need to settle and argument with my dad over the primary chain issues I've been having. my 86' has the 4 spd kicker and every now and then is missing a gear or two. usually 2nd or 3rd downshifting or upshifting. I already knew that the primary chain had a ton of slack in it, so I just ran the adjuster up as much as I could to at least get it rideable becuz the bike had been sitting for so long and not getting ridden. well it shifted great for about a week. you could hear the chain slap a little but it was working fine. til just a few days ago it started the usual routine missing of gears. My dads argument was that his hd mechanic buddy said that a slack chain would not cause missing gears when shifting. Now my common sense tells me that if the engine is connected to the primary which is connected to the clutch which is connected to the tranny and if the chain is so sloppy that it can't send the message to the clutch then theres your problem! right?

 

Its 9:54, I'm sittin here drinking Pabst Blue Ribbon and eating popcorn. My bike does the same thing. I have the 5 speed though. I would think that it has to do with the make up of the trany, the shift lever assembly moving too far or not far enough and it dosn't line up that "roller thing" on top of the transmission. I say this cause i have put on a new chain and tensioner, and adjusted the clutch to get it perfect, and it still "Ghost Shifts."

 

I'd think it would be the Shifter dogs/shift forks/dog rings.

 

appreciate the responses, I'll slap on a new chain and tensioner, and get myself the shifter dog,fork, and rings too. probably will still "ghost shift" lets just hope not at a moment I really need to! again...sigh...lol still love the old bike no matter what.

 

I don't think it's the chain either. Not that you don't need a new chain, but that's not causing your shifting issues.

 

Have to agree,here.I would say with allmost a 100% it is not the chain,However if it is that loose you more than likley need one.If it breaks on a sporty it could bust the case.I would be looking at the shift pawl,Spring,Forks And drum.as the wear is more than likley in there.