Bike will not roll when in gear

I've been working on my newly acquired 650. I cleaned and re-synched all the carbs and got it firing again. I rode it through the neighboorhood and had no problem shifting. However, I parked it and came back to it later the same day and had an issue. It fired up almost instantly, but when I put it in to first gear my problems began. The bike kicked a bit as i put it in to first gear. As I slowed off the cluth and eased on to the throttle I rolled about 2 feet and the engine died. The bike would not roll forward after the engine died (very little play in the back tire - could roll back or forward about 6 inches). I put it back in neutural and tried again. Same results. Now the bike wont even fire up. Any suggestions? I'm on the verge of just tearing the engine apart and fixing things as I go.

Thanks,

 

I had a similar problem with my XJ700 when I first got it. Turned out the neutral switch was just a little off and when my neutral light came on it was sometimes not really in neutral, but still in first. Your bike is in a gear, that's why it won't roll. Try holding in the clutch and smashing down on the shifter a couple times and then put it back into neutral. Make sure you feel the "click" as it shifts into neutral.

If that doesn't work then your clutch may not be fully disengaging. Make sure the lever has about 2mm - 3mm of free play in it before it begins to try and catch. Also had that problem once.

As for not starting, is it trying to start and just won't kick over or is the engine not trying to do anything?

 

I assume you mean won't roll in gear with the clutch pulled in. Could be clutch adjustment or the clutch may be frozen. Did the bike sit before you got it?

 

scnd_edition, could you please post year and model? Some 650's have safety interlocks that occasionally do weird things.

 

I have an XJ 650 1980. After rebuilding the carburetors, the bike starts with no prblem. However, after a good day of riding and tinkering with the carbs I have a bigger problem. When I put the bike in gear and begin to let off the clutch and pull the accelerator the bike rolls about 2 feet and dies. Upon dying, the rear tire will not move but maybe 6 inches... I've tried multiple times but it keeps "jamming". I put the bike on its center stand and started the bike, put the bike in gear and let off the clutch and rolled the throttle and the rear tire began to spin. As soon as it has resistance on it the bike shuts off. I'm thinking that the transmission is having some sort of issue. Any ideas????

 

Strange one, how are the rear brakes and wheel bearings? Possibly a problen there?

 

Have you checked the clutch cable?? Make sure you have the proper slack and throw. Also make sure the cable didn't pup out of the bracket down near the motor end.

 

How many rpm can you get, when revving in neutral. can you hold at say 5000 rpm for any length of time?
Have you tried starting in 2nd gear?
Does it sound "boggy" when it dies, or is it more abrupt of a die. The reason i ask is if it lurches forward and immediately goes dead, it could be electrical.
If it goes "Whaaauuuh" and dies, you've got a fuel delivery problem.

Does it continue to not roll forward after dying, even after you pull the clutch lever back in, while still in first gear? If so, your clutch may be out of adjustment, but if you give it enough throttle, that in itself shouldn't prevent you from riding forward.
When on the center stand, can you put it in first and keep the clutch in and spin the tire, or have it stay still?

Worst case scenario, which i hope it isn't, is that your transmission is shredded wheat and it's just flat out locking up on you in first. That's why i was asking about 2nd.
I wish you luck,
Christopher.

 

Thanks for the help! I've not been on for a while but I am still trying to find a solution. Next response should be much sooner.

Robert: The bike is a 1980 XJ 650.

Bill: The bike sat for about 6 months before I got it. I know the previous owner and saw him riding it last summer. However, when I got it, I cleaned and corrected some carburetor issues. I got the bike running and rode it myself, so I know that everything worked at some point. The same day I first got it running this issue occured.

Rubikscube: After trying to get the bike to run in gear a few times it would not fire up, but the starter is working, and gas is getting to the engine (can smell it out of the exhaust). Although, I think this is back to the Carb issue I had before and I most likely need to resync them as well as set the float levels properly.

 

I think I left this part out.

The Bike is a 1980 XJ 650 Maxim

Odometer reads 32000

 

To old to have the interlock system.
That leaves low idle or fuel supply issues.

 

So, that would explain why the bike dies. Then the bike is in gear, so that would explain why it wont roll. Seems to run just fine when it is in neutural. So that could mean the float levels are out of whack. and are getting shut off before they can reach the main jet. Am I going in the right direction with this?

 

Hammerhead: The tachometer is busted, in other words it sits at 3K and doesnt move. However, given the sound of the engine, and the ammount of throttle, I would say that yes, I have been able to hold it at 5K or above for 30 secs+ at a time. I tried starting in both first and second. When the engine dies it is immediate. However, it only ever dies when put in gear and throttle is opened. If I pull the clutch back in it will continue to roll, however the bike stops completely after dying without clutch engaged. When on the center stand I can rev the engine (in first gear) and the back tire will turn. However, even with throttle 1/2 turned or more, the tire spins slowly. (slower than it should)

Any other ideas? I'm leaning towards the shreaded wheat theory.....

 

To low an idle and the bike will die when you engage the tranny.
To low a fuel level and the bike will die from fuel starvation. If I remember right, your float level should be 7mm. Anybody else with a book handy please verify this!
You mention the inability to roll the bike with it in gear. This could be a few things, the starter chain guide broke and pieces have locked up the tranny or you have a hard part failure that is locking everything up.
I'd suggest you work on getting it to run first, then chase the transmission problem later.
You can disconnect the output flange from the drive shaft and try to spin the rear end. That would eliminate the rear drive assembly. You would be left with monkeying with the transmission from there.

 

I'll keep you updated. I'll be moving states soon and I'm trying to justify bringing the bike along. If I can make some simblance of a breakthrough then I'll load it up and work on it at the new place. Thanks for the help!

 

Where are you at and where are you headed? Help might be just around the corner! Hang on to it, you will enjoy the beastie.

 

I'm in Mobile, Alabama and I'll be moving to a place just north of Atlanta, Georgia. I will have a garage to work on it in there. I'm debating on waiting until I get there and just breaking down and buying a new gasket set for the engine and rebuilding it. the thing is going on 29-30years.....

 

2nd edition, I didn't get your post after my last since you were running two separate threads. I merged them and, after reading some of your other posts, I'll say that you don't have a locked up tranny. From the sounds of it, your problems are entirely fuel related and you may require a clutch adjustment. Get those fuel levels (it is 3mm not 7mm, I found my cheat sheet) set and let's see what happens. Just be sure that you have cleaned them out really good and do a bench sync.
For further reading, look up a thread by Rick-O-Matic. Cleaning your carbs and the whole nine yards. Follow the bouncing ball and all should work itself out.