is the same. Any thoughts on what I am facing here?

Do you know the last time the clutch splines were lubed? They need to be every 20,000 to 30,000 miles. You'll get different opinions on the mileage, but they do need it from time to time. If they are dry one symptom can be hard gear changes. Under load (high RPM) the cluch disk my not be fully disengaging due to the dry splines.

bprigge

03-19-2005, 05:24 PM

I agree with Gregg. I just lubed the splines on my R75/6 and it shifts noticably better. Bruce

dickhein

03-19-2005, 08:35 PM

I don't know when this was done last, but I'll find out. Thanks...Dick

dickhein

03-19-2005, 08:37 PM

Try preloading the shifter. Never had to on the airhead, but it works great on the R1100RS.

Tim

You mean applying upward pressure on the shifter before changing gears? ...Dick

James.A

03-20-2005, 08:47 AM

In addition to the spline lube, if the bike sat un-used for more than 2 riding seasons, try a double gear oil change. Fresh gear oil, a ride of around 100 miles and then dump it and re-fill.

boofer

03-20-2005, 10:07 AM

Correct.....not a cure if you have a problem elsewhere. Just the simple thing to try first. Make sure the cable and release lever is properly anjusted. It wouldn't hurt to clean and lube the thrust bearing (throwout bearing) as on occasion they will cause the pushrod to spin and drill a hole into the pressure plate.

Tim