hard down shifting to second w/ a jockey lid...

1192 Views 5 Replies 5 Participants Last post by raynoslo, Apr 5, 2012

raynoslo

Discussion Starter · Apr 5, 2012

I have a 62' FL with a stock four speed. I'm running the simple hand shift lever with a jockey lid. Is it normal to down shift from 3rd to 2nd and grind the hell out of your gears to try to get in to 2nd. I am wondering if it is normal at higher speeds. It doesn't get easy until I'm at about 15-20 mph. It has the same feeling as trying to down shift a car in to 1st before it has come to a stop, minus the gear grinding. ( I'm guessing on the speed since I don't have a speedo ).

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Dr. Benway

· #2 · Apr 5, 2012

Clutch disengaging fully?
RPM too high when you shift?
Maybe blip the throttle a bit before the downshift, like double clutching.

I've not had that problem jockey shifting a 4 speed, but seems like it's not uncommon.

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· #3 · Apr 5, 2012

raynoslo said:
I have a 62' FL with a stock four speed. I'm running the simple hand shift lever with a jockey lid. Is it normal to down shift from 3rd to 2nd and grind the hell out of your gears to try to get in to 2nd. I am wondering if it is normal at higher speeds. It doesn't get easy until I'm at about 15-20 mph. It has the same feeling as trying to down shift a car in to 1st before it has come to a stop, minus the gear grinding. ( I'm guessing on the speed since I don't have a speedo ).

Bent fork, Trans not set up in neutral?

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yard man

· #4 · Apr 5, 2012 (Edited)

If im going faster than 30 and try to go from 3rd to 2nd i get the same thing. (i have a jockey lid). Unless i wait until im going slower i have to slam it into gear kinda hard sl it doesnt grind.Also Ive tried letting it sit in that false neutral between the gears momentarily and rev the motor a little before going down into second. If you force it, it they always. Mine likes being downshifted slowly. From what ive seen its alot harder to bend a shift fork with a one of these Vs. a ratchet. There's no pressure banging the trans into the next gear with these unless you are heavy handed.

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JasonMcElroy

· #5 · Apr 5, 2012 (Edited)

Third to second is always a hard shift. Your moving both forks and dogs at the same time and fighting rpm issues too.

The fixes have already been mentioned.

Clutch right.
Shift forks straight, aligned and tight.
Shift linkage set properly.
Rpm matching on downshift.

I usually don't bother downshifting into second when coming to stops, only when riding and needing a lower gear. Without knowing the gearing of your bike, 30mph sounds a little fast for downshifting into 2nd.

Jason

p.s. - if none of the other fixes are the cure, could be the that the shift drum itself is a little hogged out in the channels where the hat bearings track. Jockey tops are pretty old and most have been around the block a few million miles by now.

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raynoslo

Discussion Starter · #6 · Apr 5, 2012

I did try slamming it in to second a little harder this morning on the way to work. I only had the need a couple of times. I just wanted to make sure this was fairly common. I've only been riding it for about a week and a half. I think that it is something that im just going to have to get a feel for. By the way this has been my first experience with any sort of jockey shift. And everyone was right. It took me about four days to get the hang of it. It might have been quicker if the grease from me bearings hadn't caused my first clutch plate to stick to my hub/pulley. A quick cleaning fixed that.

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