Transmission never shifts properly from first to second

[Dusty]

The shift from first to second is always accompanied with a lot of gear chatter. It does engage second gear always. Lower RPMs not so bad but higher RPMs is worse. Second , Third , Fourth and Fifth are all normal going up  or down. Second to first also chatters unless just about stopped. Anybody had this problem  or has heard of a solution . Will be exploring the problem soon but  first had knowledge would be appreciated. Have read the manual but no definitive solution indicated.


Thanks for any help

Dusty

[Avanti]

Is the clutch completely disengaging?

[old2soon]

    There are big beefy square cut gears in our transnissions. That 1st to 2nd shift needs AUTHORITY whilst shifting up. Best be near stopped fer that 2nd to 1st downshift. Others here most likely will chime in. RIDE SAFE.

[Jess from VA]

Do you have an OE shifter, or a heel toe?

Do you run up to 3K in 1st, or shift almost as soon as you are rolling?   First is a creeper gear (only). 

[Dusty]

Is the clutch completely disengaging?

This is a new Interstate for me. Clutch feels disengaged when lever pulled in at a standstill and in gear. I have another Interstate that I've had for over 20 years and it does not shift first to second like this one.

O.E . shifter on both bikes and I'm shifting early so it doesn't chatter so much

2000 Interstate  100,00 kilometers or 62,500 miles.

Dusty

[Challenger]

Not much you can do without a tear down. If clutch is working properly, I'd change oil type or weight and see if it improves. Good luck.

[Hook#3287]

Not much you can do without a tear down. If clutch is working properly, I'd change oil type or weight and see if it improves. Good luck.

This.

I have a IS that does the opposite.  If I down shift from second to first at any speed over say 5 or 10 MPH, she grinds a little.

I discovered after buying her, the PO had dropped her on the left side and didn't disclose.

The left foot peg was slightly bent and he repainted her because "he didn't like the two tone red and black"  I now suspect that was not the reason.

The painter, supposedly his son, did a good paint job, but a terrible rebuild.  I basically had to break her down to the frame and rebuild.  That's how I found the foot peg was bent, along with other issues.

I suspect the drop may have bent something in the shifting mechanism, but I've just learned to live with it and have done 15K w/o issue.

Not saying you can ignore your issue, but did she get dropped on the shifter?

[John Schmidt]

My trike, '99 I/S conversion, does the same thing so going from 1st to 2nd I just shift fairly early and slowly. All other shifting up or down is normal so I just live with it, the three days of summer riding time here in Wisconsin makes it not worth my time to find out why.

[burple05]

Yep,

I've got an 01 standard that'll grind some between 1 and 2.  Shifting early helps.  Its always done it since I've had it.  Current mileage is 73,000 bought with 31,000.  I have an 01 Interstate that shifts smooth as butter through all the gears.  Never grinds.  It has 33,000  bought with 22,000.  Who knows why the difference...I just live with it also.  Not that big a deal as long as it doesn't do any major damage.

Peace, Ron.

[WintrSol]

Is the clutch completely disengaging?

This is a new Interstate for me. Clutch feels disengaged when lever pulled in at a standstill and in gear.

Dusty

Have you tested the clutch with the engine off, rolling the bike in neutral, then with the bike in gear and clutch disengaged? It doesn't take much drag to cause that kind of shifting.

My Tourer doesn't shift like that, but I have the shifter kit that keeps the shaft centered added. But, I see others do have issues like this.

[Bagger John - #3785]

Fairly low mileage I/S and Tourer here. ( <20,000mi on each ).

There is a spot on the tach where each likes to be shifted, and it varies from bike to bike. I/S (49 state) prefers ~2500RPM and the Tourer (CA model), 2200RPM.

Both have Kick Shifters and Shifter Buddies. They behaved this way before I put the heel-toe setups on. The engagement points for the Kick Shifters are bronze flange bushings with an ISO-Shifter peg in place of the OEM peg. No preload due to peg weight, as the assembly is balanced by a similar ISO-Shifter at the heel. Movement is like butter - so the mechanism itself isn't causing shifter binding.

I pay very close attention to shifts, snicking (rather than stomping) upshifts. Downshifts always get a throttle blip. If I shift much outside the preferred "ranges" I'll get a clunk - but never a grinding sound.

[gordonv]

Dusty, have you check the brass bushing at the lever? I forget the name, but I've a spare. The lever pin pushes into it, and it can ware to the point the clutch isn't fully engaged.

I've bought the spare Suzuki one, and have it in my kit of stuff, but it's only a $5 item there, rather than the $20 Honda wants.

I'm not here as often as I used to be, so can't remember the right words, but a search under clutch and brass/suzuki might find it fast.

[Jess from VA]

 

From our own Generic Parts Listing ( https://www.jkozloski.com/generic_parts.htm )

Clutch lever bushing

The Honda part Number 2285-MBO-006 is $10

The Suzuki part number 59892-08A00 is $3 and exactly the same part.

[Dusty]

Is the clutch completely disengaging?

This is a new Interstate for me. Clutch feels disengaged when lever pulled in at a standstill and in gear.

Dusty

Have you tested the clutch with the engine off, rolling the bike in neutral, then with the bike in gear and clutch disengaged? It doesn't take much drag to cause that kind of shifting.


My Tourer doesn't shift like that, but I have the shifter kit that keeps the shaft centered added. But, I see others do have issues like this.

I tried this today and the bike is harder to roll with it in first gear as it has the transmission  engaged. Will  do some more troubleshooting and will check the clutch lever bushing tomorrow.

Thanks to everyone for your input.  Will report my findings.

Dusty

[WintrSol]

No one mentioned to start by replacing and bleeding the clutch fluid. Have you?