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Message started by Oldnewguy on 08/09/09 at 06:03:49

Title: Shift rod adjustment
Post by Oldnewguy on 08/09/09 at 06:03:49

I am having trouble getting into 5th gear. Sometimes it's mushey and other times it feels like it's only part of the way in. Also I think that sometimes it drops into fourth by itself. Can this be adjusted on the shift rod? If not, how?

Title: Re: Shift rod adjustment
Post by Serowbot on 08/09/09 at 11:53:18

If you think it might be caused by the lever being too high,.. try it and see if it helps...
Sounds like your not pulling up far enough,.... or, shift dogs are going...

Title: Re: Shift rod adjustment
Post by ls650v on 08/09/09 at 12:37:02

A number of us have problems with a notchy 4-5 shift. Keep upward pressure on the shift lever when letting out the clutch. You will feel the gear click into place.

Title: Re: Shift rod adjustment
Post by Oldnewguy on 08/09/09 at 14:58:23

Thanks, I'll give it a try.

Title: Re: Shift rod adjustment
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 08/10/09 at 08:31:31

Ive held my toe up on the shifter when I didnt feel it click in, Ive not done same, Ive let the clutch out & pulled it back in & tried to UNCH the shifter up a bit, never moves like its doing anything. But, Ive never had it drop out of 5th once I let the clutch out. Sometimes it just goes all the way into 5th, sometimes No, If it starts acting like it doesnt want to play, I stop using the clutch & just shift it. Roll the throttle off, jack the shifter & hit the gas & Its never balked on me that way. Now 1st to 2nd,, thats a different story. I dont play that clutchless anymore, too big a jump in gearing to get it smoothly & down that low, any engine RPM difference has the gearing to lurch the bike around, so, I figure if I cant get it down pat after a number of attempts, I better not fool with it.

Title: Re: Shift rod adjustment
Post by ralfyguy on 08/10/09 at 09:40:34

1st to 2nd gear is always kinda rough anyways. The higher I rev in first gear, the rougher the shift into 2nd. It kinda grinds then. If I just use 1st to roll off the line and then shift into 2nd it's not as bad. Anyone have the same problem? It's not the clutch adjustment, I got that adjusted spot on, and it's only from 1st to 2nd.

Title: Re: Shift rod adjustment
Post by Oldnewguy on 08/10/09 at 12:00:58

I took a ride with the idea of paying a little more attention to the 5th gear shift thing. Each time I shifted, I felt 2 distinct clicks. I tried it several times and each time it was the same. First a mushy ckick and then a distinct click. I think what was happening was I was going to the first click and thought I was in 5th gear when actually I never got there cause I didn't go far enough. So when I checked to see if I was in 5th, I thought it had dropped into 4th. A few weeks ago I added a tach so I could tell what gear I was in, but the difference between 4th and 5th at 50mph is only 300 rpm. So I guess I really shouldn't care if I am in 4th or 5th, especially on short trips.

Does this make any sense?

Title: Re: Shift rod adjustment
Post by Duane on 08/10/09 at 13:04:21

At least you can still change gears, I so bummed out about my clutch I could cry. I still have not had anyone verify if I have to take the pipe off to get the trans cover off? I really don't want to break those bolts that hold the pipe to the cylinder. I have a feeling the transmission cover bolts will be so long though that I will no be able to get them out with the pipe still on.

Title: Re: Shift rod adjustment
Post by serenity3743 on 08/10/09 at 13:53:57

60776677776533070 wrote:

Yeah, I've noticed that probably 60 - 75% of the time I've got a "2-click" shift from 4th to 5th. I thought it was just my bike, but it sounds like a lot of others have this too. Brain Trust, what is the explanation for this? :-?

Title: Re: Shift rod adjustment
Post by verslagen1 on 08/10/09 at 14:29:25

Someone discribed it as notchy.
That's it to a tee.

On my '96, it got notchy when it needed oil.

Title: Re: Shift rod adjustment
Post by Oldnewguy on 08/10/09 at 14:39:26

Transmission oil??

Title: Re: Shift rod adjustment
Post by verslagen1 on 08/10/09 at 15:20:41

67706170706234000 wrote:

Transmission oil??

You're still shiney arentcha Newby.

Oil is common to the tranny and engine. All 2 qts of it. spread around real thin.

Title: Re: Shift rod adjustment
Post by Oldnewguy on 08/10/09 at 15:49:10

You betcha. New to bikes, but been around almost 69 years.

Title: Re: Shift rod adjustment
Post by Pabst 2006 on 08/10/09 at 18:56:56

4E5D505A455B49453C0 wrote:

Exact same problem. My clutch was adjusted by the shop not too long ago. I like to use the powerband from, say, 3500-5500 RPMish, which means on acceleration I'm doing upshifts into 2nd @ 30, 3rd @ 55, etc.

When going into 2nd it grinds, and as far as my reading on the 'net has got me, is that the 1st-2nd grind means the dogs in the tranny gears are contacting metal-to-metal and grinding.

I found when going 1st-2nd or 2nd-1st it grinds less (or not at all) if I apply pressure more firmly than usual to the shift lever. If I try to do it more gently it'll grind or sometimes just shift into Neutral and not make it into the desired gear in 1 step.

-Pabst

Title: Re: Shift rod adjustment
Post by ralfyguy on 08/11/09 at 09:26:56

5757545740030001320 wrote:

[quote author=4E5D505A455B49453C0 link=1249823029/0#5 date=1249922434]When going into 2nd it grinds, and as far as my reading on the 'net has got me, is that the 1st-2nd grind means the dogs in the tranny gears are contacting metal-to-metal and grinding.

Does that mean something is broke/worn out?

Title: Re: Shift rod adjustment
Post by Pabst 2006 on 08/14/09 at 14:11:35

Nope, mine did that since it was brand spanking new. I've noticed other members over the last year have made comments about it happening from time to time, with specifically the 1-2 / 2-1 shift.
The Savage's got a transmission with its own quirks just like other bikes do, I guess. Besides the 1-2 shift grinding, you'll hear people post about the 4-5 upshift issue (with the newer bikes that have a 5th gear), getting the bike out of neutral when sitting still at a traffic light (for those who shift into neutral at a redlight - not me personally), and I'm sure there are other things too, I just can't remember at the moment.

-Pabst