Can't shift to neutral
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Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,340
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From: Upstate NY
Can't shift to neutral
AAAAHHHHHH! What a beautiful day it is here today in Upstate NY. I brought the ride out of the garage, clean her off and went to start.......but it won't shift into neutral!!!!! I did get it started and blew out some of the fuel stabilizer but had to do it while holding the clutch in. I tried to rock it back and forth hoping to break it free. I even walked it half way down the driveway and back again but to no avail. Now at the beginning of the winterI did lay it down and bend the shift lever but I did get back into neutral after that. The last time I started it (about twomonthsago) it was in neutral and she started just fine. Now it seems like some gremlin worked it's way in and now this. The shifter was fixed and and it is clearing the side of the cover and the lever seems to be shifting up and down just fine. I did have the shift lever off to replace it and I'm wondering if it is possible that it isn't lined up right or something. I checked and the peg seems to be in the correct position since I can fit my foot (wearing boots) under the peg to shift up. I checked the service manual and couldn't find anything on this. I was so phsyched and ready to run today and now this![:@] Anybody got any ideas for me? Please!
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 918
Likes: 1
From: Iowa
RE: Can't shift to neutral
Does the nuetral light come on? I bet it is in gear, after playing with the peg it would be hard to tell where it ended up. The shifter will return to center and look the same whatever the gear it is in.
I would try to ride it and shift through the gears to free it up. Since you have been able to start it in gear and not take off on you through a wall, I kinda doubt that it is a clutch, but I am betting something is gummed up and not releasing. I think that once it warms up a bit, it will work. Can't be a good thing, but not the end of the world.
I am hoping a wrench will step in and give a better description, if needed, but I should be close.
I would try to ride it and shift through the gears to free it up. Since you have been able to start it in gear and not take off on you through a wall, I kinda doubt that it is a clutch, but I am betting something is gummed up and not releasing. I think that once it warms up a bit, it will work. Can't be a good thing, but not the end of the world.
I am hoping a wrench will step in and give a better description, if needed, but I should be close.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,438
Likes: 3
From: Chesterfield, VA
RE: Can't shift to neutral
Is the clutch cable adjusted properly. Starting with the easiest possible fix first. Should be about an 1/8 inch of play in the lever. If not, adjustment may do the trick. If not, next may be adjusting the clutch itself.
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,049
Likes: 12
From: USI
RE: Can't shift to neutral
If it worked fine before it got laid down, it probably bent something and is NOT the clutch.
It may have bent a shift fork or twisted the shift shaft as it was probably in gear when it got laid down. If the shifter got hit in the lay down it may have tried to push/pull the lever and bent something while the transmission was still in a gear.
I'd check it out before I went too far. But then transmissions are only $500 or so.......... It's the changing them out thats the pits.
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It may have bent a shift fork or twisted the shift shaft as it was probably in gear when it got laid down. If the shifter got hit in the lay down it may have tried to push/pull the lever and bent something while the transmission was still in a gear.
I'd check it out before I went too far. But then transmissions are only $500 or so.......... It's the changing them out thats the pits.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,340
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From: Upstate NY
RE: Can't shift to neutral
I'm thinking that something might be gummed up because of the real cold weather. I don't get the neutral light but I DID before. The shift lever was bent but there was no damage to the primary cover body itself. The derby cover is scratched but there are no dents, it's not caved in or any other major damage. There doesn't seem to be too much play with the clutch cable because when I start to release it, the bike starts forward movement right off as it should. I don't know, I'll have to wait until the weather turns and at least stays above freezing for more than an afternoon. Thanks for input so far............
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 163
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From:
RE: Can't shift to neutral
The only way I can ever get mine into nuetral is to put it in nuetral while the engine is running. I simply can't get it there with the engine off. I almost always put it in nuetral now every time I get ready to shut the engine off to save myself the headache of trying to back it out of the garage in gear.
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Road Warrior
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From: Upstate NY
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From:
RE: Can't shift to neutral
ORIGINAL: Bluetoys
Does the nuetral light come on? I bet it is in gear, after playing with the peg it would be hard to tell where it ended up. The shifter will return to center and look the same whatever the gear it is in.
I would try to ride it and shift through the gears to free it up. Since you have been able to start it in gear and not take off on you through a wall, I kinda doubt that it is a clutch, but I am betting something is gummed up and not releasing. I think that once it warms up a bit, it will work. Can't be a good thing, but not the end of the world.
I am hoping a wrench will step in and give a better description, if needed, but I should be close.
Does the nuetral light come on? I bet it is in gear, after playing with the peg it would be hard to tell where it ended up. The shifter will return to center and look the same whatever the gear it is in.
I would try to ride it and shift through the gears to free it up. Since you have been able to start it in gear and not take off on you through a wall, I kinda doubt that it is a clutch, but I am betting something is gummed up and not releasing. I think that once it warms up a bit, it will work. Can't be a good thing, but not the end of the world.
I am hoping a wrench will step in and give a better description, if needed, but I should be close.
Did you shift all the way up to 6th, and then back down to first, then back to nuetral?
I really can't see how you could have broken anything, by dropping your bike unless you broke the shifter shaft. If that is broken, it should fall out with your shift lever.
Let us know what you find out.
DougJ
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Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,340
Likes: 0
From: Upstate NY
RE: Can't shift to neutral
No, theshaft didn't fall out, but I did notice that when the lever was off that the shaft slides in and out (a little but stops and won't fall out) without the lever on. There is a spacer there and when I put the lever back on everything seems fine. Is that shaft supposed to slide in and out without the lever on? I plan on taking it out this coming weekend since the weather is supposed to be nice and clear (cold as heck though). But we'll see what happens at that time. Unless of course the sliding shaft is a problem.