2nd Gear Prevention

[MAXIMAN]

Any of you XSives ever given thought to techniques or maintenance that might prevent the ominous 2nd gear failure.

Obviously shift technique is crucial. But I've talked to some guys that swear they babied their Eleven only to have 2nd gear eventualy go out anyway.

Then again I've talked to guys that have 80 or 90,000 miles and never had a problem.

Any thoughts...any superior oils that might help?

[pggg]

The guys that babied their elevens could have previous owners thrashing the hell out of them? Slick-50 or Motor-Up would be good in the gearbox if it wasn't for the wet clutch.

[DiverRay]

I would pull the trans, and do the "washer move" on 2nd. That will probably get you an extra 70K miles without a problem. The best way would be to go in and do the trans completely. Slight undercut, washer move, and adjust and verify all shifting BEFORE you put everything back together.
Just my $0.02.
Ray

[mason79]

would pull the trans, and do the "washer move" on 2nd. That will probably get you an extra 70K miles without a problem.

thats the most milelage anyone can get with a single washer, at the rate i'm riding, that will be another 14 years, year 2020.

[MAXIMAN]

Originally posted by mason79


thats the most milelage anyone can get with a single washer, at the rate i'm riding, that will be another 14 years, year 2020.

Not me. I put about 25,000 to 30,000 annually on bikes.

Regardless I know a couple guys that have well over 70,000 original miles with no tranny problems. One put 90,000 on an XJ and never had any gear issues.

Still....if I can "help" the situation I would be diligent to do so. Sounds like the best thing I can do is simply cross my fingers.

[DiverRay]

Still....if I can "help" the situation I would be diligent to do so. Sounds like the best thing I can do is simply cross my fingers.

That, and go easy until 3rd gear!!
Ray

[yamarider]

As far as I know, this second gear issue was with the '85 Venture Royals. Does it carry over to other four cylinder models as well??

[Don Hughes]

Was a problem with the 83 to midway through 85's when Yamaha fixed the problem on the Ventures.
Some where I even have the serial # that they fixed it at in 1985.
Do not know about other Yamaha 4 cylinder bikes.

[Pat Kelly]

Some of the XS triples have 2nd gear issues too.

[DiverRay]

The second gear problem started with the XS1100, and went on through the Venture and the vmax. Too much tourque.
Ray

[mro]

Any thoughts...any superior oils that might help?

If it ain't broke , don't fix it


mro

[GNEPIG]

.. i'm not going to mess with the red bikes tranny any more, it's working real good now, but i'm going to try something a little different/easier with the next bike[XS11 tranny]. the long winded explination that i posted previously requires you to take the transmission out, but this time i'm only going to remove the clutch to get to the washer based bolt. i am going to try just putting a .065" thick washer under the washer based bolt. this will move the drive axle over about .040", this also moves the second gear wheel closer to fifth gear wheel. this should give the second gear about .035" more dog engagement..

..this should in up being a quick and easy improvement towards helping 2nd last longer

[yamarider]

I wonder if this second gear issue is brought upon by personal shifting habits? When I am cruising through town and come upon a stop, I never downshift into first -- the XS has plenty of torque to start out in second gear, even with a passenger. Maybe this whole second gear problem arises from the repeated "jump" between first and second gear.

[pggg]

Originally posted by GNEPIG
.. i'm not going to mess with the red bikes tranny any more, it's working real good now, but i'm going to try something a little different/easier with the next bike[XS11 tranny]. the long winded explination that i posted previously requires you to take the transmission out, but this time i'm only going to remove the clutch to get to the washer based bolt. i am going to try just putting a .065" thick washer under the washer based bolt. this will move the drive axle over about .040", this also moves the second gear wheel closer to fifth gear wheel. this should give the second gear about .035" more dog engagement..

..this should in up being a quick and easy improvement towards helping 2nd last longer

GNE, got me interested, reckon it's possible that way?

[skids]

You should donate your first gear!

Originally posted by yamarider
I wonder if this second gear issue is brought upon by personal shifting habits? When I am cruising through town and come upon a stop, I never downshift into first -- the XS has plenty of torque to start out in second gear, even with a passenger. Maybe this whole second gear problem arises from the repeated "jump" between first and second gear.