| Author | Message | ||
     Keys |
Every month or so when sifting from 3rd to 4th I don't catch the gear. Is this a false neutral? I move the shifter (maybe not far enough) but when I let out the clutch, I just get revs and no gear. I have all levers adjusted for my parameters and am thinking about my technique as I figure it's most likely my fault. BUT, what is happening inside when the trans does this? Could this be internal damage? Am I damaging it when this does happen? Common or not? FYI I am second owner and am very sure everything is properly adjusted. I don't have any difficulty finding neutral and fluid was replaced recently. I'm looking into technical boots to see if it helps. I don't recall this happening on any other bike I've had. Maybe I'm getting lazy THANKS | ||
| Kootenay |
False neutrals can happen on any bike--I've had them on my Yamaha on occasion, but none to date on the Buell. What's happening is the dogs have released from one rotating element, but not engaged in the next. Generally, this is caused by the shift fork not sliding the rotating element (either the gear itself or a special ring) far enough to the side--this could be because you haven't moved the lever far enough (most likely cause), or because of problems in the shift linkage or drum. | ||
| Diablobrian |
Do a search on the shifter drum. It is aluminum and this sounds similar to the way a problem that was described : Njbuell Posted on Tuesday, August 09, 2005 - 01:39 am: ________________________________________ I am a technician at a local Harley/Buell dealer and I just finished up an 04 XB12R at work a couple weeks ago. I believe it belonged to LoneXB. Same problem. Turned out it was the shifter drum. It was very soft aluminum and was mashed between 1st and 2nd. Unfortunately, its a big job requiring engine removal and case splitting. The XB doesn't have the trap door like the sportsters did up until 04. Hope this helps. Phil I'd do a search on both njbuel and LoneXB's posts to find out more. But that's me. Of course I'd eliminate all other possibilities before I threw in the towel and split the cases too. I don't mean to be a fear monger, but this had just come up in the discussion about making a buell lighter. | ||
| Diablobrian |
a "false neutral" occurs when no dogs are engaged on the gears of your transmission. This is fairly common on older bikes. Some had enough slop in the tranny to allow false neutrals between every gear. Unless you float a valve because you bounce off the rev limiter exceedingly hard it should not be harmful in normal circumstances. | ||
| Blake |
Please! You cannot float a valve by bouncing off the stock rev limiter. | ||
| Lonexb |
Keys could you described what is happening a little more detailed? IE... what exactly do you have to do to get it back in gear? is that what happens every time?is it always between the same gears? what type of riding are you doing, track or street? driving hard or taking it easy? brian lonexb (Message edited by lonexb on January 14, 2006) | ||
| Keys |
Hi LONExb, to get back into gear I just pull the clutch back in and lift up on the shift lever again (for the second time) and when I let the clutch back out I get the gear no problem. When the gear is missed there is NO grinding just the bike revving. It acts and sounds as if it were sitting in the parking lot in neutral on its side-stand and you're giving it a good rev. This only happens when at or near full throttle and I am quick shifting somewhere over 5k revs. At the very most this might happen every two weeks or so and I go out about 4 times a week. Happens once every month or so on the average though. I'm guessing now that because I'm abbreviating the shift, I'm not getting a full movement in the shift lever. Something to work on.. When I shift more normally (slower) of course I never miss. Between 3rd and 4th was the last time it happened. 4th to 5th or any other seems likely I've done it there too. But without any grinding sounds, I've paid little attention to it till now. Just got curious to ask. Actually, the first time I ever even thought much about it was when I read this... http://www.badweatherbikers.com/cgibin/discus/show.cgi?tpc=32777&post=564800#POS T564800 thanks Kootenay and Diablo! | ||
| Lonexb |
Keys i wouldn't worry about anything with your bike. if you had a real hard time getting back in gear i would be worried. or if it was always happening between the same 2 gears and alot more often. brian (Message edited by lonexb on January 14, 2006) | ||
| Buelldyno_guy |
XB shift issues are like a differential that is starting to make noise in a car. "It's not ever going to go away or get better." But I agree with Lonexb it will be ok for a while longer. When it gets too bad to live with make sure that the tech replaces the drum the forks and and any gears that have evidence of wear on the dogs. The XB style shift drum is better than the older types. The weak link in these are the forks, as when it starts acting up they bend but look OK upon removal. The Trap door would be great but I don't want the old style drum that comes with it. ...Our XB raced an entire season without any shifting issues, "Knock on wood" and we always used at least one transmission per season before... Terry |
