Not dropping down into gear

[bendair2]

Hi all, recently traded in my 03 shadow for an 07 sabre this summer. It now has 7500 miles on it. I am just a weekend rider, and sometimes it will not down shift below 3rd gear. Usually, this happens when I exit the interstate and did not down shift to slow down. So when I release the clutch I get a clunking noise from the gear case. At that point, I disengage the clutch, push down on the shift peg and sometimes it will shift down to 1st like a good girl. Other times, I have to repeat this to get her to downshift. I have checked the the clutch cable adjustment which the manuel calls for 3/8 to 7/8" travel and that is ok. Short of taking it to the dealer....any ideas anyone??

[Macgyver0856]

so you come off the freeway , shift down to 3rd then just use the brakes to come to a stop(without downshifting) and then your wondering why it won't just go into 1st? I think you just answered that question yourself...lol

[bendair2]

Yep...sometimes those exit ramps go up hill and I don't even need to use the brakes, must less the engine... All I know is transmissions are not supposed to be making clunking sounds... like I posted before, this does not happen every time.... maybe once an outting. Maybe this is a common Sabre thing...some advise is greatly appreciated!

[Rhumba555]

Are you coming to a complete stop and then trying to downshift into 1st?

If so, try to do it while the bike is still moving. These straightcut gear trannys like to be turning when you shift.

If it won't downshift from third while moving, could be a bent shift fork or worn clutch.

[bendair2]

Yes, I am at a complete stop, I pull in the clutch, think I am in 1st, the light turns green release the clutch, and clunk... clunk it goes. So I then pull it in and usually it will go into gear. It never happens if I am down shifting to a stop.

[a_hippie]

The clunk sound is the engine not the tranny. You simply had it in a higher gear at the stop. Just make sure to make it a habit to down shift as you slow, you don't even need to release the clutch as you do this, but the gears will sync much easier that way.

Hope this helps.

regards,

[LowRes]

Originally Posted by bendair2

Yes, I am at a complete stop, I pull in the clutch, think I am in 1st, the light turns green release the clutch, and clunk... clunk it goes. So I then pull it in and usually it will go into gear. It never happens if I am down shifting to a stop.

Like was mentioned previously these bikes like to be moving when they shift. If you are at a stop try rolling back and forth a bit while shifting down. My VLX and Bandit are the same way.

[simpleman77]

Originally Posted by a_hippie

Just make sure to make it a habit to down shift as you slow, you don't even need to release the clutch as you do this, but the gears will sync much easier that way.

+1.

[Old Jeff]

Originally Posted by simpleman77

+1.

+2 My Sabre was much happier once I started doing this all the time.

[Easy Rider 2]

Originally Posted by bendair2

All I know is transmissions are not supposed to be making clunking sounds...

Well you see that's just not true. A constant mesh, non-synchronous transmission like is on most bikes WILL make a clunk when you shift it at a standstill. If your last bike didn't do that it was just a fluke; most of them do.

A little less slack in the clutch cable might help.