SV650 difficult to get into neutral.
 

Eh up.

I've searched the forum and many others besides and though I've seen other posts on this problem, haven't seen many and haven't really seen any answers. Wondered if anyone knows a few things that I might be able to do to improve this situation.

2001 SV650S - 16,500 miles - runs well, smooth gear changes, etc but regardless of whether warm or cold it's a bugger to get into neutral and it seems to be getting worse. I've read in a few places that you can click it in while still rolling a bit and this makes it easier, will try it tomorrow, but this seems like a work-around as opposed to a cure.

Sometimes, I've pulled to a halt, am in first, and the thing won't budge, not even up into second. I bring it back to the biting point and roll it forward 6 inches, then I can shift, but only into second and finding neutral is like trying to find your keys in a bathful of porridge. I'm always knocking it through to first no matter how light I am on the lever.

I'm thinking about clutch fluid, bleeding master/slave cylinders, etc? Although I tend to think in terms of car mechanics as that's what I've been used to over the years.
Clutch cables being stretched, maybe clutch lever adjustment?
After that some kind of selector/gate issue in the gearbox?

Does anyone know if the SV has one of those thingies that makes it impossible to shift into neutral when rolling? Are they called a positive neutral finder or something?

Any help will be much appreciated.

Cheers all.

Re: SV650 difficult to get into neutral.
 

First, try checking your chain tension, this can make finding neutral a complete bugger.

Re: SV650 difficult to get into neutral.
 

check your oil level and chain tension - they seem to be the 2 most common culprits

Re: SV650 difficult to get into neutral.
 

1. Adjust and lobe your chain first.
2. Adjust and lobe your clutch cable.
3. Adjust and grease the worm drive.

If those fail come back to us.

Re: SV650 difficult to get into neutral.
 

OK, will do all that tomorrow. Thanks.

Re: SV650 difficult to get into neutral.
 

Just to add the other common culprit----Make sure your gear lever pivot on the footrest is lubed.These get stiff and corroded and play havoc with gear selection.

Re: SV650 difficult to get into neutral.
 

I had the same problem and adjusted my clutch cable and cleaned out the gunk in the housing at the front sprocket - did the trick for me !

Re: SV650 difficult to get into neutral.
 

I have to say that because I commute with it, and because I'm a lazy bugger, it does need a bloody good clean all over and some more routine maintenance than I put in usually. I've stripped V8's down, I've done all sorts of restoration work from the ground up on old Triumph cars and American classics but because this is my daily ride and also my daily grin, I'm worried about taking too much off, screwing with it too much. I need to roll up my sleeves a bit more and get stuck in.

You know what it's like when you're working on something as a side-line? It doesn't matter if you don't get it finished straight away, or if you need a part or a special tool, or if you screw it up. But when it's your only means of transport save a push-bike, it ups the ante, makes me nervous.

Anyway, thanks for all the advice, I'm sure it just needs a bit of adjusting and some glooping of lube in all the relevant places... and then some.

Cheers as always for all the help, I really appreciate it. I sat outside work on Monday for about ten minutes trying to get the thing in neutral and it's fair to say that there was a small pile of abuse on the verge after I finished, no doubt the council will clear it up. Really it's down to me to spend more time cleaning and lubing it and following the checks/advice in the manual.

Thanks for all the pointers, I'll do 'em all on my day off tomorrow.

Cheers.

Re: SV650 difficult to get into neutral.
 

Definately. I know that feeling, getting dark Sunday evening, do you stick with your less than perfectly running, but useable bike, or gamble and risk being without transport Monday morning. Thankfully, adjusting the chain and checking the oil level will be very hard to mess up if you've restored vehicles before.

Re: SV650 difficult to get into neutral.
 

all the above mentioned job will take roundabout 10-15 mins each... so you'll be finished within the hour.:wink: