delayed the traffic

2050 Views 24 Replies 13 Participants Last post by awaterboy4u, Jan 1, 2008

9major

Discussion Starter · Dec 25, 2007

Okay so I caused a little trouble in the traffic stops today. After about 25 miles in an urban environment, red light stops. The V2K doesn't want to go firstgear, dammned wtf almost melted in shame. I rocked the bike few times before it let go. Again it happens about four times all in stop lights and intersection. I looked like an ice cream melting in my v2k. I think I got a clucth or lifter problem. I try some shifting practices, 1st,2nd,3rd,4th,5th to break-in recommended speeds. then donwshifted in reversed manner. 1st to 2nd sometimes I would hit the neutral and not very smooth. 3rd to top were good. So what is it? I hate to see car people shaken their heads on me :frown:

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RichLockyer

· #2 · Dec 25, 2007

Are you dropping into neutral at stop lights?

Go straight from 2nd to 1st and hold the clutch while stopped... it's a lot safer that way (you can move out quickly if needed), and the tranny doesn't "like" to be cycled from 1st to neutral and back without some movement.

If you come to a complete stop, go into neutral, and then try to go into 1st, it'll hang almost every time.

bluestringer

· #3 · Dec 25, 2007

9major said:
Okay so I caused a little trouble in the traffic stops today. After about 25 miles in an urban environment, red light stops. The V2K doesn't want to go firstgear, dammned wtf almost melted in shame. I rocked the bike few times before it let go. Again it happens about four times all in stop lights and intersection. I looked like an ice cream melting in my v2k. I think I got a clucth or lifter problem. I try some shifting practices, 1st,2nd,3rd,4th,5th to break-in recommended speeds. then donwshifted in reversed manner. 1st to 2nd sometimes I would hit the neutral and not very smooth. 3rd to top were good. So what is it? I hate to see car people shaken their heads on me :frown:

The positive neutral finder on the Vulcans make the 1st-2nd shift a little rough. You need to shift with authority, don't granny shift it. And as Rich said, always shift down to first before coming to a complete stop. Keep it in first with the clutch held in until time to go.

And forget the break in speeds for shifting. Wind it out, it will shift much smoother.

JimmyD

· #4 · Dec 25, 2007

On the EX, the neutral finder is a set of balls that, when the bike is moving, disengage due to centrifugal force. It's actually ingeniously simple. They engage when the bike is standing still and keep the bike from shifting past neutral.

If he's having trouble shifting from first to second while moving I'd almost think it's a problem with a bent shift fork. Especially if he's been stomping on the shifter at a light because he's trying to get it into first. The EX has a lot of problems with this, anyway, but it's hardly as heavy duty down there as a V2K.

9major

Discussion Starter · #5 · Dec 25, 2007

my approach to stopping is downshifting, then at full stop I shift neutral to relax my hand. a bad idea i guess. i'll work out my grip for better.

9major

Discussion Starter · #6 · Dec 25, 2007

This just happened today, I had had a bike before sportbike and standard. This is my first cruiser and still break-in period, special care is foremost, I don't think I can bent a shift fork. But still not sure and hope not a big problem. With weather permitting I'm going to the dealer to pick up my new plate number, possibly get the mechanic to test drive

RichLockyer

· #7 · Dec 25, 2007

Your shift fork is fine... It's the positive neutral finder causing the problem. My 1600 has been the same way from day-1.

Aifwikir

· #8 · Dec 25, 2007

I noticed this on my 900 also. If you shift to neutral at a light, let out the clutch, it's hard to get it into 1st again. I've found that if you rev the engine, pull the clutch, shift to 1st, it will give you a big fat CLUNK and your ready to go. I quit going to neutral and just leave it in 1st. Less agrivating that way.

Aif

markbrumbaugh

· #9 · Dec 25, 2007

I find that as I'm slowing down, if I bump the clutch out a bit as I down shift, I'll be safely in first. If I have to do a quick stop and then downshift after stopping, it hangs every time.

darkwalker

· #10 · Dec 25, 2007

I've "granny" shifted from 1st to 2nd and hit neutral a few times. It's embarrassing for sure. However I did my bike class on a worn out Honda 250 Nighthawk and couldn't find neutral to save my life! I'll take the quirks of the Kaws.

