Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

Well I got my oil change done ok - ended up with the Motul 5100, for those following the other thread!

Now I have another problem, only a couple of days after the change (not sure if they're related). What I'm finding is the gear lever is not returning to it's default position everytime after I change gears (ie, sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't). This happens when changing up or down, typically 1st, 2nd & 3rd gears. It's more common when changing down as I pull up to the lights - and the result is that I can't change down to the next gear without first pulling the lever back up to it's normal position. It's like it's 'sticking', in a way, and without pulling it back up the lever will just push down but not change gears.

The changes are still fairly smooth, regardless, but it is like the gear lever has got some chewing gum stuck to it, or something. It's with the mechanic now, who thinks it might be a small spring in the box, but I was wondering what else it could be? And how much I should be paying for a fix?

What year model is it?

Dont think it has to do with an oil change.
Did you clean the bike at the same time?
Even if not just get some lube and spray between the lever/shaft and the case (if they are close that is).
OR loosen the lever and move it the outside "end" of its adjustment.
This is all it was when I had trouble with my old 7 once
For it to "stick" there must be friction SOMEWHERE.
Just logic it back from your foot to (if necessary) the dogs on the cogs
The bike hasnt had a little lie down lately ? Bent the shaft?
Who changed the oil? IF it was a shop did the "Test rider" have a heavy foot to bend selectors or (as the dealer said) detente springs? Geez you gotta have a bloody heavy foot to do that but (excepting trailies that is).

I mean this is all worst case scenario but just think how thick the oil you put in would hav to be to cause gear selection problems


At ASS they teach you to change gears in a circular motion rather than an up and down (which can leave "pressure" on the lever). This is actually half the reason why you see MotoGp riders foot come off the peg

have you got your clutch lever adjusted right? usually about an inch after releasing the clutch lever is good. too close to the bar and it may keep some gears spinning even with the lever pulled up against the handlebar.
have a look.
but yes, like frog said, detent springs could be worn and not pushing the lever back into position.
does this happen in every gear?

Sounds to me that either the selector barrel is worn or selector arms/dogs are bent / worn the most common way of bending the selector arms / dogs are wheelies hence the 1,2,3 gears, or the spring on the selector barrel is streched.
I have used Motul 5100 in the past in my ZX7R and found that my gearbox was a little notchy, but not a huge difference.

Hope this helps.

Cheers,

Matt

Well fortunately it was nothing too fancy - just not enough (read: none) grease around the selector lever. I'd tried to lube it myself with some WD40, as it was what I expected - but the seals are far too good for that and the selector actually has to be taken off.

My mechanic said it was probably never greased at all: it's a pre-delivery issue and it's like a lazy workshop just didn't bother doing it. The alloy had ground a little and now the lever is a little looser than normal, but only noticeable if someone tells you.

I'm just glad it was nothing too fancy! I really didn't think I could do much wrong with an oil change... as it happened it was just coincidence. On the upside it's a damn-sight easier to get into neutral now, and all the gears slip in much more smoothly. It almost doesn't feel like a Kawa box at all.

...see I knew if I just kept throwing ideas out there one day I would actually ars a correct answer !!!

Sort of like the monkeys at the type writers eventually writing War & Peace

So often it's the simple things...glad you got it sorted

frogzx12r wrote:...see I knew if I just kept throwing ideas out there one day I would actually ars a correct answer !!!

Sort of like the monkeys at the type writers eventually writing War & Peace

Yeah, you were right on the money frog - somewhere in there. I'm lucky it was so simple, I guess! Means more money for the important bits... pipes and what-not.

Yep had the same problem a few months back and thought ohhh shit $$$$ then greased it all up and bingo Better than it ever was

z900/zx9 wrote:Yep had the same problem a few months back and thought ohhh shit $$$$ then greased it all up and bingo Better than it ever was

Could you explain the process , sounds like a good idea to do the grease as a precaution if nothing else .

the kid wrote:

z900/zx9 wrote:Yep had the same problem a few months back and thought ohhh shit $$$$ then greased it all up and bingo Better than it ever was

Could you explain the process , sounds like a good idea to do the grease as a precaution if nothing else .

Start by trying to take the peg and lever off - in the process you'll see where it needs to be lubed. It's a fair bet it can't be done without pulling it apart though: I went nuts with the WD40 but none of it got inside the seals.