Getting stuck in neutral trying to shift into first?

Zombiphone · November 13th, 2010, 01:31 PM

Alright, so yesterday I went for a brief ride before work, totaling maybe 50 miles. Everything was fine for the first 40 miles or so, but near the end of the trip, suddenly everytime I would try to downshift into first, I'd get stuck in neutral instead. After kicking down a number of times to no avail, letting out the clutch a few times, and rocking back and forth a bit, I'd eventually be able to engage first, but otherwise, I just could not get it out of neutral.

Every other gear engages fine both going up and down, it's just getting into first that's giving me grief. Umm, I'm not sure what might be relevent to diagnosing this, but if it helps, I DID drop it on the right side (opposite the clutch and shifter) maybe 5 months ago, and have occasionally had minor difficulty getting into first since (I'd say, maybe 1 in 50 downshifts from second would result in neutral, but a second kick would always immediately fix it).

Any ideas at all what might cause something like that? I'm more than willing to pull things apart if need be, but I have no idea where to even start

JMcDonald · November 13th, 2010, 02:01 PM

When is the last time you changed your oil, and what are you using? I find shifts start getting a little rougher after maybe 1500 miles it seems.

rockNroll · November 13th, 2010, 03:02 PM

Got any slack in your clutch cable?

Ken08Ninja · November 13th, 2010, 04:54 PM

Are you stopping while still in 2nd gear or higher? The bike should be moving when changing gears.

Zombiphone · November 13th, 2010, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMcDonald

When is the last time you changed your oil, and what are you using? I find shifts start getting a little rougher after maybe 1500 miles it seems.

I change my oil pretty frequently, as I make a point to do so after every other trackday. I last changed it about 2 weeks and 300 miles ago. I run Mobil 10w-40 full synthetic, and have been running that since the 2500 mile mark (currently at about 8000 miles on the odometer). I did put in new O rings and switched over to a K&N filter over OEM, but otherwise business as usual. would a different filter maybe require a little less oil or something? Could oil cause a problem like that?

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockNroll

Got any slack in your clutch cable?

Not sure. The clutch lever itself feels firm and totally normal, and I had the 7500 mile service done not too long ago. I'm pretty certain it was adjusted then if it was off at all, but I'll have to check. It engages smoothly in every other gear though. It just feels like my shift lever can't click into first for some reason.

Is there anything else it could be if that doesn't solve it?

Zombiphone · November 13th, 2010, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken08Ninja

Are you stopping while still in 2nd gear or higher? The bike should be moving when changing gears.

No no, I've done that before and had that awkward trying to get it into first gear. I know what that feels like. I usually engage each gear individually as I slow to a stop anyways. I'm having trouble getting it into first gear from neutral even when first turning it on.

Snake · November 13th, 2010, 05:36 PM

Check the slack in your chain. I have found that too much slack in the chain causes difficult shifting.

Zombiphone · November 13th, 2010, 05:37 PM

Okay, I feel stupid >_< Figured it out. Apparently the shift lever goes down further when kicking into first than it does when descending through the other gears, because it turns out that between my rearsets and how low I had my shifter adjusted, I was hitting the kickstand mount before the gear could fully engage. I don't know why this didn't happen until mid-ride or why it's been fine for the last, like, 6 months since I put the rearsets on, but it's working fine now that I've adjusted the lever position, so I guess it doesn't matter.

I guess I'll have to get used to having the shifter a little higher. Gross. Maybe this is all a sign that I need to just remove the kickstand and make this into a full on track bike

Crisis averted! Sorry, guys. Thanks for the assistance anyways

Snake · November 13th, 2010, 05:41 PM

Glad to see it was a simple fix.

Zombiphone · November 13th, 2010, 05:45 PM

Ha, you and me both. I was all worried I ruined my clutch or something without realizing it. All's well that ends well I suppose

JMcDonald · November 13th, 2010, 07:19 PM

Haha, I did that when messing with lever position early on :P .

rockNroll · November 14th, 2010, 06:57 AM

YAY! you fixed it

Were you hittin the post for the kickstand spring?

Zombiphone · November 14th, 2010, 07:46 AM

Yep. Scuffed the rubber on the shifter a bit from nailing that peg when forcing it into first a few times. So dumb. I don't know how I missed that when I was first fidgeting with the lever. Damn kawasaki stifling my racey shifting

November 13th, 2010, 01:31 PM	#1
Zombiphone CVMA/AFM #72 Name: Tiffani Location: Los Angeles, Ca Join Date: Oct 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja 250r (Racebike), 2015 FZ-07(Tourer), 2001 KX65(LOL bike) Posts: A lot.	Getting stuck in neutral trying to shift into first? Alright, so yesterday I went for a brief ride before work, totaling maybe 50 miles. Everything was fine for the first 40 miles or so, but near the end of the trip, suddenly everytime I would try to downshift into first, I'd get stuck in neutral instead. After kicking down a number of times to no avail, letting out the clutch a few times, and rocking back and forth a bit, I'd eventually be able to engage first, but otherwise, I just could not get it out of neutral. Every other gear engages fine both going up and down, it's just getting into first that's giving me grief. Umm, I'm not sure what might be relevent to diagnosing this, but if it helps, I DID drop it on the right side (opposite the clutch and shifter) maybe 5 months ago, and have occasionally had minor difficulty getting into first since (I'd say, maybe 1 in 50 downshifts from second would result in neutral, but a second kick would always immediately fix it). Any ideas at all what might cause something like that? I'm more than willing to pull things apart if need be, but I have no idea where to even start

