Problem changing gear

Hey all:

First time posting on here - so be gentle!

I have a K2 SV650s without the lower fairing, nothing special to it other than a dual exhaust from Renegade from the original owner. Before Christmas - and all the stupid snow, I noticed a problem with changing down gears. I'd put it into first, there was a click of sorts, but I could still push the peg down with my foot. It didn't lock like it usually does. I didn't think much of it and carried on. A few days later it did the same thing again, but this time I think I was in 3rd changing down on the approach to some traffic lights.

I managed to get it into neutral then into first and pulled off, continuing on my journey. It has behaved more or less ever since, but today, I cleaned it and decided to take it for a run as it had been sat for more or less a month. While approaching a traffic island, I was in 4th, changing down to 1st, and I couldn't. The same problem has risen again. This time there is no click as I go to change, the foot peg moves but doesn't engage the lower gear. So there's me in the middle of the lane trying to change down, nothing. After shouting and swearing at the bike and trying to get the hazards on, I decided to try to pull away in the gear I was in....not the best idea I know but it was a busy island. It then shifted up and down the gears perfectly on the way home.

So the question is - what's wrong? I want to take it to the local bike dealer around the corner to get it fixed, but they messed up a chain and sprocket replacement about 6 months ago and I had to get a new chain. My confidence in them isn't what it was.

Could anyone suggest anything I can do myself to try to fix this problem or should I take it there and seek their opinion?

Thanks in advance

Rich

[squirrel_hunter]

Sounds like you need to adjust your clutch...

Sid Squid is the dude, and his much reproduced guide can be found here. Follow these instuctions first and then report back.

[yorkie_chris]

I would guess the lever has become sticky around its axle and is not returning to center properly. Remove, clean and grease it.

[Spanner Man]

Good afternoon all.


Welcome to the forum.

Ditto Yorkies advice, SV's have a bush in the gearlever that can seize up slightly, & cause the gearlever to stick.
Disconnect the gear lever, & remove the footrest hanger. When removing the footrest retaining bolt be aware that they're usually loctited, in & can be a little stiff, & easy to round off.


Cheers.

[fastdruid]

Are you trying to do this while stationary?

Bike gearboxes don't do changing down (or up) multiple gears while stationary, change down to 2nd or 1st while moving. If you are stuck in say 4th while stationary try rocking the bike back or forwards until you can change gear.

Druid

i did get this sort of proplem it turned out that were the gear lever goes around the footpeg theres a weird woven bush an that had split and the weave was fraying and making the pedal stick. how i sorted it was to bore out the gear lever a tad then made a nylon carbon bush to go in there then bored the bush to fit over the pedal then just file down each so its flush before fitting it.i used nylon carbon because it will self lubricate.
hope that can help

Got problem today where i pulled the clutch to start it and the clutch sorta clicked, didn't sound nice. Then i quickly realised when trying to get some speed that the clutch, when pulled all the way in, was basically at biting point and not disengaging(?), and i couldn't change gear smoothly at any speed, not at all at more than 10 mph. Tried changing the tension on the clutch lever and it just came off before it was tight enough, i'm guessing Sid Squid's lil' guide thing might be a good idea.

Amazing what pops up when you're looking for something.

I was trying to do it while slowing down riding. I took it out for another test and it did it again, but on the way back home it worked fine. I don't personally think its a clutch problem, but I'm not really experienced enough technically to know really.

After reading some other suggestions, when it gets stuck rocking the bike while in gear does help.

I'm gonna have a go at Sid Squid's guide tomorrow. It got too dark to mess with it earlier. Bummer as I was really looking forward to the ride into work on it tomorrow, but now I'm gonna have to use the bloody train!!

Will report back with more info when I have it

Thanks for all the replies

R

I found the solution was the same as Yorkie Chris` reply and GOZA has the same answer I was going to supply . The Aluminium furs up underneath the Kevlar washerand this binds onto the footpeg not allowing the lever to return back to it`s resting position after selecting gear . You can move it back with your foot and it works , but this is dangerous when downchanging rapidly and approaching a junction . I went through the Suzuki Fiche and this part is not available . I removed my gear selector off the Peg , removed what was left of my Kevlar Washer and cut a new one out of a Teflon Baking Sheet and greased it all up and re-installed it . Never had a problem with it since .

I don't think it's the foot peg, it has to be said, as this has full movement up and down, and like i said, I have managed to change up and down while riding on the way back home after the problem. I'll still take it off and have a look

R