Transmission problem?

[Adrenaline Junkie]

I just got my fz6 this may. It's an 07 with 4k miles. Lately I've noticed a problem and it seems like the transmission just stops moving through gears. I'll be at speed, braking, and starting to downshift, then my shifter just wont put the gears down and I'm now at this intersection stuck in 4th or 5th. I either have to let it stall, or I can let the clutch engage a little, play with the shifter a little, and then it seems to find the gears again and I can get to first.

Has anyone experienced or heard of this? Do I have a defective transmission?

 

[Shamus McFeeley]

You might check for your shift lever binding, or or clutch cable free-play. Does the lever "ratchet" or does it feel like your downshifting against something solid? A previous owner might have abused the transmission by speed shifting, but it would to have been some serious abuse. It almost sounds like your shift drum is hanging up, but I would check the shift lever first to make sure that is is operating without binding and returning the way it should.

 

[(none)]

you are saying you will roll up to a stop with the clutch in and try to downshift 5 gears or so when nearly stopped or even just rolling along and it won't? That's normal. Easy way is to downshift as you slow down (blip the throttle as you downshift and engage the gears), that way you are always in a gear if for any reason you have to power out of a situation (as in to get from a cager...). You can also load up the clutch for a second as you found out to get it to click into gear. Its all normal with the type of transmission motorcycles use, all of my bikes have done it.

 

[wrightme43]

Throttle blips are your answer. Most problems with yamaha and honda bikes are cause by the operator not the machine.

 

[Shamus McFeeley]

you are saying you will roll up to a stop with the clutch in and try to downshift 5 gears or so when nearly stopped or even just rolling along and it won't? That's normal. Easy way is to downshift as you slow down (blip the throttle as you downshift and engage the gears), that way you are always in a gear if for any reason you have to power out of a situation (as in to get from a cager...). You can also load up the clutch for a second as you found out to get it to click into gear. Its all normal with the type of transmission motorcycles use, all of my bikes have done it.

I do this so automatically that I never thought to mention/ask about it.

 

[Cali rider]

This has been discussed a couple of times before. Check out these threads for some insight as you may have a similar problem:
http://www.600riders.com/forum/garage-mechanical-help/11510-problems-downshifting-mechanical.html

http://www.600riders.com/forum/garage-mechanical-help/14976-having-problems-shifting-down-when-coming-stop.html

 

[SovietRobot]

As everyone else has said and will say, Let the clutch out between gears!

 

[Grape]

I guess the solution is (as I have written in several threads before): lube lube lube.

Put some grease or other lubricant on all the joints on the gear lever linkage. Dont forget to remove the rubber covering one important point on the mechanism.

//Henrik

 

[Adrenaline Junkie]

thanks all for your quick replies, this forum really is great. it's raining today, but tomorrow i'll get out and try letting the clutch out with each down shift. hopefully that will solve it. if it still persists i'll check the lube, shift lever binding, and clutch free play.

 

[wrightme43]

Its clutch in, blip throttle, down shift, clutch out (doesnt have to be all the way just enough to get the gears spinning up to speed) Clutch in, blip, shift, clutch out, repeat.

Practice that its kinda fun and sounds neat too.