Gear lever fell off, (questions/concerns) help please

Ninjam · July 11th, 2016, 06:37 PM

Hey guys,
So I was on the highway today and as I get off and attempt to downshift I notice my gear lever is missing, confirming that it was still hanging attached to the pivoting arm I realize it's the bolt holding the clutch lever in place that I had lost someeheres. I have jimmied another gear lever bolt together with an 8 mm bolt some washers and electrical tape to be snug fitting within the gear lever hole that isn't the hole with the threading. I ended up having to get it going in 5th gear from a standstill 3 times before I finally put it into first manually and drove it the rest of the way home. It sounds like it's making a bit of a rougher sound now from 3rd gear onward which sortof scares me.. it's not the transmission going is it..? The bike only has 10k kms on it and wasn't drive hard at all by the previous two owners. Does anyone know what the noise would be or why it's soundimg like that now? Im not driving it at the moment because of that noise. Can someone please help me..?

Mr Moder · July 12th, 2016, 05:43 AM

Ok I just have to know how hard was it to get that bike moving in high gear from a stand still?

jkv45 · July 12th, 2016, 07:18 AM

I guess I would get the shifter adjusted and tightened down properly then put the bike up on a rear stand so you can put it in gear and listen to the transmission.

Having the shifter fall off shouldn't have done any damage to the transmission though. Check the splines on the shifter shaft on the engine and the shifter. Also check the threads on the shifter to make sure they are not stripped.

Starting in 5th gear would be hard on the clutch, but not necessarily the transmission.

Ninjam · July 12th, 2016, 08:24 AM

It actually wasn't that bad at all compared to say starting say in third.. Lol bike didn't even stall once and she just took a bit to get up to speed once I had finally released the clutch but it did sputter a couple of times once the clutch was out.

allanoue · July 12th, 2016, 08:36 AM

Have you replaced the Jury-rig bolt with the OEM yet?

Ninjam · July 12th, 2016, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jkv45

I guess I would get the shifter adjusted and tightened down properly then put the bike up on a rear stand so you can put it in gear and listen to the transmission.

Having the shifter fall off shouldn't have done any damage to the transmission though. Check the splines on the shifter shaft on the engine and the shifter. Also check the threads on the shifter to make sure they are not stripped.

Starting in 5th gear would be hard on the clutch, but not necessarily the transmission.

Hey man thanks for the reply, yeah That's the first thing I did was get the shifter back on and make sure it was the right amount of tightness. The threads for the bolt to go in are still good as well, but I had noticed last night when I was looking around seeing if I could figure out what it was there was quite a bit of gunk buildup on the pieces attaching into the engine from the gear spline going to the pedal lever. I cleaned it all out and let her sit for about 8 hours then tried her around the block and it doesn't seem to be making any weird noises now like it was or that I can tell. And the sound I believe was sortof like a buzzing changing the pitch of the bike I'm higher rev to a higher pitch. Really appreciate your help though friend.

Ninjam · July 12th, 2016, 08:43 AM

No I haven't, are you thinking that could be the noise? I had taken the bolt out again last night and ended up putting some lithium grease on the electrical tape to have a bit of lube for the gear shifter. It seemed like the pedal last time had a bit of wiggle room but this time none with the grease and I don't believe I'm hearing the sound anymore now:s

jkv45 · July 12th, 2016, 08:45 AM

You bet.

Sounds like it's all good then. Maybe keep an eye on the pinch-bolt on the shifter. If it wants to loosen you could add some blue loctite n the threads or a star washer under the head of the bolt to secure it.

Not sure how familiar you are with the Ninjas, but keep and eye on the oil level. They do lose some oil into the airbox, especially when running at high revs in hot weather. Running the level low can make shifting rougher, as can running the wrong oil or just running the oil too long.

Ninjam · July 12th, 2016, 09:02 AM

Let's hope so, but definitel what I'm gonna do till I get an OEM one for it again. Not sure if I have any locktite on hand but if it ends up loosening Il put some on forsure.y yeah I'm still learning as I go but the oil did come to mind too last night so I did check the gauge. Put the like level not on the kickstand and the oil seemed pretty close to full but it's really dark almost black so thinking it's time for an oil change.

