[350D]

Hi All,
So the title bow kinda says it all, I have a loose shifter. It will shift fine, but not sure for how long. I haven't looked into it yet, just parked it when I got home, but it suddenly became wiggly or at least lost it's stiffness as I was shifting up through the gears. I did't know if an internal spring may have come off or if a something cracked inside. Everything appears okay by just looking at it. Anyway, if anyone has any thoughts, I'd love to hear from you before getting into it.

 

[retro]

Can you feel the return spring working in both up and down shifter directions?

On each end of the shifter shaft there are splines. Your shifter lever clamps onto the left end of that shaft... is the shifter lever tight and moving with the shaft as you push the lever up and down?

On the right end of that shaft (under the right side cover) there are splines that the change clutch lever slide onto. That change clutch lever is not clamped, it just fits on/over those splines. I haven't heard of those splines ever failing but thats still a possibility...

Then there is the ratchet/shift drum linkages that could fail.

You should be able to get an idea where the problem is by operating the shifter. If the shifter lever is tight on the shifter shaft and you can feel the return spring working in both directions, try pulling the shifter up... continue holding it up and ease into the throttle a bit. If the bike moves forward while that shifter is being held up you have a change clutch issue.

Let us know what you learn if you can...

 

[Goober]

I've had to replace the shifter return spring on two of my work '87 models. Main thing you'll see there it's hard to get into and out of reverse.
I've also seen where the shift lever itself slips on the splines of the shift shaft. Gotta fix that one right away or you'll wear off the splines of the shaft and lever.

 

[350D]

Retro and Goober,
This just in.... The good news is I will not be spending any money on this fix. The bad news is, I'm an idiot! I failed to see the inside of the shift lever was slipping on the outside of the shaft. lol
Looks like the bolt was tight, but it was slipping anyway. I removed it, hammered it, put it back on, and it's working fine now.
Thanks for the info!
I'm totally enjoying this forum and all the great advice I read.

Drive safe!

 

[retro]

Great! Don't sweat it man... we all miss seeing things once in a while that we'd normally notice. Keep an eye on that shifter bolt and keep it tight. Have fun!

 

[Goober]

Hey we all know you were just trying to find the right placement for the lever. Too far up and you won't be able to shift; too far down and you can't get your boot under it