Shifting gears

socwkbiker · 09-13-2007, 09:56 AM

Since my oil change I've noticed that when I shift gears I'm having to press extra hard on the pedal. Did I forget to do some type of maintenance? I've even had times when I thought I shifted hard enough and ended up between gears and I can hear the engagement click more than I did in the past.

What can I do to fix this?

blowndodge · 09-13-2007, 10:16 AM

Start exercising more? there is no gear maintenance.

socwkbiker · 09-13-2007, 10:22 AM

I thought my legs felt a little weak. lol. Ok, I was just wondering about that. Thanks BD.

blowndodge · 09-13-2007, 11:17 AM

Try to be deliberate in your gear shifting. Over time the engagement dogs will wear properly and shifting will be smoother over time. Sloppy shifting grounds the ends of the "ears" of these parts over time and you could end up with "false neutrals".

dogdoc · 09-13-2007, 02:54 PM

Anybody know a fix for the bike lurching forward when you hit first(only first time in the morning). I was told to depress clutch lever a few times and this does work if you do it enough. Once engine is warm it never does it. Im sure most all do this from what I hear. its all about the clutch i know.

**scion0** · 09-13-2007, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Anybody know a fix for the bike lurching forward when you hit first(only first time in the morning). I was told to depress clutch lever a few times and this does work if you do it enough. Once engine is warm it never does it. Im sure most all do this from what I hear. its all about the clutch i know.

I thought that was just a characteristic of (cold) wet clutches.

beezer · 09-13-2007, 04:02 PM

First off, what kind of oil did you use?

unwind2 · 09-13-2007, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Try to be deliberate in your gear shifting. Over time the engagement dogs will wear properly and shifting will be smoother over time. Sloppy shifting grounds the ends of the "ears" of these parts over time and you could end up with "false neutrals".

If any of you've had ever driven the Moto Guzzis with the dry clutch....boy there is one you have to be diliberate in your shifting on....I had the guzzi before I got the nomad so I'm used to hitting that clutch peddle.

blowndodge · 09-13-2007, 05:10 PM

This is a common malady of Nomads. the design of the clutch is such that even though the bike has been off overnight the oil between the friction and driven plates is still between them and this causes a "hydrolic lock up" sort of. Like putting two panes of glass together with water between them and they stick together. they have to be slid apart because the water prevented air from getting between the glass. remember the rubber darts as a kid? stick to the wall kind of thing? Same principle. Pump the handle a few times and blimp the throttle just before clicking into first gear. The exta torque of the engine will free the plates up.

rflnomad · 09-13-2007, 07:42 PM

I concurr with BD. I pulse the clutch lever a few times, Blip the throttle with the clutch in and hold it for a few seconds. Snicks right in! No noise & clunk.
Our last three bikes were Harley - Davidsons; Now ya want to talk about gearbox clunking......

**Idaho** · 09-13-2007, 11:31 PM

I've noticed on my Nomad that if I just shift into first gear without giving the throttle a blip that it does not seem to slip into gear. I start the bike with the clutch depressed and make sure that I'm in neutral, then blip the throttle, pull the clutch and shift into gear. The bike gives that little lurch that tells me it is ready to go. From there on out the beast shifts smooth as silk.
IDaho

flightdoc · 09-14-2007, 09:06 AM

MY MAD DOES THE SAME THING WHEN SHIFTING TO FIRST IN THE MORNING. I ALSO SQUEEZE THE CLUTCH LEVER SEVERAL TIMES. I ALSO START IT IN NEUTRAL ON THE FIRST START UP OR IF IT'S BEEN SITTING FOR AWHILE. SHOULD HAVE SEEN ME THE FIRST SPRING I BROUGHT IT OUT OF MOTH BALLS AND STARTED THE FIRST TIME. HOLD THAT BRAKE!!
AS FAR AS SHIFTING SMOOTHLY I WAS TAUGHT BY AN OLD TIMER TO "PRE-LOAD" THE SHIFTER PRIOR TO ACTUALLY SHIFTING, THAT MEANS PUTTING PRESSURE ON THE SHIFT LEVER JUST BEFORE SHIFTING. WORKS GOOD.

09-14-2007, 03:19 PM

Before I start it when its cold I always pull the clutch in a rock it back and forth untill it rolls freely. Then I never get the hard clunck after shifting into first from neutral.

dogdoc · 09-14-2007, 09:19 PM

so some pump the clutch warm and go and some pump it cold before starting and it works as well, oh well whatever works,

09-14-2007, 10:13 PM

Quote:

First off, what kind of oil did you use?

My question exactly...... curious as to what oil you used?

09-13-2007, 09:56 AM	#1
socwkbiker Top Contributor Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Jefferson City, MO Posts: 6,272	Shifting gears Since my oil change I've noticed that when I shift gears I'm having to press extra hard on the pedal. Did I forget to do some type of maintenance? I've even had times when I thought I shifted hard enough and ended up between gears and I can hear the engagement click more than I did in the past. What can I do to fix this? __________________ Jeff Platz VBA #0002 VBA VP-Global B.A.C.A. Hoss 2005 "StrongBear" Black/Silver Todd and BD Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

09-13-2007, 10:16 AM	#2
blowndodge Sr. Contributor Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Washington City, Utah Posts: 16,474	Shifting gears Start exercising more? there is no gear maintenance. __________________ I love my Victory Cross Country Tour 106. Smells like Victory! Ultra's are Limited There are two types of Harley riders. Those that trailer them and those that push them. The most Interesting Man in the World "Find the things in life you don't do well and don't do those things" Member # 0005
	0