July 11th, 2016, 06:37 PM	#1
Ninjam ninjette.org newbie Name: Zach Location: New Brunswick Join Date: Jul 2016 Motorcycle(s): 09 ninja 250R Posts: 9	Gear lever fell off, (questions/concerns) help please Hey guys, So I was on the highway today and as I get off and attempt to downshift I notice my gear lever is missing, confirming that it was still hanging attached to the pivoting arm I realize it's the bolt holding the clutch lever in place that I had lost someeheres. I have jimmied another gear lever bolt together with an 8 mm bolt some washers and electrical tape to be snug fitting within the gear lever hole that isn't the hole with the threading. I ended up having to get it going in 5th gear from a standstill 3 times before I finally put it into first manually and drove it the rest of the way home. It sounds like it's making a bit of a rougher sound now from 3rd gear onward which sortof scares me.. it's not the transmission going is it..? The bike only has 10k kms on it and wasn't drive hard at all by the previous two owners. Does anyone know what the noise would be or why it's soundimg like that now? Im not driving it at the moment because of that noise. Can someone please help me..?

July 12th, 2016, 08:36 AM	#5
allanoue ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Al Location: York, Pa Join Date: Dec 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2013 Ninja 300..............2008 Ninja 500-sold...2009 Ninja 250-Crashed Posts: Too much. MOTM - Sep '14	Have you replaced the Jury-rig bolt with the OEM yet? __________________________________________________ Keep calm and ride on -Motofool Never quit on a rainy day -ally99

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July 12th, 2016, 05:43 AM	#2
Mr Moder ninjette.org newbie Name: Mr Location: MidWest Join Date: Jul 2016 Motorcycle(s): 2016 Honda fury Posts: 6	Ok I just have to know how hard was it to get that bike moving in high gear from a stand still?

July 12th, 2016, 07:18 AM	#3
jkv45 Rev Limiter Name: Jay Location: WI Join Date: Jul 2013 Motorcycle(s): '06 SV650n, '00 Derbi GPR, '64 CA77 Dream 305, '70 CL450 Scrambler, numerous dirt bikes Posts: A lot. MOTM - Jun '18, Oct '16	I guess I would get the shifter adjusted and tightened down properly then put the bike up on a rear stand so you can put it in gear and listen to the transmission. Having the shifter fall off shouldn't have done any damage to the transmission though. Check the splines on the shifter shaft on the engine and the shifter. Also check the threads on the shifter to make sure they are not stripped. Starting in 5th gear would be hard on the clutch, but not necessarily the transmission.

July 12th, 2016, 08:24 AM	#4
Ninjam ninjette.org newbie Name: Zach Location: New Brunswick Join Date: Jul 2016 Motorcycle(s): 09 ninja 250R Posts: 9	It actually wasn't that bad at all compared to say starting say in third.. Lol bike didn't even stall once and she just took a bit to get up to speed once I had finally released the clutch but it did sputter a couple of times once the clutch was out.

July 12th, 2016, 08:43 AM	#7
Ninjam ninjette.org newbie Name: Zach Location: New Brunswick Join Date: Jul 2016 Motorcycle(s): 09 ninja 250R Posts: 9	No I haven't, are you thinking that could be the noise? I had taken the bolt out again last night and ended up putting some lithium grease on the electrical tape to have a bit of lube for the gear shifter. It seemed like the pedal last time had a bit of wiggle room but this time none with the grease and I don't believe I'm hearing the sound anymore now:s

July 12th, 2016, 08:45 AM	#8
jkv45 Rev Limiter Name: Jay Location: WI Join Date: Jul 2013 Motorcycle(s): '06 SV650n, '00 Derbi GPR, '64 CA77 Dream 305, '70 CL450 Scrambler, numerous dirt bikes Posts: A lot. MOTM - Jun '18, Oct '16	You bet. Sounds like it's all good then. Maybe keep an eye on the pinch-bolt on the shifter. If it wants to loosen you could add some blue loctite n the threads or a star washer under the head of the bolt to secure it. Not sure how familiar you are with the Ninjas, but keep and eye on the oil level. They do lose some oil into the airbox, especially when running at high revs in hot weather. Running the level low can make shifting rougher, as can running the wrong oil or just running the oil too long.

July 12th, 2016, 09:02 AM	#9
Ninjam ninjette.org newbie Name: Zach Location: New Brunswick Join Date: Jul 2016 Motorcycle(s): 09 ninja 250R Posts: 9	Let's hope so, but definitel what I'm gonna do till I get an OEM one for it again. Not sure if I have any locktite on hand but if it ends up loosening Il put some on forsure.y yeah I'm still learning as I go but the oil did come to mind too last night so I did check the gauge. Put the like level not on the kickstand and the oil seemed pretty close to full but it's really dark almost black so thinking it's time for an oil change.