Bike wont shift into 2nd gear

I have a 82 yamaha maxim XJ650. I was out riding and came up to a stop sign and shifted down like normal. went to take off and the bike wont shift past nuetral (it does have first gear).

Brought it home and messed around with the lever seems fine. Took off the cover to a look at the gear selector and all the springs are good and hardly any wear on the parts that I can see. Tried moving the the gear selector by hand with clutch pulled in and still didnt move.

Not sure what to do next So does anyone have any suggestions what I may want to try to get this running? I fear the wost and it involves pulling the motor and splitting the case. Have never done this before so kinda scary. I dont wont to have to get rid of this bike. So I would appreciate any help on this subject. Thanks

 

Ok got it figured out. Some how the the shifting fork was out of wack and it was going back into its position. I found a post that fritz had replied on and said you had to make sure the rear tire was moving so that you could move things around.

So I rolled tire around while shifting it and it did free it up. At first I thought it was broke because it wouldnt go back down and it felt weird. Got it pushed down into place and it shifted through all there gears. I got it back together and it rode fine I just hope that doesnt happen again while I'm out road tripping.

I guess it was just dumb luck I got it figured out because without seeing it out of the bike I really have no idea how it actually functions. Also it was the shifting fork closest to the shift lever because according to the book there are 3 forks.

 

You may have just dodged a bullet without realizing it. Unfortunately the gun's not empty.

IF your primary chain guide has begun to break apart, chunks of it can and will foul the shift forks inside the transmisson. Often fiddling/poking about like you just did will dislodge the chunk, until another chunk breaks off.

I would recommend an immediate oil change, and see if you have any hunks of black plastic come out.

How many miles on the bike, and what is its history?

Here's a link to a recent thread from a forum member whose chain guide is breaking up, so you can see what it looks like. http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=32463.html Unfortunately, the repair does involve splitting the cases.

 

You should review the Emergency Procedure for Removing Fragments of Deteriorated Chain Guide from the the Shifter.

If you have a reprieve from Chunks fouling the Exchange Drum; now would be a good time to put-together a KIT of Tools you might need if the Roadside Surgery needs to be done.

A few "Special Tools", a Penlight, Cutting Instrument and a Pair of Elongated, Locking Forceps would be a valuable addition to the Bikes Tool-Kit.

 

Thanks for the info. The bike has around 30,000 miles on it and as far as I know its never been freshened up. I have had it for 3 yrs and never had any type of motor problem with it. I ride about 3 to 4 thousand miles a year on it. I looked at the link you put up there and that sucks you have to split the case to replace it.

As for taking a tool kit for that operation I would just have to leave and come get it later. Unless someone knows a easy way to get in there and help dislodge the piece.

 

There's another one.

There's a large chain that runs the "jackshaft" off the crankshaft. Even though the jackshaft only runs the alternator (and is run by the starter,) Yamaha calls it the "primary" chain. The part being discussed is its tensioner/guide. It's mounted in the bowels of the motor, sort of between the engine and transmission.

That tenioner/guide is known to spontaneously begin to disintegrate.

 

From the sounds of it I might want to drop the pan. I did ride 100 miles on it today no problems but wasnt aware of this primary chain coming apart. thanks again

 

I drained and strained the oil and I found nothing in the oil. Did not drop the pan yet I was just checking to see if I could find any sign that something broke off or got ground up. I'm suprised not to find anything ,but still worried it might do it again.

 

Darn you, chain guide!
here's a little un-up to date thread of mine.
http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=32028.html
note the caption above the first pic.
good luck

 

Thanks for the link. There is alot of good info.