[PontiacJack]

Alright this is starting to worry me.

I am mostly a freeway rider. Long story short I lost my license way back when, sold my car, after getting my license back, I never bothered buying another car... just my motorcycle and me. (yeah I'm saving big bucks ;D )

Riding the Moto everyday and relying on it everyday is why I need some serious help.

It's hard to explain but from time to time (it's happening WAY too often the past 2k miles) I can't down shift. lets say I'm rolling down the freeway and need to pass so I would go to downshift and ... to my surprise there is no tension or feedback from the shift lever i press down and it just sinks down with no reaction.

I can try several times, no difference... I try dropping rpm and trying... no difference... I've tried quick shifting and/or using the clutch... nothing. The only thing I can notice is it happens way more when the bike is .. uhm colder... when I mean colder that's taken out of garage and ran with choke for about 2 mins plus another 2 miles city driving to the freeway (no real need to downshift)... however it still refuses to down shift sometimes even after running for an hour. So I don't know if the engine temperature has anything to do with it.

At the request of the Kawi salesman who sold me the bike I bring the bike into the dealer every so often (every other oil change) and have them check it out real quick... I have a feeling their not completing their services...,

Second thing I think i need to add is that in haste to at least change the oil I drained some REALLY dirty oil and replaced it (without filter... i know i know... no lectures please it was just for a week until i could get some time to do the full job)... and replaced it with a high quality Mercedes Benz synthetic oil. Mobil one.0w30 i think it was. I looked into the difference in moto and auto oils and found that the moto wet clutch system depends on a "no fiction" additive formula commonly found in most moto engine oils... I know this is not the WHOLE problem (maybe some) because this problem has been happening since... the bike hit 3k.

I feel like Oliver asking for seconds but ALSO when trying to shift the bike will shift into "purgatory" not in gear and not out of gear... like its ready to dump and throw me off the bike ( at freeway speeds it a little upsetting) anyways long story short, its shifting like crap/not getting positive shifts... PLEASE HELP!

 

[PontiacJack]

bump

Alright this is starting to worry me.

I am mostly a freeway rider. Long story short I lost my license way back when, sold my car, after getting my license back, I never bothered buying another car... just my motorcycle and me. (yeah I'm saving big bucks ;D )

Riding the Moto everyday and relying on it everyday is why I need some serious help.

It's hard to explain but from time to time (it's happening WAY too often the past 2k miles) I can't down shift. lets say I'm rolling down the freeway and need to pass so I would go to downshift and ... to my surprise there is no tension or feedback from the shift lever i press down and it just sinks down with no reaction.

I can try several times, no difference... I try dropping rpm and trying... no difference... I've tried quick shifting and/or using the clutch... nothing. The only thing I can notice is it happens way more when the bike is .. uhm colder... when I mean colder that's taken out of garage and ran with choke for about 2 mins plus another 2 miles city driving to the freeway (no real need to downshift)... however it still refuses to down shift sometimes even after running for an hour. So I don't know if the engine temperature has anything to do with it.

At the request of the Kawi salesman who sold me the bike I bring the bike into the dealer every so often (every other oil change) and have them check it out real quick... I have a feeling their not completing their services...,

Second thing I think i need to add is that in haste to at least change the oil I drained some REALLY dirty oil and replaced it (without filter... i know i know... no lectures please it was just for a week until i could get some time to do the full job)... and replaced it with a high quality Mercedes Benz synthetic oil. Mobil one.0w30 i think it was. I looked into the difference in moto and auto oils and found that the moto wet clutch system depends on a "no fiction" additive formula commonly found in most moto engine oils... I know this is not the WHOLE problem (maybe some) because this problem has been happening since... the bike hit 3k.

I feel like Oliver asking for seconds but ALSO when trying to shift the bike will shift into "purgatory" not in gear and not out of gear... like its ready to dump and throw me off the bike ( at freeway speeds it a little upsetting) anyways long story short, its shifting like crap/not getting positive shifts... PLEASE HELP!

 

[Administrator]

0w30? Mercedes Benz?

Are you running mineral or synthetic? Bike specific?

I always ran 15w30 motorcycle oil, per the manual. If you're doing any differently, stop!

 

[Guest]

0w30? Mercedes Benz?

Are you running mineral or synthetic? Bike specific?

I always ran 15w30 motorcycle oil, per the manual. If you're doing any differently, stop!

+1!! Make sure the proper oil is in the bike. Motorcycle specific only!

 

[fog]

Hey Jack ,
Check the easy stuff first, be sure the shifter pedal is not binding and all the linkages are adjusted properly. Did you change the position of the shifter? If so be sure the angle formed between the levers and the rods/Pedals are as close to 90 Deg as you can get them.

FOG

 

[bobthebiker]

You are running the wrong oil in it. no less than a 10W40 should be in there. 0w30 is too light an oil.

 

[PontiacJack]

I checked the garage this morning and I miss-informed your guys, i used moblie one synth. 10w30... I'm giving the moto a full lube and filter job today. I havn't check the linkage yet but will during the oil change... to be continued

 

[knightslugger]

http://www.mobiloil.com/USA-English/MotorOil/Oils/Mobil_1_0W-30.aspx

Isn't M1 0w30 (or any XXw30 for that matter) an energy conserving oil?

