Shift to Neutral

rhraziel · 02-28-2018, 11:39 AM

Not sure if anyone else has noticed this on their Voyager but I tend to shift up into neutral before I come to a stop after I've downshifted through the gears so I can let my hand off of the clutch. My Voyager is the only bike I've owned that has a hard time shifting to neutral unless your are either at a dead stop or only rolling maybe 1-2 mph. Has that effected you guys?

MrMikey · 02-28-2018, 12:21 PM

The positive neutral finder I believe would be your culprit but I could be wrong..............Mike

rick6375 · 02-28-2018, 12:26 PM

Unless there is at least 3-4 vehicles behind me at a long light, I leave it in 1st gear, incase someone is not paying attention to the road. I know, thats rare.

Scootergptx · 02-28-2018, 01:30 PM

Usually when I'm stopped at a light, I'll hit the shifter to make sure I'm in first. Sometimes more than once. Not to make sure it's not in neutral, but to make sure I'm not still in second from downshifting.

And it never fails. When I don't, I am.

**Sabre-t** · 03-02-2018, 01:12 AM

Keeping it in gear at a stop has saved my bacon a couple of times.

**plumber63** · 03-02-2018, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhraziel

Not sure if anyone else has noticed this on their Voyager but I tend to shift up into neutral before I come to a stop after I've downshifted through the gears so I can let my hand off of the clutch. My Voyager is the only bike I've owned that has a hard time shifting to neutral unless your are either at a dead stop or only rolling maybe 1-2 mph. Has that effected you guys?

This is in the design of the bikes transmission. The 1600s are the same way. Has to do with the neutral finder system.
Unless there is no one behind you, this a bad practice. If you need to get out of the way quickly you would be screwed.

BonVoyager · 03-02-2018, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sabre-t

Keeping it in gear at a stop has saved my bacon a couple of times.

Indeed, mine as well!! Plus, keeping it in gear is what they teach you in the safety courses.

**smokier** · 03-03-2018, 07:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhraziel

Not sure if anyone else has noticed this on their Voyager but I tend to shift up into neutral before I come to a stop after I've downshifted through the gears so I can let my hand off of the clutch. My Voyager is the only bike I've owned that has a hard time shifting to neutral unless your are either at a dead stop or only rolling maybe 1-2 mph. Has that effected you guys?

As Mr. Mikey indiacted, POSITIVE NEUTRAL FINDER is the culprit. It is a 'safety" feature, as described by Kawasaki.
I like to kick it into neutral when coasting into the garage, and you are right, with the POSITIVE NEUTRAL FINDER that particular practice is challenging.

Ride safe,
Smokier

mbarr10 · 03-03-2018, 08:58 AM

Thanks All. I noticed it also, it did not seem to be as much of a pain to find neutral with my 1500. Now I know why. I still try to do it anyway. Old habits are hard to brake.

pcaddict66 · 03-03-2018, 01:18 PM

Keeping it in gear with the clutch level pulled also puts a lot of wear and tear on the clutch.

BonVoyager · 03-03-2018, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pcaddict66

Keeping it in gear with the clutch level pulled also puts a lot of wear and tear on the clutch.

The wear would be on the throw-out bearing. I don’t care what anyone wants to argue, a clutch or throw-out bearing is worth far less than me life, so I keep it in gear, as I was taught in training. This practice has definitely saved my ass a few times! If the traffic is completely stopped or I am at an intersection stopped and I have a few cars behind me that are also stopped, I will sometimes put it in neutral, this is pretty rare for me though.

**MAS Tequila** · 03-03-2018, 05:55 PM

There are 3 ball bearings that sit in indentations on the transmission output shaft.

There are 3 holes the bearings slide into once the bike starts rolling.

The centrifugal force pushes them into the hole and away from the shaft so the shift fork can slide the gear into place allowing the bike to engage the gear.

That is why it can feel like there us a halfway shift.

