Hard shifting

[Nomadic Cycle Racks]

The new bike runs excellent. No 450 could touch me this weekend, not even a KTM 525. It was flat out awesome.

The only trouble I ran into, besides rattling exhaust springs which prompted me to check the countershaft sprocket, was the difficult speed shifting in drag races. Im running Maxima 80wt. oil.

Between first and second, it WONT speed shift. Its stiff as shit so I have to "let off" before switching gears. Between 3rd and so on, I can barely speed shift, its REALLY hard to get the shifter to move. Whats the deal? Something wrong with my shift shaft?

[britincali]

Are you shifting with or without the clutch? If your using the clutch is it releasing properly?

[Nomadic Cycle Racks]

If I used the clutch, it would not be racing . No, Im not using the clutch.

[100hp honda]

i cant speculate if you have mechanical problems, but when i tried that maxima 80 oil i had nothing but headaches with that shit.

[AlisoBob]

Shell Rotella 15/40

[iggys-amsoil]

Clutch basket is grooved.

[AlisoBob]

He's not releasing the clutch Igg....

[Nomadic Cycle Racks]

The shell rotella looks like a quality oil. Never heard of that stuff before. I will have to try it and see what happens. I had a gut feeling the 80wt was just too thick, but a store owner who rides a KX 500 recommended it. Thats the last time I get advice from a Kawi rider

[AlisoBob]

Walmart is the best place to get it .

[Ported&Polished]

No let me see if I got this straight. You are NOT using the clutch, and are complaining about hard shifting? USE the clutch, that's what it is for.

[britincali]

I shift without the clutch all the time, I just let off the gas for a second and shift.

If you are trying to shift without the clutch while holding it pinned thats your problem, that tranny oil probably isnt helping things.

Use a cheapie regular motor oil and change it often.

[AlisoBob]

On sale ay my local Walmart for $7.50 a gallon..... vs. $7.50 a quart for Maxima 80wt. at the local bike shop.

The Rotella is designed for diesel engines..... That means high loads and lots of detergent.

Perfect for a CR500 tranny.

I use the clutch to take off... period. Upshifts and downshifts by blipping the throttle.

Never an issue, my tranny still shifts like butter....

I would fill it it with ATF, ride it for a day ( ATF has MEGA detergent ) Drain ..and refill with the Rotella.

If it still shifts hard, you have some kind of mechanical situatiion.

The Rotella is so cheap, you can change it every ride if you wanted too ( $2.00).

Clean oil is a happy tranny.

[100hp honda]

i think bob is confusing you, he is refering to backing off the throttle slightly to take the load off the gear then poping it in the next gear but drag racing and trying to shift under full power with no clutch is another story all together. i gaurantee your tranny wont live long if you keep doing it- bent forks or shafts and fucked up gears are in your future if you do it too much. you can have the tranny modified to be able to shift under full power specifically for drag racing, they cut the gear cogs back at a angle to allow it to go into the next gear under full load. once they do this mod, the tranny cant be used for normal riding anymore though. many shops can do it, heres a link of just one. call and they can explain it all in detail

http://www.portmagicracing.com/

[Nomadic Cycle Racks]

[/quote]If you are trying to shift without the clutch while holding it pinned thats your problem, that tranny oil probably isnt helping things.[/quote]


I thought these were race bikes and could shift under a load without the clutch, my old 125 & 450 had no such problems.

Using the clutch to shift could be a matter of winning or loosing a race. And nobody here wants to loose to another bike on their 500 do you?

Lag time on shifting means everything in a short, straight race.

Oh BTW I was using a 10 cup and it was hooking up TOO well off the line. I had to use more clutch control than I thought. I bet an 8 cup would keep the front end down more easily and be a sweet blend between traction and acceleration. Although the 10 cup worked great duning.

I'll have to try the ATF and see what sludge may come out.

Hell yea, finally a good cheap oil, Rotella.

"VERY NICE, I LIKE"

[britincali]

I thought these were race bikes and could shift under a load without the clutch, my old 125 & 450 had no such problems.

I'll bet the 125 and 450 had no where near the amount power going through the tranny.

[100hp honda]

when you decide to sell your cr500, be sure and include in the advertisement "excellent bike for drag racing, shifts a bit notchy under full power with no clutch but alittle more effort of the shifter and it slides in like butter"

[Nomadic Cycle Racks]

but drag racing and trying to shift under full power with no clutch is another story all together

Ah, okay. I don't don't speed shift often. Nice to know.

[Nomadic Cycle Racks]

...Fuck it

[AlisoBob]

I gaurantee your tranny wont live long if you keep doing it- bent forks or shafts and fucked up gears are in your future if you do it too much.

If you do it at all!

Pull the clutch, or blip the throttle..... No full throttle shifter smashing!!

[Nomadic Cycle Racks]

10-4, I probably shouldn't have made a few runs like that if the tranny didn't want to go into gear in the first place. Live and learn. Thanks for the expertise.