[bonza]

sometimes when I downshift gears the gear change pedal moves downwards freely but does not actually shift gear.

bit hard to explain, but its like there is nothing there as no resistance when pushing the pedal downward. after a couple of attempts the pedal or lever will then engage and shift into gear

mostly happens shifting from second down to first and only happens shifting down, never going up

any ideas of what could be the cause?

 

[Bron-Yr-Aur]

Mine did that often, but it's always my fault. I don't know how you shift, but I find that it happens when I downshift, say from 5th to 4th, but don't allow the shifter to come all the way up (my foot remains resting on the shifter). I try to go to 3rd, but it's as you say, with no resistance. I think I'm just not allowing the shifter to ratchet into place on the next gear.

It's even happened when sitting still, shifting into first from neutral, then trying to go back into neutral. Sometimes I'll have to release the clutch a little to move things around down there to get it back into neutral.

In either case, I think it's my fault for not deliberately allowing the bike to shift. It rarely happens now, but seems more likely if I'm wearing my clumsy boots.

 

[bonza]

Mine did that often, but it's always my fault. I don't know how you shift, but I find that it happens when I downshift, say from 5th to 4th, but don't allow the shifter to come all the way up (my foot remains resting on the shifter). .

took it for a ride and the problem re-occurred. made sure my foot wasnt resting on the gear shifter so thats not the cause

what mechanism allows the shifter to ratchet in place?

is there a spring that may be weakening and allowing it not to happen?

 

[clydeturbeaux]

My buddy's America suffered from the same result and he found a failed gearshift return spring at only about 18k miles.
Easy fix once the part was procured.
Don't forget to order a gasket (like he did)...

 

[mikeinva]

yea I would pull the little cover under the sprocket cover and check the springs

 

[Hotboppincat]

Having now read your post I would suggest that possibly you have the same problem as me. I will keep everybody updated as to what my problem was, perhaps this will help everyone else identify their own particular issues. Kev

 

[huggy39]

Mine did that often, but it's always my fault. I don't know how you shift, but I find that it happens when I downshift, say from 5th to 4th, but don't allow the shifter to come all the way up (my foot remains resting on the shifter). I try to go to 3rd, but it's as you say, with no resistance. I think I'm just not allowing the shifter to ratchet into place on the next gear.

It's even happened when sitting still, shifting into first from neutral, then trying to go back into neutral. Sometimes I'll have to release the clutch a little to move things around down there to get it back into neutral.

In either case, I think it's my fault for not deliberately allowing the bike to shift. It rarely happens now, but seems more likely if I'm wearing my clumsy boots.

I had the same problem resting my boots on the lever and not allowing the lever to return, adjusted the lever rod to lower the pedal position, problem solved

 

[bonza]

just a bit of an update, and because I have been spurred into action by hotboppincat's post.

read thru the Haynes manual and it lists a number of causes.

one includes going to a heavier oil than recommended, and I have switched to 20w-50, plus another cause could be the clutch not releasing due to much play or slop in the clutch lever. it is only meant to be 1-2mm as forchetto showed with some illustrations in the other post

I dont intend to go to a slightly thinner oil, especially as down under we are getting into summer, but I checked my clutch lever free play and it was way over spec, about 5mm

therefore adjusted it to 2mm. felt funny at first and took a while to get used to, but as I had to go to the city and after a hundred kilometers of stop and go traffic didn't have a problem with it except maybe once, and then I am not sure if my boot was entirely off the lever

problem now seems solved

 

[Hotboppincat]

just a bit of an update, and because I have been spurred into action by hotboppincat's post.

read thru the Haynes manual and it lists a number of causes.

one includes going to a heavier oil than recommended, and I have switched to 20w-50, plus another cause could be the clutch not releasing due to much play or slop in the clutch lever. it is only meant to be 1-2mm as forchetto showed with some illustrations in the other post

I dont intend to go to a slightly thinner oil, especially as down under we are getting into summer, but I checked my clutch lever free play and it was way over spec, about 5mm

therefore adjusted it to 2mm. felt funny at first and took a while to get used to, but as I had to go to the city and after a hundred kilometers of stop and go traffic didn't have a problem with it except maybe once, and then I am not sure if my boot was entirely off the lever

problem now seems solved

Cool! Enjoy the summer mate, us whingeing poms have nothing but gales and relentless rain at the moment lol (We have good reason to whinge sometimes lol)

:SadSigh

 

[Shospeedmaster]

I had the similar issue when my Thruxton was less than 50 miles new... Adjusted my clutch and wear a stiffer motorcycle boot. Took it out today for a 60 some miles ride.... The issue was not existing any longer

 

[scottslob]

I had that problem as well, told my dealer before I had the bike serviced... I believe that it was a clutch adjustment issue..