Shifter Sluggish

[Kevhunts]

What did you use to lube the shifter?

I've got a tube of marine grade grease I'm trying to use up so I went with that. Will have to see if the heat of summer melts it out of there.

 

[EricV]

<snip> only locks up in 4th when trying to downshift without letting the clutch out and going at a slow speed. Like when you get caught all of a sudden and have to stop or almost stop for traffic, and have to down shift real quick, will not shift below 4th.

This sounds like a normal issue, not related to the dry shifter pivot. If you're stopped, or very nearly so, it's not uncommon for the trans to not want to shift down more than one or two gears. Just ease out the clutch lever and you will hear a light clunk as the trans engages, then pull the lever back in and it will go down one more gear. Repeat as needed to get to neutral or 1st. No need to fully engage the clutch, just a little tension will rotate things enough for it to work for this.

 

[tomatocity]

This sounds like a normal issue, not related to the dry shifter pivot. If you're stopped, or very nearly so, it's not uncommon for the trans to not want to shift down more than one or two gears. Just ease out the clutch lever and you will hear a light clunk as the trans engages, then pull the lever back in and it will go down one more gear. Repeat as needed to get to neutral or 1st. No need to fully engage the clutch, just a little tension will rotate things enough for it to work for this.

I was having a similar issue though more severe at times. The problem was gone as soon as I cleaned (flushed) the shifter pivot. I have not lubed mine yet though will very soon.

 

[Bigbore4]

I experienced this on the way to work this AM.

After a couple of very frustrating stop lights, My brain warmed up and kicked in. I have yet to take it apart but am certain the pivot is dry / dirty. I got to work by simply getting my toe under the shifter and lifting it slightly. The drag did not allow the shifter to come back up to center. Lifting it just a little centered it, which allowed the internal ratchet to center and the hook pick up the next dog on the shifter drum.

Kind of a pain, but mine was so bad it would not downshift at all, this got me to work and will get me home so I can pull it down and clean and lube. Mine came on like right now, no intermittent symptoms at all.

 

[tomatocity]

I experienced this on the way to work this AM.

After a couple of very frustrating stop lights, My brain warmed up and kicked in. I have yet to take it apart but am certain the pivot is dry / dirty. I got to work by simply getting my toe under the shifter and lifting it slightly. The drag did not allow the shifter to come back up to center. Lifting it just a little centered it, which allowed the internal ratchet to center and the hook pick up the next dog on the shifter drum.

Kind of a pain, but mine was so bad it would not downshift at all, this got me to work and will get me home so I can pull it down and clean and lube. Mine came on like right now, no intermittent symptoms at all.

Before you take it apart shoot some PB Blaster or WD-40 or something that will clean and lubricate the bushing. This will make it function properly until you decide what you need to do.

 

[erenet]

Before you take it apart shoot some PB Blaster or WD-40 or something that will clean and lubricate the bushing. This will make it function properly until you decide what you need to do.

Thats what I had to do last Monday after riding all day Sunday in the rain, mud, some small puddles; washed it for 2 hours, I had to push the shifter up to center it to be able to shift down, I'll take the bolt out and lube it as you guys have done later today.

 

[Bigbore4]

Before you take it apart shoot some PB Blaster or WD-40 or something that will clean and lubricate the bushing. This will make it function properly until you decide what you need to do.

I am just going to pull it and clean and lube, it aint no deal.

For this specific joint, I use anti seize. Seems like the metallic content hangs in there better than anything else I have tried. Did it ONCE on my FJR and it has been good for tens of thousands of miles.

I have always been a Kroil fan. Gonna have to find me some of this PB stuff and try it.

 

[GM4X4]

Some motorcycle techs just use a spray lubricant on any pivot points. What is the do most here use?

 

[Dirt_Dad]

This is why I love our forum. I am litterally thousands of miles from home right now and my wife's bike decided it did not want to shift into 1st gear on command any longer. Been driving us crazy all day. After reading this thread I grabbed my shifter and moved it around. Then tried the same on the wife's bike. Her's was stiff and bound up. Don't have grease or spray lube, but do have some oil. Remove the screw, cleaned the pivot with oil and replaced. Nice and smooth now. Hope my problems are solved now.

THANKS!

