shifter jamming intermittently

[deez]

Got my bike out of hibernation and have been riding the last couple of weeks and just noticed a problem that is getting worst.  Occasionally when either up shifting or down shifting I get a false neutral and its really hard to get it out, like stomping on the shifter hard! The clutch hydraulics feel good, no odd noise from the transmission , everything will be fine then and I will be cruising along and have to down shift for a light and it's 50/50 if it will be smooth or have to be hammered. when it shifts good it feels normal with positive detents and gear selection then boom , feels like i am trying to shift the footboard, no give at all , till i stomp it into gear. Any Thoughts? (fyi  a 98ct with 38K on the clock)

[Highbinder]

When you said you have to hammer it, is that to get it out of gear or into the next gear? I recall something similar happening and the clutch hydralic system was gummed up and the fluid needed replaceing...might want to start there by changing the clutch fluid..

[Chrisj CMA]

You said you have floor boards.  You may just need to adjust the shifter a tooth or so.  it can act that way if its out of adjustment, it has enough side to side play to bind on things and foot boards are terrible for changing the behavior of the shifter.

If it were me Id get rid of the boards

[Momz]

I have 3 Valks and they each shift differently.

My 2K I/S doesn't like to go into 2nd without a hard poke on the shifter(since new)

My 98 Rat Rod hates being down shifted into first unless it's stopped.

My 97 Bobber shifts like "butter".

[Jess from VA]

Assuming you don't have a physical issue with the boards and shifter position, I am going with the clutch fluid clean and change.

Avoid hammering. 

In the meantime, you can try preloading the shifter;  Before shifting, use your foot to take all of the slop/play out of the shifter.... almost shift, but don't.  Then clutch, and shift.  This might help, but is not a solution. 

[deez]

I'll give the clutch system a good flush to see if that helps.  I have checked the shifter for interference and there are no issues there. I'll check the service book to make sure the linkage is adjusted properly also. Thanks for the advice!

[Ricky-D]

Sounds as if you are employing a "heel - toe" shifter mechanism.

***

[Tailgate Tommy]

I have 3 Valks and they each shift differently.

My 2K I/S doesn't like to go into 2nd without a hard poke on the shifter(since new)

My 98 Rat Rod hates being down shifted into first unless it's stopped.

My 97 Bobber shifts like "butter".

Momz-

It is interesting how they shift differently. My 2000 IS shifts smooth and easy under all conditions (43K on the odo). My 2003 std (25k)needs to be upshifted shifted with authority. If I shift it easy, and don't preload the shifter, it tends to pop out of gear on acceleration. Both have the stock shifter.

tkylli

[Momz]

I have 3 Valks and they each shift differently.

My 2K I/S doesn't like to go into 2nd without a hard poke on the shifter(since new)

My 98 Rat Rod hates being down shifted into first unless it's stopped.

My 97 Bobber shifts like "butter".

Momz-

It is interesting how they shift differently. My 2000 IS shifts smooth and easy under all conditions (43K on the odo). My 2003 std (25k)needs to be upshifted shifted with authority. If I shift it easy, and don't preload the shifter, it tends to pop out of gear on acceleration. Both have the stock shifter.

tkylli

There is quite a bit of play between the end of the shifter rubber and where the output shaft exits the motor, and the shift dogs are bronze. The bronze parts tend to bend.

I've seen several "broken bronze dogs", most were because of those aftermarket "heel/toe shifters".
Check the Gold Wing internet sites.

Leave'em alone unless it really screws up. Then be prepared to spend big money.

[R J]

That is weird.

I have a 97 Tourer, that has one of the 1st toe/heel shifters that Rattlebars built.

242K+ on it and not a problem, after I moved the trans lever one way or the other on the trans peg.   Don't remember if it was up or down one tooth.   Too damn many years ago, like 17 years ago.

As someone said, it shifts like butter, always has and still does.

[Ken Tarver]

have a friend who's '98 got hard to shift....checked the fluid in the reservoir and it was about as thick as the ole slick 50 stuff

Ken

[R J]

That is weird.

I have a 97 Tourer, that has one of the 1st toe/heel shifters that Rattlebars built.

242K+ on it and not a problem, after I moved the trans lever one way or the other on the trans peg.   Don't remember if it was up or down one tooth.   Too damn many years ago, like 17 years ago.

As someone said, it shifts like butter, always has and still does.

I forgot to add, it has Cobra Boards on it also...........

[rocketray]

you might check to see if the bolt is loose that holds the shifter on      you have to take a case off

[Bagger John - #3785]

That is weird.

I have a 97 Tourer, that has one of the 1st toe/heel shifters that Rattlebars built.

242K+ on it and not a problem, after I moved the trans lever one way or the other on the trans peg.   Don't remember if it was up or down one tooth.   Too damn many years ago, like 17 years ago.

As someone said, it shifts like butter, always has and still does.

I've had Rattlebars' Kick Shifters on 4 of the 5 Valkyries I've owned over the years. Actually, the two I have keep following me from bike to bike...

