77 KZ 1000 will only go from 1st to N?

ok, im new to your site, and its a great site. . .i have a problem with my 1977 KZ 1000. i recently bought the bike, and just got it running last night. was great to hear it run, but the problem i have is , it will NOT go into any gears other than 1st. goes easy from N to 1st, and back, but nothing else. i took the side cover off where the sprocket is, and tried freeing up the shifter by rocking it back and forth, while bike was running and not running. but could not get it to go into any gear other than 1st. any help you can give i'd extremely appreciate it.

Thanks,
Mike

The bike has to be rolling to shift into 2nd or higher, it won't shift into anything but 1st and neutral when it's standing still.

In order to shift to gears other than neutral to 1st, the transmission must be spinning. You were probably checking the transmission with the engine not running? There is a ball bearing in the transmission that keeps you from shifting from 1st to 2nd to 3rd (etc) while the bike isn't running.

even with me rocking it back and forth, trying to change it to second wouldnt work?

ok, i get it now. thanks ALOT guys!! hopefully i'll be riding tonight.
Mike

LoL. You could of put it on the center stand!

IT WON'T CHANGE TO SECOND GEAR WITHOUT THE ENIGNE RUNNING... REPEAT.. IT WON'T CHANGE TO SECOND GEAR WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING...

I had the engine running, but it still wouldnt go into second gear. so im thinking it must be moving forward a lil more than just rocking it.

wiredgeorge wrote:

IT WON'T CHANGE TO SECOND GEAR WITHOUT THE ENIGNE RUNNING... REPEAT.. IT WON'T CHANGE TO SECOND GEAR WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING...

Uh, yeah it will, as long as the output shaft sprocket is turning it will shift through the gears.

You can put it on the center stand and spin the rear tire by hand and shift through the gears.

Post edited by: steell, at: 2007/06/12 09:53

Problem is, i dont have a center stand.

If you are really determined to actually shift it through the gears while it's sitting still, you can remove the chain and spin the sprocket by hand.

But why even mess with it? We have already explained why you can't shift into second (or higher) unless the bike is actually moving. Just fix anything else that's wrong.

If you are actually riding the bike and it won't shift into second while you are moving, then you have a real problem that we can address.

Post edited by: steell, at: 2007/06/12 10:25

ok thanks, im gonna get everything else fixed on it tonight hopefully, and the trans should be fine.
thanks alot for the replies, eases my brain not worrying bout the gears.
Mike