Difficulty changing gears when engine is hot - SV650.org

Swin · 03-11-10, 10:19 AM

I have noticed in the last few days that if I'm in traffic and the bike is hot I find the gear change to be really stiff, hard to find neutral and generally awkward.

Just wondered if anyone has noticed this problem too, I'm going to get an oil and filter change done on Tuesday as I do a lot of miles so change oil twice a year but wondered if there's anything else I should check while I'm at it.

The chain and sprockets are reasonably new and don't look worn, I recently cleaned and adjusted the chain as well.

any hints would be welcome!

03-11-10, 02:46 PM

Clutch may need adjusting at the worm drive behind front sprocket cover (very easily done), however probably just old oil. Mine does the same when oil is old or ive overfilled it. Hope this helps

Swin · 03-11-10, 04:12 PM

cheers - hopefully the oil change will sort it, I checked the other day and it looked between the sight lines, so maybe it's getting thin!

03-11-10, 04:18 PM

+1 to overfilling the oil... But then if you've checked it and it was between the lines (assuming this was after the bike had stood still for a while without the engine on?) then I'm not sure, but I'm fairly anal about oil changes but even when it was once at 8k miles it was still feeling fine ?

Oil change twice a year doing a lot of miles? How many miles are you doing? I end up changing the oil every 2 months (2400 miles/month).

If it was the worm drive I'd suspect there'd be other issues, such as the clutch not disengaging properly, lurchy gear shifts when changing? You'd hear/feel that wouldn't you?

Anyway, let us know what you find!

Bibio · 03-11-10, 04:26 PM

chain lube/wd40 + gear leaver linkage = working gears.

Swin · 03-11-10, 04:35 PM

I do around 6-8k per year, so I get the oil changed after 3-4k miles as most of my miles are a 54 mile round trip into and out of London. Describing it as a lot of miles was probably inaccurate by me, I probably don't do that many by some people's standards, I guess it's more the fact that it's London miles that makes me want to keep the changes regular

I haven't noticed any other issues with the gearbox, just a real so-and-so to get it into neutral or up from first etc.

The linkage has been taken apart and cleaned recently, the chain was lubed on Monday, I'll give this worm drive a check as well though, can't hurt!

03-11-10, 10:19 AM	#1
Swin Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 454	Difficulty changing gears when engine is hot I have noticed in the last few days that if I'm in traffic and the bike is hot I find the gear change to be really stiff, hard to find neutral and generally awkward. Just wondered if anyone has noticed this problem too, I'm going to get an oil and filter change done on Tuesday as I do a lot of miles so change oil twice a year but wondered if there's anything else I should check while I'm at it. The chain and sprockets are reasonably new and don't look worn, I recently cleaned and adjusted the chain as well. any hints would be welcome!

03-11-10, 02:46 PM	#2
SVMAT Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Difficulty changing gears when engine is hot Clutch may need adjusting at the worm drive behind front sprocket cover (very easily done), however probably just old oil. Mine does the same when oil is old or ive overfilled it. Hope this helps

03-11-10, 04:12 PM	#3
Swin Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 454	Re: Difficulty changing gears when engine is hot cheers - hopefully the oil change will sort it, I checked the other day and it looked between the sight lines, so maybe it's getting thin!

03-11-10, 04:18 PM	#4
Al_Sweetman Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Difficulty changing gears when engine is hot +1 to overfilling the oil... But then if you've checked it and it was between the lines (assuming this was after the bike had stood still for a while without the engine on?) then I'm not sure, but I'm fairly anal about oil changes but even when it was once at 8k miles it was still feeling fine ? Oil change twice a year doing a lot of miles? How many miles are you doing? I end up changing the oil every 2 months (2400 miles/month). If it was the worm drive I'd suspect there'd be other issues, such as the clutch not disengaging properly, lurchy gear shifts when changing? You'd hear/feel that wouldn't you? Anyway, let us know what you find!

03-11-10, 04:26 PM	#5
Bibio Member Mega Poster Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: here as devil's advocate Posts: 11,568	Re: Difficulty changing gears when engine is hot chain lube/wd40 + gear leaver linkage = working gears.

03-11-10, 04:35 PM	#6
Swin Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 454	Re: Difficulty changing gears when engine is hot I do around 6-8k per year, so I get the oil changed after 3-4k miles as most of my miles are a 54 mile round trip into and out of London. Describing it as a lot of miles was probably inaccurate by me, I probably don't do that many by some people's standards, I guess it's more the fact that it's London miles that makes me want to keep the changes regular I haven't noticed any other issues with the gearbox, just a real so-and-so to get it into neutral or up from first etc. The linkage has been taken apart and cleaned recently, the chain was lubed on Monday, I'll give this worm drive a check as well though, can't hurt!

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