Gear selection problems

[Stingo]

Good evening all...

I have a K3. 22000 mile on the clock. The chain has done a couple of thou and is sound. The oil level appears to be correct.

The symptoms:

There is no difficulty selecting first and then second gear. Also neutral is easily selectable.

The rest of the gears however are a problem. When going up through the box, It's as though there's nothing there...so this is what happens...I'm in second, pull clutch in, put toe under and move selector up - there is no friendly click - I let the clutch out and it's still in second. SO I gently touch the top of the selector with my toe to depress it slightly and then try again to go to third...and it works. This is happening both up and down through the gears (when going down the procedure is reversed). Naturally this is rather disconcerting as it adds some serious distance when trying to rapidly slow down. My mate is convinced that it is a clutch problem, however I think it is something else. Having said that, the plates and springs are as old as the bike and I have not had the clutch 'professionally adjusted' for a long while. I did not have this problem in July, it just started happening.
Even when trying to select the gears without the use of the clutch, I have the same symptoms which is why I think that it is something else.

My somewhat dodgy theory is that I am centralising something that is not returning to it's central position when I gently depress/lift the selector prior to changing gear.

Anyone else experienced this? I'll probably whip the cover off at the weekend to have a butchers but I don't want to spend 50 plus quid on a set of plates and springs if there is some other problem...

Quick fix anyone?

[fizzwheel]

I'm probably barking up the wrong tree, but I had a similar problem when my SV had been stood for ages. 1st, 2nd OK neutral no problem couldnt get any more gears after that. But my lever was really really stiff so I'm not sure the problem is the same. I fixed by taking the gear lever off and cleaned all the gunk up and also cleaned in and around the little fibre bush on the lever and got loads of mank out from in there to.

I greased it up and refitted it and the gear change was sweet as a nut afterwards.

[dizzyblonde]

I would say that ya need to clean the crap out from behind the cover for the front sprocket. Im Indoors used to ride Suzy all year round, and started getting probs similar. He could only get 1st 3rd and 5th. Took it to a garage, thought it were serious and it were just crud stuck round the gear rod thingy and surrounding area. Job jobbed. Now I check regular now when I get a but of resistance....oh and did you know that the mucky black cruddy stuff is apparently a mix of flung oil, muck and tyre dust...well you do now

[Stingo]

Originally Posted by fizzwheel

I'm probably barking up the wrong tree, but I had a similar problem when my SV had been stood for ages. 1st, 2nd OK neutral no problem couldnt get any more gears after that. But my lever was really really stiff so I'm not sure the problem is the same. I fixed by taking the gear lever off and cleaned all the gunk up and also cleaned in and around the little fibre bush on the lever and got loads of mank out from in there to.

I greased it up and refitted it and the gear change was sweet as a nut afterwards.

Now yes - I am liking this. The bike had stood for two weeks without use (on leave). Got on it to test it and there was the problem. So this could well be seized crape...thx fizz, oooh and thx diz - you'd think I'd know better...but I suppose it's always these simple things that catches us out.

[fizzwheel]

Just be careful with the fibre bush on the lever, its very fragile and IIRC if you damage it you can't buy just a bush you have to shell out for a new lever.

Theres some posts by timwilky and Sid Squid that explain this alot better than I can so have a search.

[dizzyblonde]

+ 1 on that one. It had worn right down when we dismantled Suze. I bought a replacement off Northwind, as I'm a tight **** and couldn't believe how much a new one was!

[punyXpress]

How tight is the lever on the shaft splines?
Any play elsewhere?

[STRAMASHER]

I used to have the stuck in 3rd problem, especially in winter with all the sludge on the road. Feckin' embarrasssing at 7am giving it mega clutch slip and cruising at the red line. Hand not foot was a dramatic answer!

Give the lever at the frame and bush a good blast with the magic spray (WD40).

Worked for me. Always gets a wee blast after cleaning.

Hope its as simple a problem as this.....................

[Stingo]

Originally Posted by punyXpress

How tight is the lever on the shaft splines?
Any play elsewhere?

Don't think there's any play but I'll be checking when I strip it down.

I'm just looking for a thread that seemed to have the same symptoms....I know it's in here somewhere, saw it this afternoon...if my problem is the same I might have a duff bit inside somewhere...