Whenever I have one apart, I leave the 3 balls out while reassembling.

I have a Meanie trans in pieces right now that is getting a Nomad 5th gear.

One of those balls refuses to allow the gear to come off the shaft.

I may have to drill it.

**smokier** · 03-04-2018, 07:55 AM

MAS, your knowledge of the internals of these machines nevers ceases to amaze me!
Thanks for sharing!

Ride safe,
Smokier

02-28-2018, 11:39 AM	#1
rhraziel Jr. Member Join Date: Feb 2018 Posts: 4	Shift to Neutral Not sure if anyone else has noticed this on their Voyager but I tend to shift up into neutral before I come to a stop after I've downshifted through the gears so I can let my hand off of the clutch. My Voyager is the only bike I've owned that has a hard time shifting to neutral unless your are either at a dead stop or only rolling maybe 1-2 mph. Has that effected you guys? Login or Register to Remove Ads
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02-28-2018, 12:21 PM	#2
MrMikey Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 403	The positive neutral finder I believe would be your culprit but I could be wrong..............Mike __________________ '09 Voyager
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02-28-2018, 12:26 PM	#3
rick6375 Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: New Castle, In. Posts: 365	Unless there is at least 3-4 vehicles behind me at a long light, I leave it in 1st gear, incase someone is not paying attention to the road. I know, thats rare. __________________ 2005 800 Classic 2012 Voyager ABS
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02-28-2018, 01:30 PM	#4
Scootergptx Advanced Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Grand Prairie, TX Posts: 654	Usually when I'm stopped at a light, I'll hit the shifter to make sure I'm in first. Sometimes more than once. Not to make sure it's not in neutral, but to make sure I'm not still in second from downshifting. And it never fails. When I don't, I am. __________________ 2011 Vaquero V&H slip ons Roaring Toyz intake PCV (removed) Ivan's ECU flash
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03-02-2018, 01:12 AM	#5
Sabre-t Join Date: May 2015 Location: Marietta, GA Posts: 838	Keeping it in gear at a stop has saved my bacon a couple of times. Login or Register to Remove Ads
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03-03-2018, 08:58 AM	#9
mbarr10 Sr. Member Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 1,562	Thanks All. I noticed it also, it did not seem to be as much of a pain to find neutral with my 1500. Now I know why. I still try to do it anyway. Old habits are hard to brake. __________________ Please post back after you have solved any issues 2016 1700 Vaquero 10/4/2016 2007 1500 Classic W/ Reckless Fairing, 42,000 miles 2004 600 Honda Shadow 18,000 miles 1989 500 Honda CX Custom 55,000 miles 1973 400 Kawi Triple 5,000 miles
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03-03-2018, 01:18 PM	#10
pcaddict66 Jr. Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Mass Posts: 27	Keeping it in gear with the clutch level pulled also puts a lot of wear and tear on the clutch. __________________ '16 Vulcan Vaquero '08 Concours 14
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03-03-2018, 05:55 PM	#12
MAS Tequila Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Psychiatric Ward FL Posts: 3,429	There are 3 ball bearings that sit in indentations on the transmission output shaft. There are 3 holes the bearings slide into once the bike starts rolling. The centrifugal force pushes them into the hole and away from the shaft so the shift fork can slide the gear into place allowing the bike to engage the gear. That is why it can feel like there us a halfway shift. Whenever I have one apart, I leave the 3 balls out while reassembling. I have a Meanie trans in pieces right now that is getting a Nomad 5th gear. One of those balls refuses to allow the gear to come off the shaft. I may have to drill it. __________________ MT 2016 FLHP Psychiatric Ward FL VBA 936
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03-04-2018, 07:55 AM	#13
smokier Join Date: May 2015 Location: DBQ Iowa Posts: 1,807	MAS, your knowledge of the internals of these machines nevers ceases to amaze me! Thanks for sharing! Ride safe, Smokier
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