Shifter Sluggish

[tomatocity]

This is a pic of the bolt after I reinstalled it.

Jeff, have you removed the pivot bolt yet. Looking forward to your maintenance and possible modification.

 

[3putt]

This is turning out to be an inconsistent vague problem. I changed my oil, and it seemed to be like new again. BUT, after 100 miles or so, and sitting in a parking lot talking to someone while idling long enough to bring the engine temp up over 210F, my shifting was VERY stiff again, but seemed to ease as I rode home. Strange!

It is like the shifter dog inside the tranny does not have enough clearance to bounce back from a downshift so you can select the next gear. Keeping my eye on it.

 

[Jeff]

Yes I sure did Tim. The bolt has a grove in it for grease. For now I just used some White Grease and it working like it should. I'm going to see if we have some Lithium-soap based grease at work today and if we do I'll post some pic of the bolt later today as I take it apart again.

 

[roy]

This is turning out to be an inconsistent vague problem. I changed my oil, and it seemed to be like new again. BUT, after 100 miles or so, and sitting in a parking lot talking to someone while idling long enough to bring the engine temp up over 210F, my shifting was VERY stiff again, but seemed to ease as I rode home. Strange!

It is like the shifter dog inside the tranny does not have enough clearance to bounce back from a downshift so you can select the next gear. Keeping my eye on it.

Could be the clutch causing l this. A little drag or slippage goes a long way in creating a notch transmission. The heat comment has NE leaning towards the clutch. My bike shifts different at times and compared to my suzukis which are know to be the slickest transmission on two wheels the Yamaha has some long throws on the shifter. The suzukis are short throw and to the point.

 

[Tremor38]

This is turning out to be an inconsistent vague problem. I changed my oil, and it seemed to be like new again. BUT, after 100 miles or so, and sitting in a parking lot talking to someone while idling long enough to bring the engine temp up over 210F, my shifting was VERY stiff again, but seemed to ease as I rode home. Strange!

It is like the shifter dog inside the tranny does not have enough clearance to bounce back from a downshift so you can select the next gear. Keeping my eye on it.

Quote from Jeff's post "The bolt has a groove in it for grease" meaning the pivot bolt. How about trying the simpler things first?

 

[fredz43]

Ok, how about a basic question or 2? Does the pivot bolt take a Torx socket? Is it normal right hand threads?

I ask because with not the best lighting in my garage, I first tried to use a 6mm allen socket, then when it didn't come right out, I got a flashlight and it looks like a torx head. Using a torx socket, it still wouldn't budge, even using an impact hammer on the socket.

 

[jajpko]

Ok, how about a basic question or 2? Does the pivot bolt take a Torx socket? Is it normal right hand threads?

I ask because with not the best lighting in my garage, I first tried to use a 6mm allen socket, then when it didn't come right out, I got a flashlight and it looks like a torx head. Using a torx socket, it still wouldn't budge, even using an impact hammer on the socket.

I have a bad case of CRS.. lol So I don't remember if it was Torx or not. I used a small 3/8 drive breaker bar and it came out.
It is a normal r tighty l loosey. It does have a fair amount of what appears to be blue vibra tite or thread locker.

If you continue to have a problem, use a soldering iron on the head and it may help to loosen the thread locker.

 

[spklbuk]

It is like the shifter dog inside the tranny does not have enough clearance to bounce back from a downshift so you can select the next gear. Keeping my eye on it.

I know on my FJR you had to make absolutely certain to take your toe all the way off the shifter in between each gear (let it return completely up) when downshifing more than one gear with one clutching. Yamaha shaft bikes seem to be inherently pissy about downshifting.

 

[fredz43]

I have a bad case of CRS.. lol So I don't remember if it was Torx or not. I used a small 3/8 drive breaker bar and it came out.
It is a normal r tighty l loosey. It does have a fair amount of what appears to be blue vibra tite or thread locker.

If you continue to have a problem, use a soldering iron on the head and it may help to loosen the thread locker.

Ah, a little heat did the trick, thanks, Jim.

It was dry as a bone and had some corrosion on it already. Cleaned it up with some emery cloth, greased with some Bel Ray waterproof grease and put it back together. It calls for doing this every 6,000 miles, but I think I'll check it more often, probably with each oil change.

 

[3putt]

It was an allen shoulder bolt, and mine was gunked up also, and dry. DIY service is slipping it seems, hmmmm. I cleaned up both parts real good and greased. Can't tell any difference sitting on the center stand, but I bet this fixed the bad shifting. Thanks for the heads up, would never have guessed that little pivot would cause such sluggish to not being able to downshift.

 

[jajpko]

It was an allen shoulder bolt, and mine was gunked up also, and dry. DIY service is slipping it seems, hmmmm. I cleaned up both parts real good and greased. Can't tell any difference sitting on the center stand, but I bet this fixed the bad shifting. Thanks for the heads up, would never have guessed that little pivot would cause such sluggish to not being able to downshift.

I have found a number of bushings or wear parts that had no grease from the factory. This is just one.

 

[Tremor38]

I have found a number of bushings or wear parts that had no grease from the factory. This is just one.

Good stuff. That's somthing I can look into as the snow blows around outside. No problems yet, but some grease here and there sounds like good insurance.

 

[Firefight911]

OK, let's see how long it is before someone goes and gets a bearing set up in there! ::017:: ::017::

 

[tc9988]

OK, let's see how long it is before someone goes and gets a bearing set up in there! ::017:: ::017::

Or a grease nipple. Some former harley owner will get right on it. Mine has lots of visible factory grease ::008:: i've seen complaints about the exposed linkage being a potential problem, however looking at this setup if you were to mangle the shift lever you could just reach down and shift by hand if necessary :exclaim:

 

[~TABASCO~]

That would be really easy to install... Being that the shifter is steel, it should be easy to drill and tap for a grease bung..... anyone want to send me theres Ill try it out and install one... You just pay shipping...

 

[3putt]

OK, let's see how long it is before someone goes and gets a bearing set up in there! ::017:: ::017::

Good ideal Phil. I modified my 07 K12GT with bearing. Just takes finding a good bearing and turning the shoulder bolt down to ID of bearing. I'll get right on it. LOL

Grease fitting would be pretty easy also, might be better for a bike that goes in the dirty off road so often, hit it with the grease gun and force out the gunk.

 

[creggur]

I had no idea what PB Blaster was but it sounds great. I hope I don't need to carry a can of it with me although maybe they make a small can.

Been in the auto service/parts business for 15+ years and I can tell you that PB Blaster is loved by technicians for penetrating and loosening seized bolts due to corrosion and gunk and such. As far as spray lubricants go nothing is better than Wurth HHS-2000.

 

[Maxified]

Wurth makes some quality products. I think the HHS-2000 was supposedly improved and is called HHS-K now but I haven't used the new version.

 

[Kevhunts]

I have found a number of bushings or wear parts that had no grease from the factory. This is just one.

Finally got around to disassembling my shifter pivot only to find it had no lube at all! ::010::
Now that it's lubed, shifts like butter! ::012::

Wonder if the brake pedal pivot, or swing arm pivots got lubed from the factory? Guess I'll have to check them next.

 

[tomatocity]

Finally got around to disassembling my shifter pivot only to find it had no lube at all! ::010::
Now that it's lubed, shifts like butter! ::012::

Wonder if the brake pedal pivot, or swing arm pivots got lubed from the factory? Guess I'll have to check them next.

What did you use to lube the shifter?

Been waiting to hear if the swingarm pivots are lubed. The KLR has a history of not or poorly lubing the swingarm parts. They come from the factory with a white corrosion on the pivot bolts.