Difficult to get 3rd gear

Hi all,

Had my lovely SV for about a month and done about 400 miles or so . This is my first bike so don't know too much about them and I'm no mechanic.

My bike seems to be difficult to get into 3rd gear. Any ideas It's a 56 plate pointy with about 3000 miles on the clock with full service history. I'm hoping its nothing too much but would like to try and sort this myself because I want to learn about the basics of the bike.

Any hints to help would be great. I'm going to go and have a look at it now and see if the chain is correctly tightened and lube it and the bike.

Thanks for your replies in advance.

Bunks

Check and oil the gear change roses at either end of the linkage and the pivot point of the lever for a start.

Originally Posted by Dangerous Dave

Check and oil the gear change roses at either end of the linkage and the pivot point of the lever for a start.

Thanks for that. I've now done that, all looks ok. I tightened the chain slightly and oiled it after reading previous threads about this subject. I'm off to work on the bike soon so i'll see if it has made any difference.

Thanks for the info. I'll let you know if it's any better.

Bunks

Hi everyone,

Just got back and the bike is working much better but sometimes it still takes a couple of attemts to get into 3rd. The best way to describe it is that the gear leaver moves up but not quite enough to engage 3rd gear. I think this is the only gear it does this with. Any other ideas?? I was going to get a Haynes manual and perhaps its time I did!

DD - worm drive?

Originally Posted by RichT

DD - worm drive?

As I said I'm no mechanic! DD worm drive How do I find that and what would I do with it. Yes I know I'm useless

Bunks

Originally Posted by Bunks

As I said I'm no mechanic! DD worm drive How do I find that and what would I do with it. Yes I know I'm useless

Bunks

Sorry Bunks, didn't mean to confuse you. I'm no expert and not saying this is the issue, but the worm drive is at the bottom end of your clutch cable and effectively dis-enganges the gears whilst you change. It's a sprial kind of pin.

I had a similar issue to you on my old bandit. It wouldn't jump out of gear but could take a couple of attempts to get into gear sometimes. I changed the worm drive and it sorted it out.

I was suggesting that to Dangerous Dave (DD) as he's far more experienced in these things than I.

I have terrible trouble getting 7th gear....
I keep trying though....

Steve

Originally Posted by startrek.steve

I have terrible trouble getting 7th gear....
I keep trying though....

Steve

- I've never found it either.

Originally Posted by startrek.steve

I have terrible trouble getting 7th gear....
I keep trying though....

Steve

I keep trying that too!!!

I've noticed today that the gear seems to go in easier if its higher up the revs, should that matter?

Bunks