 

[fog]

Everyone is right . That oil is very likly to be your problem. As an "Energy Conserving " oil it has friction modifiers that will likely affect the clutch , the starter motor clutch and the transmission. All depend on a Modicum of friction to work properly.

FOG

 

[AudrEEz]

i use castroil r4 or something like that synthetic oil for motorcycle weight i think is 5w40, and i also notice something like that, sometimes its really hard to shift down. i would press the pedal and it wouldnt go anywhere then i go up the gear and it goes down smoothly. is my oil a little bit too light also ?

 

[fog]

Yes you ought to be using somthing like 20-50 I like Castrol .

FOG

 

[PontiacJack]

I think I have two seperate problems a Hard shifting deal and another limp shifting deal. I have also had that hard shifting and rectify it the same way, by releaseing pressure to the shift lever, shifting up and then back down. Almost like a reboot. I finished a REAL oil and filter change last night. Using a OEM oil filter and Respol 10w40... I am still having shifting issues. Just this morning I had trouble that limp shift lever issue. I checked the bike after arriving at work and discovered a leak from the drain plug and filter!!! I checked both items last night for a sure fit so I am surpised they are loose now. I retightened the filter and figured the crush seal is toast for the drain plug... so the journey continues.

 

[fog]

The limp shifter, might be as simple as the shiter shaft binding were it goes thru the housing. Try oiling this area or WD 40. The return springs in there are very light and even a little snug on the fit to that shaft could cause your problem. The "no Downshift" may also be related to this , by preventing the lever from re-cocking.

Note: in not talking the lever bearing but the shaft at the end of the linkage.

FOG

 

[PontiacJack]

FINALLY... I finished a full lube oil and filter (with somewhat of a traumatic bump along the way). I don't think I had EXACTLY 3.4L in the motor. I got it down to a tee this time. 3L with filter replacement and all. Shifts WAY WAY WAY better, started binding on me once or twice the last two days but way better.

FOG, I've taken a good hard long look at the linkage, and I don't know exactly what I'm looking for? I'm having a rider/gear head more seasoned than I come over this weekend to take a look and see if the linkage is out of adjustment.

Thanks for all the help.

 

[fog]

"FOG, I've taken a good hard long look at the linkage, and I don't know exactly what I'm looking for? I'm having a rider/gear head more seasoned than I come over this weekend to take a look and see if the linkage is out of adjustment.
Thanks for all the help."

What I trying to show you is that the linkage arm, the part withthe turnbuckle in it, and the levers on both ends should form a 90 degree angle, or as near to it as possible. If you have made an adjustment too much in one direction you could be pushing the shafts sideways instead of trying to rotate them.
Fog

 

[PontiacJack]

The limp shifter problem has returned! the problem doesn't happen half as much anymore but it still happens???

I am thinking maybe after a few oil changes with the correct oil, might flush out all the car engine oil I was using before. Also I tired something today that seemed to work. When the limp shifter problem happened I pulled in the clutch for like 2 seconds prior to attempting to shift again. Works every time.

Still kinda spooky especially because it happens when I need to downshift. I have checked the shift linkage twice now and everything it premium in that department. I have also check the clutch lever and all the way down the cable. Everything seems to be working properly.

Might I still have contaminates in the engine? Or maybe does the pulling in the clutch solution point towards a potential clutch problem? Any suggestions?

??? ??? ???

 

[2dogs]

Is your bike out of warranty?
If not take it to the selling dealer and have them look at it.
Just a suggestion. Having done your oil change to the good stuff you have gotten rid of the "wrong oil" explanation for your problem.

 

[PontiacJack]

:-\ My warranty expired a few days ago. The 17th I think.

 

[nebo]

Sorry for the resurrection, but it's the only place I've found for the problem I am having. Also I'm new to the board so if I completely missed it somewhere else, I'm sorry.

I have recently purchased a 2003 ex500. It has 9500 miles on it and I changed out the oil (15w30) about 3 weeks after I bought it. I got it from a friend of mine who didn't have time to ride anymore and who also experienced the same problem with it. He got used to it, but I have yet to figure it out.

It just doesn't want to downshift when I need it to. Most times it takes a few miles, more than 3, to get it to downshift comfortably. But even then it isn't long lived. At any time it decides to just stop down shifting. I've ridden in 45 to 70 degree weather in the past 2 months. I'm unable to determine a rime or reason for the "no down shift". The dealer that sold the bike to my friend said that it was common for the ex500 and 250's. I just find it hard to believe that it could be that common a problem for something seems to be so unsafe. I've tried the oil change and will try the wd40 to the linkage on Wednesday.

Any help would be appreciated, thanks

 

[PontiacJack]

After changing the oil the no shift problem happened WAY less, which leads me to believe the oil was the soruce of the problem however I suppose that there might be an inherint problem. Try lubing the shift linkages around the shifter???