Gear Shift Problem

Bikepirate

Bikepirate

New member
Location
Brisbane Australia
Changing gear on my 1200 has become very difficult. It is extremely stiff at first but gradually gets slightly better after a time. I have checked the the gearshift mechanism from the gear lever and behind the side cover and all appears OK.

Could it be the clutch? It was fitted with fibre clutch plates some time ago and has done minimal mileage since then.

Any clues as to the problem?

Cheers,

Grant
 
Make sure the clutch is disengaging fully. Mine went a bit out of adjustment the last time I rode it (new clutch cable stretching) and it made the gearshift clunky, and impossible to select neutral when stopped.

Have you got one of those easy-pull clutch conversions?

Cheers,
Cam
 
Could be the clutch dragging. Of course, if it is, you'll feel the bike wanting to creep forwards at a standstill with first gear engaged, or it'll stall.

Could be a clutch/oil related problem.
Ciao
Paul
 
Further.... Your cover may be misaligned - this causes the pivot axis to bind. Nip up the cover very lightly and tap it up/down/left/right until you 'feel' it is at its free-est.

HTH Paul

Also, final drive chain tension (too loose) can have a negative impact on gear change slickness.
 
Dellortoman said:
Make sure the clutch is disengaging fully. Mine went a bit out of adjustment the last time I rode it (new clutch cable stretching) and it made the gearshift clunky, and impossible to select neutral when stopped.

Have you got one of those easy-pull clutch conversions?

Cheers,
Cam
Click to expand...
Thanks Cam - no, I don't have this conversion but would be interested in details. The standard Laverda clutch is very heavy!

Cheers,

Grant
 
Haggis said:
Further.... Your cover may be misaligned - this causes the pivot axis to bind. Nip up the cover very lightly and tap it up/down/left/right until you 'feel' it is at its free-est.

HTH Paul

Also, final drive chain tension (too loose) can have a negative impact on gear change slickness.
Click to expand...
Thanks Paul - will try your suggestion. Don't think it's the chain as this would not cause the exreme tightness I am getting.

Cheers,

Grant
 
Bikepirate said:
One other observation - the gearshift spring appears very strong. Is this necessary? or maybe my foot is getting weak!
Click to expand...

Not really. 

It is often installed incorrectly, giving thre impression it is stronger than necessary.  The legs of the spring should lay parallel when fitted to the shifter pawl thingy.  The legs then fit tightly on both sides of the eccentric adjuster screw.  With the spring legs crossed, far more effort is needed to fit it to the shifter pawl, the result is also about 15mm of slop at the gear lever...

If the shift effort is too much for you, you might want to fit the longer 750 lever.  Tough luck if rear sets are fitted, you'll need to muck around with different lever lengths at the shifter shaft to reduce lever effort, increases lever throw though.

piet
 
Also read somewhere maybe when searching on here , a larger rubber (no jokes) from a BSA on the lever works much better than the original.

LJ
 
I,ll go with Haggis on this one slacker off all nuts etc (only just) two wedges of wood in between the frame and box tap them in re tighten and see how you go
 
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