Slipping while in second gear

I have a 1980 LTD1000. The problem im having is that when I shift it into second and beging to wind it out it will cut in and out. It acts like your pulling the clutch in and out while revving it up in second. It only does it in second gear. Sometimes it wont do it at all. It doesnt fall out of gear though. Is this shift forks or possibly clutch plates????

Thanks

A slipping clutch usually slips worse in first gear if you get on it hard. Don't know why a clutch would only slip in second gear.

What kind of oil are you using?

Mine does the same thing. I just figured a new clutch would fix it. I still need to put the clutch in.

You'll often see bikes that have been bagged to death that pop out of second due to bent forks... not sure why it would cut in and out though

Im using 10-40oil.

As long as it's motorcycle oil then you can rule that out as a cause. I tried running Mobil 1 once and my bike ran like crap; slipped clutch, and would pop out of gear while on throttle. I quickly changed it out and cannot remember why I even tried to do that in the first place. When I went back to synthetic motorcycle oil the problem disappeared entirely.

Sounds like bent shift forks or worn gear dogs from abuse. It usually starts slowly and then progresses. If you ride it hard in second gear it will do that. Means you will have to tear it down to fix that problem. I have done that in two of my bikes. My midnight special started to do it slowly as if it had a hiccup and then gradually it would not pull at all in second gear. My zr1100 had that problem it went at 10k rpms while I was racing my nephew with his 600. Felt like I hit a pothole really hard and after that she was gone.
jbrewer73 wrote:

I have a 1980 LTD1000. The problem im having is that when I shift it into second and beging to wind it out it will cut in and out. It acts like your pulling the clutch in and out while revving it up in second. It only does it in second gear. Sometimes it wont do it at all. It doesnt fall out of gear though. Is this shift forks or possibly clutch plates????

Thanks

take the engine out of the frame..flip it over and drop the oil pan..you can visually inspect the dogs on your gears that way..if they look ok you can replace the sfift forks without slippting the cases..

Yeah that sounds right.

jbrewer73 wrote:

...1980 LTD1000...shift it into second and beging to wind it out it will cut in and out. It acts like your pulling the clutch in and out while revving it up in second. It only does it in second gear. Sometimes it wont do it at all. It doesnt fall out of gear though. Is this shift forks or possibly clutch plates???? Thanks

If not already done, would perform clutch pushrod adjustment.

Good Luck!

Im gonna wait til it gets a little colder here in Chicago to do this project. She has been riding pretty good lately. Trying to finish out the season.
Thanks for all the input guys.