3rd Gear Problems

[jrice02]

Hi
Everyone knows about the famous 2nd gear problems is an XS1100, my 81 Midnight Special slips out of 3rd on a daily basis, not every shift tho, and it doesn't feel/sound right when it jumps out of 3rd, is it another black and Decker fix or what.
Thanks
Jim Rice

[Mike Hart]

Does it skip, ie, jump back in again, or are you just finding the false neutral?

[jrice02]

It jumps out and in, not what I'd call a false neutral, always in 3rd whether upshifting or down shifting, amount of throttle seems to have something to do with it

[Jeff]

What do you consider to be the "false neutral"?

I've noticed that sometimes when shifting from first into second on my 78 Standard...... that it sometimes hangs in neutral instead of shifting into second. Its rather embarassing at times when accelerating away from a stop to suddenly over-rev..... hit the shifter again, get a nice CLUNK... and away I go again.

If I am just a bit forceful on the shifter when shifting into second.... it won't do it.... but once I relax and forget... WHAM... it gets me sooner or later. It has never jumped OUT of second or any other gear.... and shifts effortlessly into any other gear except second.

[mitch]

shifting fork

Hi Jeff, sounds like u have a bent or worn shifting fork . Go to the tech tips and u can see how to replace it. regards MITCH