Frequent false neutral between 3rd and 2nd

[llaen]

Hi all,

Over the last couple of months or so I often hit a false neutral when downshifting from 3rd to 2nd.
It's not a huge deal as I'm in the process of slowing down anyway. It'd be pretty bad if it were say 5th to 4th or worse - when upshifting.

My quesiton is, is this a symptom of a problem with some part of the transmission that I should/can investigate further or should I let it be for now.
I hope it's my own fault, but I don't think I'm doing anything different.

Anyone experienced this?

[piresito]

I haven't experienced too much false neutral in my ex-GS500, but in any bike I had, if I'm hitting falste neutrals, it means that the lever isn't in it's proper position. Change it so you  can shift more firmly.
Also, better quality oil can do wonders!

[BockinBboy]

First thought: Oil.

If you are sure the correct type of oil is in there, it may be the oil level.  Too full, and you will get false neutral positions and missed downshifts.

The proper way to check oil level has been debated.  But a widley accepted way, and one used in manuals, is to check your oil while the bike is on the center stand after you have warmed the bike up.  Unscrew the oil cap, wipe off the dipstick, put the dipstick back in (without screwing it in), and then read level.  Should read to the full mark when warmed up.  If it is to the full mark when cold, there will be too much oil while running, and you will start to see shifting issues such as false neutrals.

- Bboy

[llaen]

I just checked it (with the bike on the centre stand) and I have a little over half when cold. So I guess that shouldn't be the cause.

It's semi-synthetic motul 5100.

Hmpf!

[BockinBboy]

Motul 5100 semisynthetic is a widely used 4 stroke oil used with wet clutches, and the level checks out, so it sounds like we can't blame it on that. 

We should have some general information about your bike such as year, miles, etc.. just more of the picture will help.

I suppose its possible that you could have jumped a spline on the shift lever.  If it moved up a spline, you won't have as much leverage for shifting, and it could land you in false neutral territory.  My specific experience with this gave a grinding noise at times too when I changed lever position one spline.  Although I'll admit, I'm not sure how to check this if you don't know the original positioning...

- Bboy

[llaen]

Now that you mentioned the grinding noise...
When this happens and I squeeze the clutch and press the pedal to again try to shift into second, I do usually get a pretty loud grinding noise.

I think the shift lever is exactly what it must be as I did have to remove it recently to access something else.
I'll try shifting the pedal one notch down and see what happens.

Thanks!
I think you've solved the mystery .

[piresito]

Motul 5100 semisynthetic is a widely used 4 stroke oil used with wet clutches, and the level checks out, so it sounds like we can't blame it on that. 

We should have some general information about your bike such as year, miles, etc.. just more of the picture will help.

I suppose its possible that you could have jumped a spline on the shift lever.  If it moved up a spline, you won't have as much leverage for shifting, and it could land you in false neutral territory.  My specific experience with this gave a grinding noise at times too when I changed lever position one spline.  Although I'll admit, I'm not sure how to check this if you don't know the original positioning...

- Bboy

My GS500 had a dot exactly where the lever opening should be at. Although in most bikes I have to move the lever down even more than stock, I'm a short guy with a lazy foot...and the SRAD is a b*tch to give me a false neutral between the 5th and 6th. Moved the lever down and never happened again.

Also, I had motul 5100 in my GS500. At the time I changed form 15w40 mineral to 10w40 motul 5100, and she didn't like the change. After a good kamikaze ride, I had hard times to get into 1st from neutral, at a stop! Never happened with the mineral oil...

[llaen]

Unfortunately no dots, but the lever angle looks right to me. One notch up and it becomes parallel to the peg which seems excessive. One down and I'm not sure how I'll be upshifting.
Rats!

Anyone have a pic of their shift lever?

[BockinBboy]

- Bboy

[llaen]

Thanks!

That's exactly what I have.
On an unrelated note, the rod is covered in quite a bit of a gunk so the lever is a little loose. I think it's the chain throwing lube into the sprocket nook which subsequently leaks through there as there's no seal on the inside of the cover. I wonder if that's causing some problems.
Yours sure looks nice though .

Anyway, thanks for all help troubleshooting this annoying little kink.

[Twisted]

It's not a huge deal as I'm in the process of slowing down anyway. It'd be pretty bad if it were say 5th to 4th or worse - when upshifting.

Downshifting false neutrals can be a real bad thing if you are not careful. You don't realize how much the engine slows you until you hit a false neutral before a corner. I find I get false neutrals when I get lazy and don't give the shift lever a enough boot to tick it into gear. Motorcycles can be a bit fussy with oils. What works great in one will give you a clunky change in another. Also gunk on the shift lever is usually residue chain lube leaking out of your front sprocket cover.