Shifter not centering

Just got my '81 XJ 650 and it has a couple of quirks. The only one that I really would like to get fixed is that the shifter doesn't center when shifting up through gears. Shifting down (pushing down on the shifter) does return to center. When I shift up, though, I have to rest my foot on top of the shifter to recenter it before I can shift up again. Bike shifts fine otherwise. If I need to pull the gear-box cover, what kind of gasket sealer / gasket material should I get. Thanks.

 

Greetings and welcome Grutz. Where are you located generally?
You do indeed need to pull the shifter cover and replace your shifter centralizing spring. Replace the shifter shaft seal and you should be back in business.
We have a parts supplier (goes by the name of Chacal) who knows these bikes inside and out. He will help get you fixed up with the right parts and materials to get your machine purring again. Check in with him on his thread in the For Sale, Parts Wanted forum.

 

Akron, Ohio. I'll need to replace the shifter cover gasket as well, right?

 

You probably will, it will probably disintegrate upon disassembly.

Personally, I prefer High-Tack spray gasket sealer; spray one side of the gasket and once the sealer is dry, "glue" it to the cover. Lightly coat the other side of the gasket with silicone grease, gear oil, MMO, whatever you prefer. That way the gasket will come off easily next time (and be reusable in most cases.)

 

That is highly recommended. If the old one was replaced recently, you could probably reuse it but the 20+ year gasket replacement is a no-brainer.

 

Thanks, first bike. That's what I figured. I wanted to make sure to get all the parts I need before tearing into her. I'll check out the parts forum and get the spring and gasket ordered.

 

one more thing: Before you ride too much further, PLEASE take your back brake apart and be sure it's not doing this: http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=15874.html

I also strongly suggest getting a service manual, and going through the "maintenance" section item by item and don't skip ANY. 28+ years of poor maintenance, neglect, or just SITTING can take its toll. There are things that can go wrong or need attention that can be dangerous if left unattended to. (As in the link above.)

The one that drives me crazy are the eBay sellers who think "original tires, have lots of tread left" is a positive selling point.

 

Grutz....I JUST had Chacal order the same spring for me, you should email him and let him know he'll have to special order it (unless he got more than one). Your lucky, mine isnt centering UP or DOWN.

 

Will do. I have the service manual and the Haynes guide. Plan on doing all of the maintenance on her.

 

I am having the same issue on my 1980 xj650, where my shifter is not returning to center as it should. Do you guy's know what the specific name/part number of this spring is called and how I can get one ordered ASAP? Or the email for Chacal?
Thanks,
Ben

 

i think you need #6 torsion spring they show with collar or without here are yamaha part numbers and prices not sure if chacal can help you or not
.
SKU: 90387-124F4-00 COLLAR 1 $2.03
SKU: 99999-01179-00 SPRING W/ COLLAR 1 $10.79
SKU: 90508-32535-00 SPRING,TORSION 1 $5.95

 

What you need to do is investigate, then order the correct part.

 

Thanks Cutlass, where did you pull the diagram from? And Bigfitz, my buddy is stopping by this week to dive in with me to make sure the spring is the only issue in there.
Ben

 

There is a good diagram on this site as well as the parts. Thanks for the sku. Also their site shows that these parts are for a 1981
XV750H, however the sku's you gave me match. Are they a standard for the 1980 xj650?
http://daytonafunmachines.com/fiche_sec ... fveh=20008

 

i got mine off local yamaha shop website. daytona fun machines should have the same diagrams.been a long time since i herd of them i used to go there all the time when i lived down there bought several bikes from them when you look up your part numbers copy them then go back to the start page to the right paste it in the part number box search it will tell you all the bikes and years that it fits . i dont like there parts finder here is a link to my local shop its easier to look parts up http://www.lhyonline.com/pages/parts/vi ... fault.aspx

 

Do you have to take the clutch out to get to this spring? or can you get to it from the shifter side? If so how?

 

Do you have to remove the clucth?? Or can you get to the spring from the shifter side? If so how?