SuzukiSavage.com - Print Page

SuzukiSavage.com
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl
General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Missing 1st and neutral
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1286384284

Message started by kk lewi on 10/06/10 at 09:58:03

Title: Missing 1st and neutral
Post by kk lewi on 10/06/10 at 09:58:03

Where'd my gears go? :-?

Been a couple of weeks since I've been on her. Took her out today no problem. Put her in first, then neutral while I cranked up, put on gloves, helmet. Pulled out of my place and got a few miles down the road when I noticed I couldn't get into first or neutral. 2nd gear is as far down as I can go. The shifter is like it's in first. Won't go down any further.

I think to myself "hmm better ask about this". I turn around and drive home where I find I can't switch to 2nd! Take a look at things and realize that the shifter isn't popping back up like it should when downshifting. I have to raise it up a tad, it then clicks into place, and I can downshift. I oil everything around there pretty good. Maybe that will fix it once it seeps in.

Still no 1st or neutral tho. :-/

Title: Re: Missing 1st and neutral
Post by thumperclone on 10/06/10 at 10:02:20

have you checked the linkage?

Title: Re: Missing 1st and neutral
Post by Oldfeller on 10/06/10 at 10:12:34

Your gears are actuated by a rotating drum that has grooves in it that drive a pair of forks that move the gear clusters in and out of engagement.

You rotate the drum one click at a time up or down by driving a sprag actuator in a short linear stroke with your foot.

That's your shifter.

This is all explained starting at page 164 in Clymers. Needless to say, proper adjustment is everything to this system for it to work correctly. Clymers goes into good detail for what to check for wear, how to return the assemblies to proper tolerances and how to tune it as you put it back together.

Everything is accessible from the outside of the bike, the shifter control mechanism is actually fairly straightforward and simple.

The list has a long history of the shift rod getting bent and putting things out of time.

We also have a long history of the shift rod simply breaking off, so if you have a bent one consider replacing it rather than straightening it (especially if you straighten it once and it doesn't stay that way for long).

Good luck as you trace back through your issues.

Title: Re: Missing 1st and neutral
Post by kk lewi on 10/06/10 at 10:57:40

4559445C415443525D5E5F54310 wrote:

have you checked the linkage?

Sorry but which linkage? I'm quite the newb. :-[

Oldfeller my eyes glazed over a bit there, just like when I started reading the section on transmissions in the Clymers. I looked there first I promise! ;)

I guess now is a good a time as any for things to "break-in". 4k miles on her. Time to dig in in earnest!

Title: Re: Missing 1st and neutral
Post by Oldnewguy on 10/06/10 at 11:22:27

It's down under your left foot. Connects shifter to tranny. Just a rod about 1/4 in dia. and 6-8 in long. Has nuts on both ends to adjust, I think. :)

Title: Re: Missing 1st and neutral
Post by verslagen1 on 10/06/10 at 11:24:06

Either someone's been stompping on your shifter, or you had an oopsie and bent something. Check it over carefully. My shifter came off the wrecked bike so it was bent. It was getting stuck when I shifted down.

A hammer and a monkey wrench later... ;D it was fine.

still required an adjustment of the lever position on the splines.

Title: Re: Missing 1st and neutral
Post by Oldfeller on 10/06/10 at 16:54:37

And remember -- one of those nuts on the adjustment rod (front one I think) is LEFT HANDED so righty tighty lefty loosey isn't gonna work for both of them.

Title: Re: Missing 1st and neutral
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 10/06/10 at 19:14:39

O/F said

Good luck as you trace back through your issues.

Sounds like the last sentence in the intro in a self help psychiatry program.

Several have bent shift rods. Some were bent from crashes. I suspect some were bent by people not knowing they needed to let out on the clutch a bit & then pull it again if theyve sat in neutral for while,while idling with the clutch pulled in, in order to get it in first.

Title: Re: Missing 1st and neutral
Post by Phelonius on 10/06/10 at 19:36:29

It is a secret device to cause frustration to newbies to weed out those who should not have a savage from those who can learn to be a mechanic.
Actually the Savage is not near as strict in this sense as most older bikes and a few of the new ones.
For instance, Enfield, and Ural come to mind.
The easier a machine is to work on the more work it will need during its' lifetime. My Ural was very easy to work on and I logged about 4 to 5 hours of wrench in hand for every hour in the saddle.
The Savage is more like 1 hour of work for every 12 hours in the saddle.

Phelonius

Title: Re: Missing 1st and neutral
Post by kk lewi on 10/07/10 at 14:16:44

it's definitely not bent.

http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/af295/xulnaga/07%20S40/IMG_1639-1.jpg

I can adjust the bolts on either side of the linkage rod ofc but shouldn't I be able to manually move the circled regardless? It's rock solid and will not move below 2nd.

Title: Re: Missing 1st and neutral
Post by Lupo on 10/07/10 at 14:47:02

That arm should move (with the linkage removed). Try to see if you have any in and out play. I think you may have to order a Clymer repair manual and get ready to get very intimate with your Savage. Chapter 6 pg. 169.

Title: Re: Missing 1st and neutral
Post by kk lewi on 10/11/10 at 14:19:16

Whelp! I worked on her yesterday for a bit. Somehow Neutral was back. I pulled the pictured above and tried to readjust it so that maybe I could use the shifter to shift further down. It wouldn't go into first.

Clymers next thing is to take the engine out and take things apart. I do not have the tools or expertise to do this.

Anything else you guys can suggest before I have to pay the stealership $200+/hr? I will try to find a shop that works on moto's but I live in a small town and doubt it.

Perhaps the transmission is still under warranty? 2007 with 4k miles.

:(