 

[tomatocity]

This is why I love our forum. I am litterally thousands of miles from home right now and my wife's bike decided it did not want to shift into 1st gear on command any longer. Been driving us crazy all day. After reading this thread I grabbed my shifter and moved it around. Then tried the same on the wife's bike. Her's was stiff and bound up. Don't have grease or spray lube, but do have some oil. Remove the screw, cleaned the pivot with oil and replaced. Nice and smooth now. Hope my problems are solved now.

THANKS!

The dreaded sluggish shifter. It will continue to get dirty and sluggish especially if you ride off-road and on roads that are prepped for snow and ice. At least we know a quick spray of lube and we will be good until we get home where we can clean and grease it.

Wish someone would find seal(s) that would fit the shifter and shaft.

 

[Tremor38]

I inspected the pivot point today after fighting the super-strength loctite all the freaking way out on the retainer bolt. The inboard land looked nice and smooth; however the outboard land showed some galling. I applied a liberal slather of grease after cleaning all of the surfaces. To all who havent taken a look at this yet, I recommend that you do so soon. I do very little dirt riding, so nobody should assume they are dodging the bullet.

 

[Twisties]

Both of our bikes were developing this issue. Thanks to the forum for the fix! I would have never figured this out. Now in snick snick, snick snick happiness again! ::015::

 

[Jerry]

I just checked mine and there was a small amount of grease there from factory. I have 4700 miles, first time I took this apart. Very simple to do, less than 3 minutes . Seams to move a bit better but this might be the power of suggestion since it is now lubed up.

 

[jajpko]

I have been greasing the different points on the bike at oil changes. So far so good.
You may want to check the rear brake pivot point. Mine had a scant amount of grease the first time I checked it.
jmho

 

[Checkswrecks]

Mine seemed to be getting sluggish again so instead of spray oil, I took it apart. For those not totally understanding the subject, here's a photo:

The grit in there wasn't going to easily wash away with some WD-40 or other oil. It really needs to come apart and get cleaned. For those about to do this, watch carefully not to lose one of the 3 washers and get them back where they belong. A thin one sticks to the back side of the shifter and is easy to miss.


Clearly there is a grease groove that would benefit from a zirk fitting. At this point, I just packed it with a good marine grease that is thick and anti-corrosive (mine was starting to) and put it back together with new blue LockTite, like the factory did.


Works great again.

 

[tomatocity]

Mine seemed to be getting sluggish again so instead of spray oil, I took it apart. For those not totally understanding the subject, here's a photo:

The grit in there wasn't going to easily wash away with some WD-40 or other oil. It really needs to come apart and get cleaned. For those about to do this, watch carefully not to lose one of the 3 washers and get them back where they belong. A thin one sticks to the back side of the shifter and is easy to miss.

Clearly there is a grease groove that would benefit from a zirk fitting. At this point, I just packed it with a good marine grease that is thick and anti-corrosive (mine was starting to) and put it back together with new blue LockTite, like the factory did.

Works great again.

Thanks for the very good review. Many good points...
- washers... how many and where they are located.
- possible zerk fitting... I really like the idea of the zerk fitting. A seal on the engine-side of the shifter would make the zerk work very well.
- type of grease... marine grade anti-corrosive. someone recently mentioned galling.
- blue Loctite... don't leave home without it.

 

[creggur]

 

[terrysig]

Bump to this topic for those of us in Winter mode. Picking off these kinds of things...pivots and such. If you ride off road or in rain you will find this pivot either dry or gunked up. Any easy maintenance item and will make for much better shifting come Spring.

Cheers!

 

[MGB]

Mine occassionally seemed to shift poorly - after seeing this thread I took it apart.

It was not particularly dirty, but it was dry as a bone. Put some good, heavy grease (used on my airheads spline lubes) on - I don't think it ever shifted this smoothly!

As others pointed out in various threads, there is not a lot of grease handed out during assembly!! I removed my rear shock to put a sock on - all the linkages were basically dry. Planning to make the rounds of the entire bike and remove/clean/GREASE/reassemble where appropriate.

 

[terrysig]

You'll also see that some have installed a grease fitting. Either way this should be checked during the oil changes. The difference between sluggish and cleaned/greased is quite pronounced as you mention.