Shift Linkage Question

[burly]

My Nomad slips out of second gear when gas is applied, and I've been investigating alternatives to the bad news of a bent shift fork.
Macmac suggested making sure that the shift linkage was adjusted properly - and it was.
I am wondering if the shift linkage may have been damaged when I did a fairly violent low-side slide into a high-side flip in Custer at the regional rally two years ago. There isn't anything visually evident, but what do you much more mechanically knowledgeable members think about this possibility?
I bought a replacement shift linkage on eBay, and was thinking of getting it installed to see if it helped. How complicated is this to do - I would be getting a mechanic to do it for me.
My thinking here is that everyone says if anything is out of whack, it will show up in second gear because that is the most difficult gear to shift into...
Opinions?

[ringadingh]

Ive never had a shifter problem on a Vulcan or worked on one but my first bet would be that something is bent there somewhere. Especially after mentioning that the bike went over.
If you have some shifter linkage parts Id install them and see if it cures the problem. If a fork is bent inside that means the motor has to come apart, and that is a big job.

[MAS Tequila]

If it is popping out of 2nd when power is applied, it IS the bent shift fork.

I am all to familiar with this problem.

It will be less expensive for you to buy a low mileage engine from one of the wrecking house, like Pinwall in Ohio, than to fix (rebuild) your engine.

Please don't ask me how I know.

MT