Its back - shifter issue

[BigGeo]

Thought I had it fixed with the linkage cleaning and greasing. Well, on the way down to VA Beach on Sat. the problem came back - down shifting was very difficult. I have found that by pulling in the clutch, releasing and pulling in again it appears to allow the down shifting. It now happens sporadically (70% of the time) regardless of which gear I'm in. This works ok for now and isn't a big problem for the riding I'm doing down here, short hops. It worked fine for the slab ride down here Sat. - 578 miles in 9.5 hours- BTW scoot feels great at triple digits :dance:
Just wondering if there might be something easy I might look at before heading back north this coming Sat. at 0300.

[dougholck]

Year of bike?
Mileage?
Readjust shift linkage. Remove all slack.
Check clutch fluid level at handlebar. If dirty flush and/or clutch slave could be failing.
Check trans fluid level or change it.
Hope you find a solution.

[sperra]

Hi George, do you notice any slipping when throttling up in third gear?
How many miles dose she have?

[BigGeo]

Its a 2003 with 35,000 miles. This all started shortly after I changed the tranny and FD fluid. The clutch fluid level is fine. There is no slippage in the clutch and up shifting is as smooth as silk. If the tranny fluid is low, will this have an effect? Perhaps I didn't fill it enough as it is hard to gauge the level. I did use virtually the entire quart of gear oil on the change.

[jrlakin]

If you used an entire quart of gear oil, you used entirely too much. I thinik it only holds 20oz or so. I fill mine until it starts to run out of the fill hole. Measuring it would be more accurate, assuming all of the oil was out of it, but I know a whole quart of gear oil is too much.

[Toolman]

Changing both the tranny fluid (.6 qt), and the final drive fluid (.24 qt) is "virtually an entire quart" (at .84 qt)...so that's probably what he was referring to....filling both cavities...and not that he added an entire quart in the tranny...which would be difficult unless the bike is on the side stand.

[BigGeo]

Changing both the tranny fluid (.6 qt), and the final drive fluid (.24 qt) is "virtually an entire quart" (at .84 qt)...so that's probably what he was referring to....filling both cavities...and not that he added an entire quart in the tranny...which would be difficult unless the bike is on the side stand.

Yes. Sorry for the confusion. That was for both the FD and tranny.

[deanwoolsey]

It sounds like a bubble in the clutch line. Have you tried bleeding the clutch out?

[beets]

On the early K Bikes hard down shifting is a sign the clutch splines need lube. Not sure if the K1200 uses the same design clutch.

[dukey33]

... This all started shortly after I changed the tranny and FD fluid.

What lube did you use?

[BigGeo]

What lube did you use?

I used Mobil 1 75-140 syn. Changed the clutch fluid in April. I am puzzled as to why pulling in the clutch, releasing and pulling in again frees up the down shifting.

[dukey33]

I used Mobil 1 75-140 syn. Changed the clutch fluid in April. I am puzzled as to why pulling in the clutch, releasing and pulling in again frees up the down shifting.

Although the 75-90 is closer to spec, lots of folks use the 75-140 grade with no problems so it's unlikely that's a factor.

Pull-release-pull may be a clue.
If it's air in the clutch hydraulics, pumping it compresses trapped air in the system thus moving the slave cylinder more than the first pull alone can. Does adjusting the clutch lever out for maximum stroke make any difference? That could be another indicator of trapped air.

[BigGeo]

Although the 75-90 is closer to spec, lots of folks use the 75-140 grade with no problems so it's unlikely that's a factor.

Pull-release-pull may be a clue.
If it's air in the clutch hydraulics, pumping it compresses trapped air in the system thus moving the slave cylinder more than the first pull alone can. Does adjusting the clutch lever out for maximum stroke make any difference? That could be another indicator of trapped air.

Thanks for the input Duke. The clutch is currently at max stroke. This is just confusing the heck out of me. I'm leaving for my 570 mile trip back to Massachusetts Friday night or early Sat. Clearly, riding the slabs isn't much of a problem but shifting for twisties is part of the fun owning the scoot and this double clutching will kill that.

[jzeiler]

Clearly, riding the slabs isn't much of a problem but shifting for twisties is part of the fun owning the scoot and this double clutching will kill that.

Just put her in second for the twisties and that is good to about 74 mph (first is good to 62). I never get out of second in the the Smokies. You can ride that all day in the twisties.

[saddleman]

I sure hope it ends up a simple fix for you George. I wish I had some advise for you but I don't. The only problem I ever had was up shifting after I had adjusted my linkage for my new boots. I had over adjusted the linkage so that it didn't fully engage the gears and when cold it wouldn't shift into the next gear.

My biggest problem figuring it out was I had adjusted my linkage in Aug. & the problem didn't show up until late fall on a cold morning.

Good Luck George: Dave

[rattler50]

If he's getting a complete disengage with one pull on the clutch lever, the second isn't required. It's one of those things you'd have to feel for yourself to know what's going on. There's only two things it can be, clutch or transmission. I doubt the linkage would make a difference. I'd suspect the transmission over the clutch. A full pull on the clutch is not required for shifting. Just a lite touch of the clutch makes for a smoother shift................. :confused:

[BigGeo]

I sure hope it ends up a simple fix for you George. I wish I had some advise for you but I don't. The only problem I ever had was up shifting after I had adjusted my linkage for my new boots. I had over adjusted the linkage so that it didn't fully engage the gears and when cold it wouldn't shift into the next gear.

My biggest problem figuring it out was I had adjusted my linkage in Aug. & the problem didn't show up until late fall on a cold morning.

Good Luck George: Dave

Thanks Dave. I'll ride the pig home Sunday as the weather delayed my departure. She's fine on the slab and when there's time to double clutch.
Did you ever find out what was wrong with your scoot?

[Silverhair]

I have a similar issue & suspect my splines need lube.

Shifts from 3 - 2 are chronically sticky. Hard accleration or engine-braking occassionally brings it out.

I've bled the clutch, lubed the shifter linkage (w/some new parts), and renewed lubricants, all to no avail. Related all this to my favorite service writer & he says I'm looking at a future transmissionectomy.

In the mean time, he suggested I rev slightly before tapping the shifter; pull clutch lever in - rev - tap the shifter to desired gear. Works every time.