Noticed something this weekend.
It seemed I had to really forcefully switch to get into third from second this weekend.

A bit of a background. I switched from buckhorns to drags and I haven't changed to shorter clutch cable yet (been meaning too). However I've never had a problem engaging the clutch before. Also it does dissengage however I go to shift and nothing happens.

Any ideas or do you think I just need to get off my butt and change out that cable to the shorter one.

Also I've never done any inside work on the engine or trans other than fluids. I do have the service manual and am good at following directions and I do have mechanical ability with cars. Should I have any issues doing it myself?

Thanks in advance.

Not to alarm you but you MIGHT have a cracked or broken cam follower. That's fairly common. The stock ones were made from a pot metal.

The longer cable shouldn't interfere with a proper clutch adjustment. If you're satisfied with the adjustment and still having problems, I'd consider getting inside the shifting mechanism and/or possibly the tranny before it tears up.

Personally, I would re-adjust the clutch play before I did anything.

Sometimes its the obvious stuff that eludes us....

Good Luck!

cantolina.. Like I said.. It's only between those two gears.. Have no problem shifting to any others. I've been planning on taking care of that clutch cable for a while now.. Just haven't had time. Need to get around to that.. Looks like :censor the way it is anyway.

willprevale.. Any advice on what to look for on the cam follower? I'll be checking the manual when I get home from work but now you have me all parinoid.

cantolina.. Like I said.. It's only between those two gears..

ok...I could be wrong at any time.....your money...

:)

Fortunately no money involved to change the cable. A Friend has a 98 - 883 with a spare cable that is the right length that he doesn't need. Also why I was asking how hard it is to do. :)

Fortunately no money involved to change the cable. A Friend has a 98 - 883 with a spare cable that is the right length that he doesn't need. Also why I was asking how hard it is to do. :)

Apologies...

easy to do....probably NOT the problem, but the readjustment when you install the other cable MAY solve your problem...

I only say this because I had a similar problem....

Hopefully, Will is wrong...but...I wouldn't be willing to bet on it..

cantolina.. willprevale.. Any advice on what to look for on the cam follower? I'll be checking the manual when I get home from work but now you have me all parinoid.
Look over the section on shiftter linkage. It's kinda hard to explain if you've never actually seen one. Don't get all paranoid. It's only an afternoon's work. If the cam follower is broke or cracked, you'll see it. Either way, if changing the cable doesn't help, yer gonna have to brave it and go in there and see.

cantolina sez, Hopefully, Will is wrong...but...I wouldn't be willing to bet on it..
Now there's a first! :eek: :laugh

Afternoon of work isn't too bad.
I'll be checking out the manual once I get home.

I guess it is about time I dug into the guts of my bike. I've only had it for what.. 8 1/2 years now and the most I've ever had to do is change fluids and taxes (plus a bit of external tinkering and standard maint).

Lucky or just lazy on that one.. Take your pick! :)

Lucky or just lazy on that one.. Take your pick! :)
Holler if ya get into trouble :p

Kent, when I first saw this thread I thought of something totaly diffrent. It is good to hear that your problems are happening between 2nd and 3rd GEAR, and not between 2nd and 3rd BASE!!! HA HA HA!

Kent, when I first saw this thread I thought of something totaly diffrent. It is good to hear that your problems are happening between 2nd and 3rd GEAR, and not between 2nd and 3rd BASE!!! HA HA HA!

Married with a kid.. Hopefully that means I've figured those parts out already! :laugh

Holler if ya get into trouble :p


Does that go for me too? Because the lawyer fees are really racking up!


lol

Does that go for me too? Because the lawyer fees are really racking up! lol
Yer on yer own with that one :laugh :laugh :laugh

Look over the section on shiftter linkage. It's kinda hard to explain if you've never actually seen one. Don't get all paranoid. It's only an afternoon's work. If the cam follower is broke or cracked, you'll see it. Either way, if changing the cable doesn't help, yer gonna have to brave it and go in there and see.

Pretty much went through the whole section of the manual last night on transmision. Couldn't find anything on this. Any other hints as to where to look in the service manual?

There's s section on the shifter linkage. Are you using the FM?

I have my transmission apart on my bike still. I can take some pics of the parts to give you an idea with what to look for. Getting to the transmission is pretty much straight forward. There is a way to remove the clutch hub assembly in one shot but it's been so long that I don't remember. I would also suggest that you use an impact for removing the nuts that hold the clutch hub and rotor(charging system). One of these nuts are reverse threads too. I think it's the one that holds the clutch hub on.

one other note. Have you had any charging system issues or metalflake dust when you change the primary oil? Reason why I'm asking is that the magnets in the rotor will come loose and move together. They will also have pieces chip off and break away causing the oil to be contaminated with metal. If a piece broke off and got wedged between 2nd and 3rd, you might have to pull the tranny out and clean/inspect it. It's a cartridge style transmission so it will slide out with ease.

The tranny has to be removed from the bike in order to check it properly.

Yes.. I have the factory manual.
I'll have to check again when I am home.
I think the teathing 6 month old at home is killing my brain :cry1

1HD1200R. If you've got pix I'd love to see 'em.

Thanks to both of you for your help.

I think the teathing 6 month old at home is killing my brain :cry1
No pix but my manual shows it well. Look again or PM me with your phone # and I'll walk you thru it.

Sorry.. Might have to give me a few days. A bearing spun on my brothers truck and had to put the bike in a corner for the week while we try to get it back up and running.

Not a problem.
If you noticed from one of my earlier messages I'm a new dad.
Unfortunately even though I'm in nice sunny So-Cal the bike still stays in the garage all week (have to transport equipment to and from work so I take the truck) and only comes out on the weekends now. So I honestly don't have time durning the week to open her up anyway.

Thanks again to both you and will for your offers of help. Didn't even get a chance to dig into the manual last night either. :(

Just to verify. Is the follower the rod that connects to the "detent plate" in the trans?
If so I think I found a picture of it. However my manual makes no mention of a "cam follower" (I swear I think I read the whole damn thing last night).
I see they are pretty cheap. I noticed mention of replacing them with heavy duty ones on the net. However I've only found ones for BTs and 4 speed sporty models. Anyone have any ideas for where to get one for a 96 1200 motor?
I should be able to open her up this weekend to check.

The cam follower is what keeps everything tight and moving true while you shift. It should be just before that indent plate. If you start at the shift lever and follow the pics back to the tranny, the linkage should be clear. I don't know if they changed anything since my model ('89) but it should be somewhat similar. Either way, I'm still thinking your problem lies in the shifting mechanism.

Ok.. Then it is the correct picture I saw.
They must have changed something in the manual between yours and mine as it doesn't mention the part at all but I believe I saw a picture (google was able to show me a drawing of the part but like I said it was off a pre-90s sporty).

Wish me luck on the weekend. That's when it will be time to open her up and take a look.

Ok and keep us posted with what you find.

Well.. Good news is it's not the follower.

Was able to get back to normal with the clutch cable adjustment.
Since my cable is too long I'm gonna go ahead and put that new one on to shorten it up.

That's for your advice guys. It did help me in tracking things down. Plus if I ever do have issues with the follower I now know where to look.

:clap :clap :clap good news

there was a change in the clutch actuator during the evo model run.....

later ones are different to the early ones.....

I think the only thing that stayed the same in the primary from the 4 speed and 5 speed was the chain and chain tensioner. Everything else changed in 1991 and another upgrade done in 1994. I think there was an update to the tranny in 1996 too.

I do vaugely remember the dealer mentioning something about the transmission changing for that year.
That was when I bought the bike back in 96 so I could be wrong.