All of them have shifted very smoothly and easily with this arrangement. It doesn't take anything more than a gentle nudge on the rear shifter peg to upshift the bike from any gear. Similarly, just a tap on the front peg (OEM shifter lever) is required to downshift. They're almost as smooth as my Connie-14s, and anyone who's ridden one of those bikes should understand clearly the character of their gearboxes.

Two GL1100As and a GL1200SEi I used to own also had Drag Specialties and Tour-Ease heel-toe setups. Put many tens of thousands of miles on those Wings without a hint of transmission or shifting trouble.

[Momz]

That is weird.

I have a 97 Tourer, that has one of the 1st toe/heel shifters that Rattlebars built.

242K+ on it and not a problem, after I moved the trans lever one way or the other on the trans peg.   Don't remember if it was up or down one tooth.   Too damn many years ago, like 17 years ago.

As someone said, it shifts like butter, always has and still does.

those bikes should understand clearly the character of their gearboxes.

Two GL1100As and a GL1200SEi I used to own also had Drag Specialties and Tour-Ease heel-toe setups. Put many tens of thousands of miles on those Wings without a hint of transmission or shifting trouble.

GL100s and GL1200s are not Valkyries and their shifting issues (or not) are quite different.

[Chrisj CMA]

you might check to see if the bolt is loose that holds the shifter on      you have to take a case off

have to take what case off?  You talking a Wing or a Valkyrie?

[Bagger John - #3785]

That is weird.

I have a 97 Tourer, that has one of the 1st toe/heel shifters that Rattlebars built.

242K+ on it and not a problem, after I moved the trans lever one way or the other on the trans peg.   Don't remember if it was up or down one tooth.   Too damn many years ago, like 17 years ago.

As someone said, it shifts like butter, always has and still does.

those bikes should understand clearly the character of their gearboxes.

Two GL1100As and a GL1200SEi I used to own also had Drag Specialties and Tour-Ease heel-toe setups. Put many tens of thousands of miles on those Wings without a hint of transmission or shifting trouble.

GL100s and GL1200s are not Valkyries and their shifting issues (or not) are quite different.

The various transmissions share technologies and component layout, as there's only so many ways to implement such an arrangement in a flat-x motor. Regardless, the commonality I was alluding to is SHIFTING TECHNIQUE.

[Tfrank59]

Got my bike out of hibernation and have been riding the last couple of weeks and just noticed a problem that is getting worst.  Occasionally when either up shifting or down shifting I get a false neutral and its really hard to get it out, like stomping on the shifter hard! The clutch hydraulics feel good, no odd noise from the transmission , everything will be fine then and I will be cruising along and have to down shift for a light and it's 50/50 if it will be smooth or have to be hammered. when it shifts good it feels normal with positive detents and gear selection then boom , feels like i am trying to shift the footboard, no give at all , till i stomp it into gear. Any Thoughts? (fyi  a 98ct with 38K on the clock)

Hey there, my first post. New member.  New Valkrie owner.  I was searching this thread to see if others had shifting issues, and mine which is a 98 CT with 28K on the clock, really has no big issues, but a lot of times I get a false neutral or no neutral light when it's actually in neutral.  It bothers me because I will
want to put down the side stand, but with that neutral light out of course the motor dies, even though it's actually in neutral.  All that to say, I wish it shifted a little easier, but I understand that upshifting
 that's a lot of load on those gears and what I find with mine is it really wants the gear peaked to around three grand for an easy upshift.

[R J]

Got my bike out of hibernation and have been riding the last couple of weeks and just noticed a problem that is getting worst.  Occasionally when either up shifting or down shifting I get a false neutral and its really hard to get it out, like stomping on the shifter hard! The clutch hydraulics feel good, no odd noise from the transmission , everything will be fine then and I will be cruising along and have to down shift for a light and it's 50/50 if it will be smooth or have to be hammered. when it shifts good it feels normal with positive detents and gear selection then boom , feels like i am trying to shift the footboard, no give at all , till i stomp it into gear. Any Thoughts? (fyi  a 98ct with 38K on the clock)

Hey there, my first post. New member.  New Valkrie owner.  I was searching this thread to see if others had shifting issues, and mine which is a 98 CT with 28K on the clock, really has no big issues, but a lot of times I get a false neutral or no neutral light when it's actually in neutral.  It bothers me because I will
want to put down the side stand, but with that neutral light out of course the motor dies, even though it's actually in neutral.  All that to say, I wish it shifted a little easier, but I understand that upshifting
 that's a lot of load on those gears and what I find with mine is it really wants the gear peaked to around three grand for an easy upshift.

When you make a shift, DO NOT baby it, no matter the RPM's.

Hit the shifter HARD, it is made to be abused so to speak on shifts, otherwise you only get 1/2 way into gear and it will pop out on you.

Okay, you guys who think I don't know what the hell I'm talking about, let it rip.   It you make any sense I'll answer ya, otherwise, I'll ignore or PM ya.

 

[Pappy!]

Welcome to the board TFrank!!

[Tfrank59]

Welcome to the board TFrank!!

Thanks!