Hard Shifting

[excess11]

I have 78' xs11 and wile going through the gears it takes a hard pull of the shifter to change to next gear.You have to lift shifter and feel for next gear to grab before releasing the clutch or it will make a gear crunching sound then jump in gear. It does not pop out of any gears once in place.It just makes crunching sound if you do not make a very firm shift. It feels like it is not making complete shifts.When you lift shifter it feels like there is a half click then you have to apply more pressure to complete shift and then you can feel gears engage.I think have checked the shifting components on the left side and can not find any problems.I looked at the threads on 1st. and 2nd. gear fixes but do not know if they apply because I do not have any problems with the bike jumping out of gear, just hard shifts and incomplete shifts when up shifting. I have also noticed it takes a hard push when down shifting to engage lower gear.Thanks any help

[TopCatGr58]

Hey there Excess11,

Did you see the reply to your previous post?? It sounds like your clutch is not disengaging completely, keeping too much stress on the gears, so you're having to FORCE them out and into gears!? Did you check and perform the clutch lever adjustment on the right side of the engine cover?

I think have checked the shifting components on the left side and can not find any problems.

So you pulled the side shift cover off and checked the alignment of the shift pawl and the shift drum, as per the reply and picture?

Also, I found downshifting was troublesome a while back when the return spring for the shift lever went weak, at first I thought I needed to really press down hard to make it shift, when what it really needed was just a "GENTLE" slight upward pull to reset the ratchet/pawl mechanism so that it could then grab the next dowel in the shift drum to rotate the drum to allow it to shift down into the next gear!!! So....after running up thru the gears, and downshifting 1 gear, use your toe to pull up on the shift lever, not so much as to shift back up a gear, but just enough to ensure that the lever has returned to it's normal position, then try downshifting again, and see if it shifts more easily down into the next gear, then repeat the gentle lift, and then downshift again. IF this makes downshifting easier, then your return spring for the shift lever is worn, and will need replacing!?

[Czekus21]

The XS is notorious for hard clashing shifting but it sounds to me like your clutch might need some adjusting and with all the clanking goin on you may check your oil. Was there any metal in the oil when you drained it? If there was then you've got some problems if not try a clutch adjustment and become one with the bike. These tranies are noisy and can be quieted down a little by shifting at the "right moment" ( engine rpm = road speed = gear ratio= syncronized ) which can be very difficult even with an expierienced rider. Also I've noticed on my 79sf that the different types of oil used will make a difference in the quietness and smothness of the shifts let alone the engine noises. Usually on my bike, it's harder to shift into the next gear the more I'm gettin on it.

[John]

I don't like being the bearer of bad tidings, but lets think about wear on the shift forks and in the grooves of the shift drum. A little were in each of those areas can equal a lot of slop where the forks engage the gears.