| Author |
Message |
    
Jblausey
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 19, 2009 - 12:25 pm: | 
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My '06 Uly with 22,000 miles is now shifting hard but not all of the time. One shift will be smooth then the next one hard and so on. Not always the same gears are hard or smooth but really random. No other noises and the oil was changed 1500 miles ago with no burn smell or metals stuck to the plug. I adjusted the clutch and chain but no change in shifting. I will probably have to pull the primary cover off to see what's going on in there but any ideas as to what I should be looking for?
JB |
Blake
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 19, 2009 - 01:49 pm: |
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Check tranny oil level. Even a little too much oil can cause shifting issues. Also check primary chain tension per the book (at the tightest spot. I wouldn't pull the cover until you've checked those two very simple things first. |
Jblausey
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 19, 2009 - 01:56 pm: |
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Fluid level is at the cogs like in the picture in the service manual. About 1 qt of oil went in. The chain has about 1/2 inch of play. There was less play before at about 3/8 inch and I gave it more slack thinking that might be the problem but there was no change. I have adjusted the clutch a few times thinking that was the issue but each time it seems to be adjusted perfectly and doesn't change anything. It's the intermittent thing that has me puzzled.
Please keep he suggestions coming.
JB |
Blake
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 19, 2009 - 02:42 pm: |
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When you check the lube level is the bike stood nice and straight?
If so, then is clutch cable well-lubricated?
If so, then I agree, time to pull the cover and take a look. |
Jblausey
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 19, 2009 - 03:35 pm: |
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Yep the bike is on my lift straight vertical. Clutch cable operates nice and smooth. Just did 20K service and lubed the cable. The clutch seems to operate just fine and the adjustment doesn't seem to change at all.
So when I pull the cover, just look for anything out of place or is there something I should look for? |
Blake
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 19, 2009 - 03:47 pm: |
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On the lift, with the rear wheel off the ground? |
Blake
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 19, 2009 - 03:50 pm: |
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If so, then the tranny may be over-filled. A rear stand will tilt the bike forwards causing some lube to run to the front and lifting the clutch above where it would normally be relative to the fluid level. |
Jblausey
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 19, 2009 - 04:50 pm: |
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No it's a table lift. Both wheels on the lift level with front wheel in the vice. Vertical and level.
I would think if there is too much oil in the case the problem would be constant not intermittent. |
Blake
| | Posted on Thursday, August 20, 2009 - 02:24 pm: |
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I agree, except that when the tranny warms up the high oil level issue can diminish.
Check your chain tensioner shoe. I've heard of a case where one had broken and the plastic bits got into the clutch basket area causing issues.
Service manual has other diagnostic check that I cannot recall off the top of my head.
What kind of tranny oil do you use? |
Jblausey
| | Posted on Thursday, August 20, 2009 - 04:05 pm: |
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Thanks for all the suggestions Blake. I am using the Formula HD oil in the tranny. The chain tensioned is something I have heard can be an issue and I think there is a new style that is better. I'll get the new one from Al at American Sport Bike and replace it while I'm in there. Make sense too about the intermittent part of this problem. My local HD Buell dealership is really going down hill fast and I have never felt really comfortable about the work there. Even if this is a warranty issue I'd rather do it myself. I'll pull the cover tonight and see what's going on in there. |
Blake
| | Posted on Thursday, August 20, 2009 - 08:34 pm: |
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Oh gosh yes. The older tensioner is prone to fail. My bad, I assumed you had the newer/beefier version. Nine to nuts that the issue. |
Jblausey
| | Posted on Thursday, August 20, 2009 - 11:05 pm: |
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Just pulled the case off and everything looks perfect. I was sure it was the tensioner. Now it looks like the issue is in the transmission. The tensioner looks perfect as in new. It's greenish blue in color don't know what the colors are of the new and the old version. |
Blake
| | Posted on Friday, August 21, 2009 - 09:56 am: |
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When you say "shifting hard" what exactly do you mean? Could it be your shift lever could benefit from some adjustment for optimum ergonomics? |
Delta_one
| | Posted on Friday, August 21, 2009 - 10:09 am: |
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when I get stuck I build a list of all the things that could be wrong and narrow it down one by one. but seeing as the tranny is the "magic box" to be I cant help with that but maybe Blake could come up with some ideas, kuz all I got is bad clutch cable worn pressure plate and bent shifter forks. |
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Intermittent hard shifting