09-13-2007, 10:22 AM	#3
socwkbiker Top Contributor Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Jefferson City, MO Posts: 6,272	Shifting gears I thought my legs felt a little weak. lol. Ok, I was just wondering about that. Thanks BD. __________________ Jeff Platz VBA #0002 VBA VP-Global B.A.C.A. Hoss 2005 "StrongBear" Black/Silver Todd and BD
	0

09-13-2007, 11:17 AM	#4
blowndodge Sr. Contributor Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Washington City, Utah Posts: 16,474	Shifting gears Try to be deliberate in your gear shifting. Over time the engagement dogs will wear properly and shifting will be smoother over time. Sloppy shifting grounds the ends of the "ears" of these parts over time and you could end up with "false neutrals". __________________ I love my Victory Cross Country Tour 106. Smells like Victory! Ultra's are Limited There are two types of Harley riders. Those that trailer them and those that push them. The most Interesting Man in the World "Find the things in life you don't do well and don't do those things" Member # 0005
	0

09-13-2007, 02:54 PM	#5
dogdoc Top Contributor Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 5,263	Shifting gears Anybody know a fix for the bike lurching forward when you hit first(only first time in the morning). I was told to depress clutch lever a few times and this does work if you do it enough. Once engine is warm it never does it. Im sure most all do this from what I hear. its all about the clutch i know. Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

09-13-2007, 04:02 PM	#7
beezer Top Contributor Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: The VooDoo Lounge Posts: 5,780	Shifting gears First off, what kind of oil did you use? __________________ 2012 FLHTK
	0

09-13-2007, 05:10 PM	#9
blowndodge Sr. Contributor Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Washington City, Utah Posts: 16,474	Shifting gears This is a common malady of Nomads. the design of the clutch is such that even though the bike has been off overnight the oil between the friction and driven plates is still between them and this causes a "hydrolic lock up" sort of. Like putting two panes of glass together with water between them and they stick together. they have to be slid apart because the water prevented air from getting between the glass. remember the rubber darts as a kid? stick to the wall kind of thing? Same principle. Pump the handle a few times and blimp the throttle just before clicking into first gear. The exta torque of the engine will free the plates up. __________________ I love my Victory Cross Country Tour 106. Smells like Victory! Ultra's are Limited There are two types of Harley riders. Those that trailer them and those that push them. The most Interesting Man in the World "Find the things in life you don't do well and don't do those things" Member # 0005
	0

09-13-2007, 07:42 PM	#10
rflnomad Advanced Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: PSL, Fla; Posts: 596	Shifting gears I concurr with BD. I pulse the clutch lever a few times, Blip the throttle with the clutch in and hold it for a few seconds. Snicks right in! No noise & clunk. Our last three bikes were Harley - Davidsons; Now ya want to talk about gearbox clunking...... __________________ 2005 Kawasaki Nomad, Black & Silver. 2006 Kawasaki KLR650, Lime Green! 2006 Ford F150 SuperCrew, 2WD, 4.6L; white & gold 1965 Pontiac GTO, 389 4 Speed. Bluemist Slate Cruising the back roads, that is living! Member #000033.
	0

09-13-2007, 11:31 PM	#11
Idaho Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Pocatello, Idaho Posts: 5,241	Shifting gears I've noticed on my Nomad that if I just shift into first gear without giving the throttle a blip that it does not seem to slip into gear. I start the bike with the clutch depressed and make sure that I'm in neutral, then blip the throttle, pull the clutch and shift into gear. The bike gives that little lurch that tells me it is ready to go. From there on out the beast shifts smooth as silk. IDaho __________________ Idaho (aka Curmudgeon) Blue Knights Idaho III VBA #110 VROC #24864 IBA #49753 2007 Nomad 86,000 miles Bud Smalley Pocatello, Idaho Idaho Jack Adapter
	0

09-14-2007, 09:06 AM	#12
flightdoc Sr. Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Barrington, New Hampshire Posts: 1,285	Shifting gears MY MAD DOES THE SAME THING WHEN SHIFTING TO FIRST IN THE MORNING. I ALSO SQUEEZE THE CLUTCH LEVER SEVERAL TIMES. I ALSO START IT IN NEUTRAL ON THE FIRST START UP OR IF IT'S BEEN SITTING FOR AWHILE. SHOULD HAVE SEEN ME THE FIRST SPRING I BROUGHT IT OUT OF MOTH BALLS AND STARTED THE FIRST TIME. HOLD THAT BRAKE!! AS FAR AS SHIFTING SMOOTHLY I WAS TAUGHT BY AN OLD TIMER TO "PRE-LOAD" THE SHIFTER PRIOR TO ACTUALLY SHIFTING, THAT MEANS PUTTING PRESSURE ON THE SHIFT LEVER JUST BEFORE SHIFTING. WORKS GOOD.
	0

09-14-2007, 03:19 PM	#13
Guest Posts: n/a	Shifting gears Before I start it when its cold I always pull the clutch in a rock it back and forth untill it rolls freely. Then I never get the hard clunck after shifting into first from neutral.
	0

09-14-2007, 09:19 PM	#14
dogdoc Top Contributor Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 5,263	Shifting gears so some pump the clutch warm and go and some pump it cold before starting and it works as well, oh well whatever works,
	0

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Gears Ratio Info	macmac	1500 & 1600 Nomad	32	05-30-2011 11:22 PM
What years are the gears ?	04kaw1500	Vulcan Nomad/Vaquero/Voyager	3	03-22-2011 07:25 AM
Clutch slip in all gears.	faxxxy	1500 & 1600 Nomad	19	10-20-2010 07:37 AM
Down Shifting	Dave	Off-Topic	8	08-17-2010 04:47 PM
No shifting possible	karospirit	1500 & 1600 Nomad	35	02-06-2009 08:08 PM