@%$# 1st gear...

[perurider]

My first gear is acting up, the infamous 1-2 gear thing.I think..when I am in moderate acceleration....I know it was doing this for a bit, but its so hard to keep out of it!!! Now my question is...Is it always the gear fix mod that needs to be done...Is there anyone even close to North Central Indiana..that knows this fix? I would also like to know if theres danger of totally thrashing the cases? It doesnt pop outta gear or anything, rides fine other than that. If you look on a map of Indiana find where US 24 and US31 intersect and thats my town...Peru.

[DGXSER]

If it feels like a machine gun, popping in and out of gear, then it is most likely the dreaded 1st/2nd gear issue. IF you continue to ride without fixing it, you either need to skip 1st gear, or continue to wear it down and eventually it will not stay in gear at all. By that point it will be just that much more to grind down to fix the gear, so the sooner you fix it the better.

I m certain you could do it yourself, I did and I ain't the sharpest tool in the shed, just ask anyone around here. If you take your time and do not force things, you will not kill the cases or engine.

I get up that way from time to time for work, but not working for a week or two and even then it will probably be a month or so until I get back to traveling much.

[perurider]

ok, thats what it feels like, is the info in the thread on the fix all good, then I should prolly do it now like you said than wait until until weather is nice and everyday is riding day.

[DGXSER]

I followed the tech tip. The only thing that was not in there when I did it and may have been added, is if you have stock exhaust, you will need to drop the exhaust to get the tranny/oil pan off. Otherwise, it is excellent and about fool proof.

[CatatonicBug]

Just follow the tech tip, and you'll be fine. You don't have to flip the bike over though.

[yozzie]

I bought my XJ with the first gear machine gun. I fixed the gears without flipping the bike over. I ran the front tire up onto a high wood block and then used a ceiling hoist in my shop to lift the back up onto another block. Got a nice pillow, had lots of room to work underneath.
Really wasn't that difficult, only dropped one shift fork on my forehead.

[Winterhawk]

Now that mine is running right at about 6,000rpm it wants to kick out of first gear. Never noticed it before. Owned it about 6 or 7 years now. 2nd gear seams fine. I need to do the washer thing anyway. If I have to take it apart I'll probably pull the engine. I'd like to try it with the engine in the frame. Never did this before. Any easier?

[CatatonicBug]

Now that mine is running right at about 6,000rpm it wants to kick out of first gear. Never noticed it before. Owned it about 6 or 7 years now. 2nd gear seams fine. I need to do the washer thing anyway. If I have to take it apart I'll probably pull the engine. I'd like to try it with the engine in the frame. Never did this before. Any easier?

Why would you pull the engine? If you are wanting to do OTHER things, that makes sense, but if all you are doing is the gear fix, there is no need to pull the engine. The whole thing, start to finish takes about 4-6 hours.