'77 KZ650 won't go into 1st gear at a stop

DOH!!!! :ohmy:

Family Time.....

My Suzuki will give me problems shifting from neutral to first if the oil level is low. Could have somethimg to do with the clutch though.

@ ckotul... Sorry for the hi-jacking of your post....
Just having a little fun... :blush:

Seems to some of us you'll need to re-adjust your cable and clutch push rod to spec...

If you feel energetic, open up and measure your clutch plates and springs for specification verifications.

If you need the procedure, let us know....

OMR

Here's the KZ900 clutch adjustment procedure just in case... Should be close to the same as your KZ650... Others can chime in....

Not sure if it's the same but here's the friction/steel plates and clutch spring measurement procedure for the KZ900...

At least it will give you an idea of what to look for in the procedure itself....

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

[Click on image to Dimmit Dammit]

Wholly Crapola, even photo chopped Kano's Dualies (Head lights).... Sweet! :laugh:

I'm still trying to figure how a clutch problem would cause first to be hard to engage. I can sit idling and even if I don't even pull in the lever the engine will shift right into first. Yes the engine will die or I'll be carried down the road in gear, but none the less, no problem initiating the shift regardless of clutch.

The post title may be slightly miss leading due to the fact that it is engaging into first but slipping.

Once he gets the bike moving ever so slightly, it has enough plate catch to get her rolling along....

Thus first thing to check for me anyways would be my clutch/push rod adjustments. If that didn't work out then check my plate and springs for out of tolerances specifications...

One sure method of checking if truly going into gear...
Raise the rear, while in neutral spin the rear tire... Acknowledge the resistance in the spin...

Without the clutch, down shift into first gear, try and rotate the tire by hand... That gear, chain, tire should be locked up, no spin what so ever... Even with a little muscle, that tire should not spin...

If it still spins but you have heavy resistance where your really having a hell of a time versus compared to neutral spin, then clutch most likely still engaged.

Close the clutch adjustments at the handle bar lever and mid cable adjusters. Loosen the lock nut on the clutch side cover and back out the screw CCW a turn or two.

Now try and rotate the tire... If the clutch plates are compressing together to specifications, this tire should not rotate...

If it does, then go after the friction plate thickness and springs for they are most likely out of spec.... Meaning the friction have worn thin, the springs don;t compress out to full height. Possibly as in my case the steel plates were warped out of spec.

Just my thoughts on the problem.... good luck!

OMR

I'm with Ron. Don't think it's clutch related for the same reason he stated.

i know what's going on and how to solve it without a Major teardown.

just pull the clutch once or twice before you shift down.
what is happening is your tranny is landing right on top of the dogs, which are more then likely a little worn.
when you have the clutch pulled in, the tranny is not turning so it's resting in that position. it can't engage in that position.
when you roll it a little you move the tranny gears and they line up a little better, then it will go right in gear.
when you pump the clutch in neutral it causes the tranny to spin, bringing them into a better position to drop in.

hope this clears it up for you.

what is your idle rpm at if it is too high they can be hard to get in gear sometimes

kawsakiman wrote:

i know what's going on and how to solve it without a Major teardown.

just pull the clutch once or twice before you shift down.
what is happening is your tranny is landing right on top of the dogs, which are more then likely a little worn.
when you have the clutch pulled in, the tranny is not turning so it's resting in that position. it can't engage in that position.
when you roll it a little you move the tranny gears and they line up a little better, then it will go right in gear.
when you pump the clutch in neutral it causes the tranny to spin, bringing them into a better position to drop in.

hope this clears it up for you.

This worked perfectly! Thanks for the tip, it was driving me crazy!