SuzukiSavage.com - Clicking/sticking transmission, 1st gear

phasender

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Clicking/sticking transmission, 1st gear
10/22/06 at 18:42:15

So about a third of the time that I shift down to first, instead of shifting smoothly down, the gear shift seems to hit something, I feel something clicking on it repeatedly, and when I release, it's still in neutral. The same thing happens sometimes shifting up or down into second.

My old bike, honda cm400t, used to do the same thing, but it happened very rarely.

Any thoughts on why it might be doing it, or how to fix it?
Am I destroying the transmission everytime it does that? Or is this just a normal thing?

It's a '97 Savage with 2600 miles on it.

Thanks everybody!

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barry68v10

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Re: Clicking/sticking transmission, 1st gear
Reply #1 - 10/22/06 at 19:28:49

How fast are you going on the down shift? The owners manual says not to shift into first until you stop, I've been shifting into first just before I stop otherwise I have to play the clutch a little to get it to drop into gear. It sounds to me when I've shifted into first too soon like part of the transmission where the gears are spins at whatever speed the rear tire is going regardless of clutch engagement, and shifting into first with the clutch in at 35 or 40 MPH (done it once) produced a whiring sound (I think that's a word) from the gears at the rear of the case.

Also, I'd be curious to know what type and weight oil you are using.

I also had two different Honda motorcycles that would do the same thing along with the famous--I mean infamous Honda miss-shift from 1st to 2nd...That was a function of transmission design vs. anything "wrong" mechanically (other than design Wink

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spike Junior Member Offline Love 2 Ride Posts: 70 Pa Gender:	Re: Clicking/sticking transmission, 1st gear Reply #2 - 10/22/06 at 22:32:06 I don't go down into first unless I'm going extreamly slow like just about stopped or just before turning into my dirt lane. I have 2700mi on and I don't seem to have that trouble. It may just be that you are dropping it into first to soon.
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Rogue_Cheddar

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Re: Clicking/sticking transmission, 1st gear
Reply #3 - 10/23/06 at 09:57:42

It sounds like to me, that you are releasing the clutch a little too soon during your downshift from 2nd to 1st, and the noise is the gear not quite meshing. I know that a shift from 1st to 2nd or vice versa, requires a little more positive reenforcement as you are also slipping past neutral, compared to other gears. I know if I dump my clutch too soon, or I don't really emphasize that shift, I'll sometimes miss it. Just a thought.

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Savage_Rob

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Re: Clicking/sticking transmission, 1st gear
Reply #4 - 10/23/06 at 10:53:55

Also, check to be sure the linkage rod isn't bent. This can happen from stomping on it to downshift. I know because I bent mine. It's about maybe five inches long I think, low on the left side. If you start at the shifter and follow the linkage, you'll see it. I also find it better to downshift while still moving.

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Hashbrown Full Member Offline What can brown do for you! Posts: 235 Nashua, NH Gender:	Re: Clicking/sticking transmission, 1st gear Reply #5 - 10/23/06 at 11:29:06 personally i hardley ever down shift to first. If im comming to a stop i slow down by combination of front and rear brake and downshifting. By the time i get to second gear, im coasting to a stop anyways and tap it to neutral. Personal opinion: First gear is for going forward not stopping. Just my two cents
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Rogue_Cheddar

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Re: Clicking/sticking transmission, 1st gear
Reply #6 - 10/23/06 at 14:36:14

Hashbrown wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:10:

personally i hardley ever down shift to first. If im comming to a stop i slow down by combination of front and rear brake and downshifting. By the time i get to second gear, im coasting to a stop anyways and tap it to neutral. Personal opinion: First gear is for going forward not stopping. Just my two cents

Me, I always downshift through all the gears, using front and rear brakes and engine braking, being careful not to downshift too soon. When I'm down into first, I try to keep moving if traffic will allow and see how slow I can go without dabbing my feet. I always want to be in the correct gear for the speed I'm going. I only pop it into neutral when I'm stopped at a long light and need to adjust my goggles or something.

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georgekathe

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Re: Clicking/sticking transmission, 1st gear
Reply #7 - 10/23/06 at 15:05:00

I come up to an almost stop in 2nd (hey, with a low revving bike like the Savage it does not stutter). Put it in neutral @ almost stop & leave it there (was told by Dad as a youth leaving bike in gear @ lights can prematurely wear out clutch or @ least springs (?). then snick it into gear when light changes. If tought to get in first I just roll bike a little as I gently push down on lever, usually avoiding any of that nasty grating sound.

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phasender

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Re: Clicking/sticking transmission, 1st gear
Reply #8 - 10/23/06 at 16:41:07

It actually happens a lot when I'm stopped at a light and shift down from neutral, so I don't think it has anything to do with the speed. It also happens sometimes when I'm shifting to/from second.
I thought that it might be because I wasn't hitting the gear shift hard enough. Hitting it hard helps, but it still happens a lot.

Would a different weight of oil help? I think I used 10w40 last time.

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thumperclone

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Re: Clicking/sticking transmission, 1st gear
Reply #9 - 10/23/06 at 18:10:02

check to insure linkage is not bent or loose...i changed to a syn oil(amsoil)on my 05 after 2500 miles and has improved shifting..1st is still sometimes a bit of a do from neutral .. i just got the feel for engagmaent by feathering the clutch while pushing down(DONT STOMP!!)on shift lever.. rockin the bike front to back sometimes..

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sluggo

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Re: Clicking/sticking transmission, 1st gear
Reply #10 - 10/23/06 at 19:10:42

georgekathe wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:10:

IPut it in neutral @ almost stop & leave it there (was told by Dad as a youth leaving bike in gear @ lights can prematurely wear out clutch or @ least springs (?).

big no no in my 30 plus riding experience. you are extremely at risk while stoped. ie rear ender, car taking corner wide, ect. you must be able to quickly accelerate to avoid collisions. stop lights are not the place to relax. most of the collisions i've seen have been stopped bikes getting hit.

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georgekathe Ex Member	Re: Clicking/sticking transmission, 1st gear Reply #11 - 10/23/06 at 21:58:40 I beg to differ in my 39 years of riding, sluggo, but that's what makes the world go round - differences of opinions, even allowing for years of experience on both our parts.
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sluggo Serious Thumper ModSquad Offline big singles lead, twins follow the pack Posts: 4744 moses lake washington Gender:	Re: Clicking/sticking transmission, 1st gear Reply #12 - 10/23/06 at 22:28:16 georgekathe wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:10: I beg to differ in my 39 years of riding, sluggo, but that's what makes the world go round - differences of opinions, even allowing for years of experience on both our parts. ditto: i just prefer safety over parts.
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verslagen1 YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline Where there's a will, I want to be in it. Posts: 28884 L.A. California Gender:	Re: Clicking/sticking transmission, 1st gear Reply #13 - 10/23/06 at 22:35:12 I've had the same experience as barry68v10. And my motivation to get into first is it will stick in 2nd requiring a little clutch action to get it all the way into 2nd so I can shift into 1st. And Sluggo that's exactly the way the MSF courses are taught. Be alert, be ready.
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Savage_Rob

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Re: Clicking/sticking transmission, 1st gear
Reply #14 - 10/24/06 at 06:02:35

I almost always stay in gear at stops - as well as a path out of my "parked" position. If I need to replace a $12 set of clutch springs a bit more often, I'll take that as the cost of reserving an escape. It's definitely a personal choice but staying in 1st gear at stops is what the Motorcycle Safety Foundation teaches and I happen to agree with it.

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