As I was removing parts from my s2r800 for powdercoating, I pulled off, among other things, the wet cluch housing, stator housing, oil cooler + lines, oil filter, etc., leaving the engine completely empty of oil. while the engine was empty and the stator cover off, I turned the shifter input shaft by hand a couple times, both to get the bike in neutral and to see the actuating mechanism working inside.
Now the bike is all back together, has about 2 quarts of oil in it (covers the sight glass about half way when the bike is standing up - will undoubtedly read lower when the engine is cranked and oil flows up into the cooler and such), and everything seems to function well except for the shifter. I can click it down into first, click up into second, then when I click up for 3rd, the shifter arm just freely moves up without shifting gears. I have to roll the bike forward a few inches, THEN the tranny shifts into 3rd, then 4th, then nothing again when shifting up to 5th. rolling the bike again will eventually allow me to shift up into 5th and 6th. shifting back down through the gears is a similar experience - I can change 2 gears, then the shifting mechanism just doesn't seem to "grab" the next gear 'till I roll the bike a bit.
I'm wondering if there is a mechanical problem here. I was thinking it might just be because the engine still isn't completely full of oil, and part of the gear changing mechanism requires the presence of oil, but this is just speculation. I haven't cranked the bike yet because I'm worried that if there is a problem with the transmission, then I'll have to empty out and discard all that nice fresh amsoil.
As always, your help and advice is appreciated. When I get home this evening I'll throw a picture or 2 up of my bike in its current state :)
IMO, it's just the dogs on the gears not lining up.
Standard issue with the shafts not turning.
When they're turning, they can line up.
agree, this happens to me when im working sometimes.
bike just needs a little prodding to get into higher gears
-happens when searching for 5th to turn the motor for valve service. roll her a little and
she clicks up just fine
good luck, waiting for pics!
You can't go through the gears sitting still on a motorcycle. It's a sequential transmission, and direct access to specific gears is not possible :o
If you got your oil cooler powdercoated you should probably worry about that instead, as it will undoubtedly interfere with proper thermal transfer. Should have used radiator paint.
Thanks for the quick replies bearing good news! I figured I was just worrying too much. The bike has been hanging from my ceiling for the past few months, which is the longest I've gone yet without riding. I seemed to recall that I couldn't row through all the gears directly standing still before the "operation," but it has just been too long for me to have been sure. Looks like all systems are GO for test riding this evening :D
The oil cooler was one of the only parts I removed that wasn't powdered. It got sprayed with hi-temp engine paint. the mesh grill I put over the cooler, however, was powdercoated. the colors ended up matching almost perfectly spot-on. I also went ahead and threw on some pimpin pimpin fren tubo oil cooler lines.
Pics to come this evening after she's all cleaned up and ready to roll. Can't wait!
pertaining to the first startup, since the engine was without oil for quite some time, is it advisable for me to "prime" the engine to initiate oil flow before running it? if so, what would be the best way? just disconnect the spark plug wires and crank the engine with the starter? Just putting my questions up in this thread so I'm sure I don't booger anything up. I appreciate you guys' help.
alright, I'm home, I promised pics, here you go. [bacon]
(http://i46.tinypic.com/34r7p54.jpg)
(http://i45.tinypic.com/2d0xwed.jpg)
Now, to install my frame sliders, fire her up and [moto] !!!
more pics + writeup to come...