shifting to second

[Tibado]

After 35 years in the saddle, I finally own a Valk, two actually.
A 99 and a 2000 Tourer. The 99 grinds going into second gear about 80 percent of the time. I have to
go to neutral, release the pressure then it goes into second normally.
Clutch or shifter dog ? Bought this one from a Honda dealer who says it shifts just fine .
Any suggestions would be appreciated. I ride the 99 and my SO rides the 2000.

[Chrisj CMA]

try bleeding the clutch line and also check the brass bushing in the handle(you are looking for worn wallered out holes).  Quick easy fixes before you go deeper

[SANDMAN5]

Ditto on bleeding the clutch line!! Changed my fluid this
winter and it made a MAJOR difference!!

[Earl in Pensacola]

Have you tried a little "pre-load" on the shifter?  Try just a  little lift on the shifter before you're ready to pull in the clutch lever.

[BlueValk]

After 35 years in the saddle, I finally own a Valk, two actually.
A 99 and a 2000 Tourer. The 99 grinds going into second gear about 80 percent of the time. I have to
go to neutral, release the pressure then it goes into second normally.
Clutch or shifter dog ? Bought this one from a Honda dealer who says it shifts just fine .
Any suggestions would be appreciated. I ride the 99 and my SO rides the 2000.

Sounds like your dealer is passing his headache on to you.  
Yes, there are better and worse ways to shift.  But, you've been riding for 35 years, you know how to shift.  
My Valk shifts just fine without any extra attention.   Yes, preloading does make for a smoother shift, but that isn't the question here.  Try and get your Dealer to step up.  My .02.
BlueValk

[BigMac (SoCal)]

Some just shift easier than others. I have had 2 valks and both of them shifted clunky. I have to peload them to shift easier. 92,000 on my 99 Interstate and all is good, you just get used to it. I work on a lot of Valks and some shift so nice compared to mine.

Dave

[mario]

okay, ya'll. please explain 'preload' for me.  my valk's been hard downshifting lately.

[Mr.BubblesVRCCDS0008]

I've ridden a valk for close a 100 thousand miles now and still have trouble shifting from first to second once in a while. I found out if I'm tried or sleepy I miss shifts and sometimes the difference between the type of shoes I'm wearing seems to make a diffence. I have a kick shifter and if I pay attention when I'm shifting  I seldom miss a gear.

[PhredValk]

Preload means putting some upward pressure on the shifter before you pull the clutch and reef it up. Helps sometimes.

Does she want to inch foreword in first with the clutch pulled tight? Might need some adjusting in the clutch action or lever if it isn't disengaging fully. Passing thru neutral with the clutch not fully disengaged could mess up the synchromesh...
Fred.

[R J]

I'll put my $$$$ on the old brown nag in the 5th race.

Take the clutch lever out and replace the bronze/brass sleeve.

Yours is probably EGG SHAPED.   Then replace the fluid in both the clutch and brakes.    You say why the brakes, it helps old farts later in the rear to try and remember which one did I replace.   Ya do all three at the same time, ya don't have to rack ur brain or look for your notes to determine which one ya did.

2nd gear is a known mis it if ya are a lazy shifter.   This old girl was built to slam the gears in place.   That is one reason I have a Chet's Kickshifter.    Ain't missed a gear since I installed it.    Prior to installation, I missed 2nd about 3 out of 10 shifts.......

[bigfish_Oh]

the dealer told me my new '79 750F shifted fine.. at under 2000 miles Honda paid for a new top end ($627)because of missed second gear shifts, it cost me 4 spark plugs. Of course it still missed second. Both of my CBX's had different quirks and would miss or hang up, fall out. I can associate one to "lazy" shift. I cured my '82 when the trans gears were back cut.  My brothers CBX nor friends Suzuki's never gave me any problems. My Valk will hang in a gear.
---I have never owned a Honda that shifted correct 95% of the time, 100% is outa the question

[bigfish_Oh]

kinda off topic, but since the title is "shifting to second"

Sometime 82-84(a lot of friends worked their) their was a misprint in a Honda car manual, "when shXXing from second to third" or something to that effect.