November 13th, 2010, 02:01 PM	#2
JMcDonald ninjette.org sage Name: J Location: Oklahoma Join Date: Sep 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2008 250R Posts: 771	When is the last time you changed your oil, and what are you using? I find shifts start getting a little rougher after maybe 1500 miles it seems. __________________________________________________ Factory Pro Jet Kit, K&N R-0990 Pod Filter, Sportisi VR Black Exhaust, BRT TIS Ignition, White Paint, and 16/41 Sprockets. Soon: Maybe a 37T Rear Sprocket if I get things running like I'd hoped.

November 13th, 2010, 03:02 PM	#3
rockNroll . Name: rock Location: greenville, south carolina Join Date: Jun 2009 Motorcycle(s): black Posts: A lot.	Got any slack in your clutch cable? __________________________________________________ Always get a second opinion because most of these people are makin' this stuff up

November 13th, 2010, 07:19 PM	#11
JMcDonald ninjette.org sage Name: J Location: Oklahoma Join Date: Sep 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2008 250R Posts: 771	Haha, I did that when messing with lever position early on :P . __________________________________________________ Factory Pro Jet Kit, K&N R-0990 Pod Filter, Sportisi VR Black Exhaust, BRT TIS Ignition, White Paint, and 16/41 Sprockets. Soon: Maybe a 37T Rear Sprocket if I get things running like I'd hoped.

November 14th, 2010, 06:57 AM	#12
rockNroll . Name: rock Location: greenville, south carolina Join Date: Jun 2009 Motorcycle(s): black Posts: A lot.	YAY! you fixed it Were you hittin the post for the kickstand spring? __________________________________________________ Always get a second opinion because most of these people are makin' this stuff up

November 13th, 2010, 04:54 PM	#4
Ken08Ninja ninjette.org member Name: Ken Location: NY Join Date: Dec 2008 Motorcycle(s): 08 Ninja 250R Candy Plasma Blue Posts: 129	Are you stopping while still in 2nd gear or higher? The bike should be moving when changing gears.

November 13th, 2010, 05:36 PM	#7
Snake ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Rick Location: Alexandria, Louisiana Join Date: Jan 2009 Motorcycle(s): 05 Blue Ninja 250 Posts: Too much. MOTY - 2017, MOTM - Jan '19, Oct '16, May '14	Check the slack in your chain. I have found that too much slack in the chain causes difficult shifting.

November 13th, 2010, 05:37 PM	#8
Zombiphone CVMA/AFM #72 Name: Tiffani Location: Los Angeles, Ca Join Date: Oct 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja 250r (Racebike), 2015 FZ-07(Tourer), 2001 KX65(LOL bike) Posts: A lot.	Okay, I feel stupid >_< Figured it out. Apparently the shift lever goes down further when kicking into first than it does when descending through the other gears, because it turns out that between my rearsets and how low I had my shifter adjusted, I was hitting the kickstand mount before the gear could fully engage. I don't know why this didn't happen until mid-ride or why it's been fine for the last, like, 6 months since I put the rearsets on, but it's working fine now that I've adjusted the lever position, so I guess it doesn't matter. I guess I'll have to get used to having the shifter a little higher. Gross. Maybe this is all a sign that I need to just remove the kickstand and make this into a full on track bike Crisis averted! Sorry, guys. Thanks for the assistance anyways

November 13th, 2010, 05:41 PM	#9
Snake ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Rick Location: Alexandria, Louisiana Join Date: Jan 2009 Motorcycle(s): 05 Blue Ninja 250 Posts: Too much. MOTY - 2017, MOTM - Jan '19, Oct '16, May '14	Glad to see it was a simple fix.

November 13th, 2010, 05:45 PM	#10
Zombiphone CVMA/AFM #72 Name: Tiffani Location: Los Angeles, Ca Join Date: Oct 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja 250r (Racebike), 2015 FZ-07(Tourer), 2001 KX65(LOL bike) Posts: A lot.	Ha, you and me both. I was all worried I ruined my clutch or something without realizing it. All's well that ends well I suppose

November 14th, 2010, 07:46 AM	#13
Zombiphone CVMA/AFM #72 Name: Tiffani Location: Los Angeles, Ca Join Date: Oct 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja 250r (Racebike), 2015 FZ-07(Tourer), 2001 KX65(LOL bike) Posts: A lot.	Yep. Scuffed the rubber on the shifter a bit from nailing that peg when forcing it into first a few times. So dumb. I don't know how I missed that when I was first fidgeting with the lever. Damn kawasaki stifling my racey shifting

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