RichLockyer

· #11 · Dec 25, 2007

Tom_E said:
It also has the interesting side effect of keeping you from engaging second gear until the bike is rolling fast enough. The transmission output shaft has to be spinning fast enough to allow the shift.

And the real problem comes in when you get into a marginal traction situation such as gravel where you MAY want to start out in 2nd to avoid wheelspin, or for push starting (which the slipper clutch on the Vulcan won't allow anyways unless you've modded the mechanism).

9major

Discussion Starter · #12 · Dec 25, 2007

Good riding for Christmas day, did 93 miles in the Highlands, stayed in the first gear during stop lights. V2K performs well on the twisties and climbs. Shifting is a breeze it rumbles up and down the hills. Anyhow I attracted a couple of HD riders, we rode together for some miles. My sour feelings yesterday was a thing of the past. :mrgreen:

JimmyD

· #13 · Dec 26, 2007

RichLockyer said:
And the real problem comes in when you get into a marginal traction situation such as gravel where you MAY want to start out in 2nd to avoid wheelspin, or for push starting (which the slipper clutch on the Vulcan won't allow anyways unless you've modded the mechanism).

Oh, I've never had a problem shifting to second while moving. I can get my EX into second on the centerstand by turning the wheel the slightest bit while I do it. Generally if you can't get it past neutral without much force it's time to tear into the trans.

Maybe larger bikes need more momentum to successfully disengage the neutral finder. Like I said, I imagine the components on an engine with easily four times the torque would need some heftier internal bits.

RichLockyer

· #14 · Dec 26, 2007

JimmyD said:
Oh, I've never had a problem shifting to second while moving. I can get my EX into second on the centerstand by turning the wheel the slightest bit while I do it. Generally if you can't get it past neutral without much force it's time to tear into the trans.

Maybe larger bikes need more momentum to successfully disengage the neutral finder. Like I said, I imagine the components on an engine with easily four times the torque would need some heftier internal bits.

It's when you are stopped and need to start in 2nd.

There's been a couple of times that I've had either my front or rear tire up against the edge of the pavement and the rear in the gravel and got nothing but "roost" out of the rear. Starting in 2nd limits the torque to the rear wheel and reduces the likelyhood of wheelspin.

You can get the big cruisers into 2nd when moving at 10mph (but you really don't want to).

brother

· #15 · Dec 26, 2007

I need to use the clutch to shift from 1st to 2rd,but after that I'm good to go. You can't get lazy with neutral to 1st shifts or 1st to 2rd.

Deeppurple52

· #16 · Dec 26, 2007

I agree with the other posts.... auto neutral finder. If you end up in neutral at a light, just let the clutch out in neutral, pull it back in and shift into first. Works for me. Trying to jam it into first will not work. It happens occasionally on my 1600 when I don't put it in first before I stop.

promarky

· #17 · Dec 28, 2007

For me, I always shift to first before I come to a stop. Then while stopped, if I figure it's safe, I'll engage the Posive Nuetral Finder.

Works every time this way.

RichLockyer

· #18 · Dec 29, 2007

promarky said:
Then while stopped, if I figure it's safe, I'll engage the Posive Nuetral Finder.

Never.
The only time mine is ever in neutral is backing out of the garage and/or warming up while I'm putting my lid and gloves on.

If my butt is on the seat, it's in gear.

gonzosc1

· #19 · Dec 29, 2007

RichLockyer said:
Never.
The only time mine is ever in neutral is backing out of the garage and/or warming up while I'm putting my lid and gloves on.

If my butt is on the seat, it's in gear.

+1

therogue

· #20 · Dec 30, 2007

Had that prob warming the monster up in my shop and moving it around. Wasn't really worried being on warr. but 9majors Christmas ride makes me feel much better.

Why didn't I have this prob with my 06 1500? I put almost 20k kms on her ands don't remember that happening.

Someone mentioned the rev with clunk method of problem solving the situation when it does occur. Does that work all the time? Will a little flick and clunk hurt anything in the long term. The two times it happened to me the bike was cold and I just rocked it out but she's a bit heavy to do that in some situations

Great forum folks

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