[98valk]

do a search as this has been address before.
main point is to rotate the shifter down one spline on its shaft. had similar shifting problems when it was brand new, rotated the shifter and never a problem since.

your brand of oil could also be causing the problems. smoothest shifting oil I have used is amsoil 10w30/30 HD diesel oil. it was orginally designed for wet clutches and use to carry the allison and cat specs for wet clutch transmissions when it was a straight 30w. still basically same oil except for temp ratings which affected the W classification
any 15w40 or 5w40 diesel oil would also be good to use

[tybme]

I 2nd the vote for moving the shifter one spline. My Valk does the same thing from our description - I have yet to take the time to move the shifter one spline but I feel that is going to be the correction for the issue.

[paps350]

I had the same trouble when I first bought my Valk. Depending on what type of footware I had on made a difference on how it would shift. With boots on no problem shifting but with a soft style tennis shoe ( I know who rides in tennis shoes) I repeatedly missed second gear. Moved shifter ons spline and made a bid difference you still will need to give it a good kick due to the long travel from first to second.

[Valkpilot]

The 99 grinds going into second gear about 80 percent of the time. I have to
go to neutral, release the pressure then it goes into second normally.

I don't know, folks.  This description sounds like it needs more of a solution than just an authoritative shift.

Tibado, I'd follow the advice of those who advised that you check the lever, bushing, and bleed the clutch.

Bent shift forks seem to be something of a rarity.  If, after the above easy stuff, you still have problems and it includes not being able to pull the lever all the way to the grip, you might need to rebuild the clutch stack because the damper plate is falling apart.

[fudgie]

Bent shift forks seem to be something of a rarity.  If, after the above easy stuff, you still have problems and it includes not being able to pull the lever all the way to the grip, you might need to rebuild the clutch stack because the damper plate is falling apart.

Off topic but valkpiolot, love the saying under your avatar.  Thats my partners and I's fav movie and say that line at work anytime we can.

[Walküre]

With boots on no problem shifting but with a soft style tennis shoe ( I know who rides in tennis shoes)

And, now we know, too...   *wink, wink!!* 

[Quicksilver]

Recently changed oil seal on shifter. Found i had replaced shifter at wrong position and I could downshift but not up shift. Shifter was contacting frame on the up stroke. There are 2 adjustment points. The spline right at the motor and the spline at the end of the shaft that extends out and your arm attaches to. I rotated the entire assembly on the inner spline to give me clearance at the frame and then adjusted the arm to the correct level for my boot to get under. Works well now, I used to miss the odd shift and I think that it was set too high at the motor to begin with.

[Valkpilot]

Off topic but valkpiolot, love the saying under your avatar.  Thats my partners and I's fav movie and say that line at work anytime we can.

Thanks, Fudgie!

[Mo Lee]

My 97 with 73000 miles seems to miss second quite often usually when I am making noise showing off. It also does not want to downshift to first without grinding while moving. On the other hand my 03 with 10000 miles always shifts smooth and seldom misses second except when I'm lazy shifting. I figured the 97 was just worn and may need a teardown someday. Reading this thread maybe I will try some options first.

[fudgie]

Can someone point out where this brass bushing is to check? Had the lever off but could not tell where it was at.

[MP]

It should stay inside of the lever.  May need to be pressed out.  The pin goes thru it to hold the lever on.
 This wears as you use the lever.  Then, instead of having to replace the whole lever when it wears, you just replace the bushing.  Plus, the bushing wears better than the aluminum lever.
MP

[fudgie]

It should stay inside of the lever.  May need to be pressed out.  The pin goes thru it to hold the lever on.
 This wears as you use the lever.  Then, instead of having to replace the whole lever when it wears, you just replace the bushing.  Plus, the bushing wears better than the aluminum lever.
MP

Oh, ok. Boy I feel silly. 

[Ricky-D]

The pivot points on the handlebar levers are exposed to the elements and especially riding in the rain.

A little shot of oil every now and then does wonders to maintaining their good working condition.

Ignoring this basic preventive maintenance measure along with some of the other basic and easy to do things will condemn a rider to always having to worry about this thing or that!

Seems there's a lot wanting (only) to do all the "mods" with little attention given to preventive maintenance issues.

Jus sayin!

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