Gear problem on Intruder 1400 and shifting question.

[jdh3000]

Yesterday after a 4 hour ride, as I was slowing down, I couldn't get the gear t shift lower than 4th. I could go back up to 5th but not back down. I pulled it over and reved it enough to get going in 4th, shifted back and forth a few times, then it started shifting down. I don't know what happened. The only thing that I had done differently was a friend had told me that this particularia bike was ok to lug down the gears on, so I was shifting out early. I don't think I was shifting out any earlier than recomended by the manual, which seems real early to me. does anyone know what might have caused the gear to stick, and then just start working again?

I don't have a tachometer, does anyone have any suggestion on shifting, at how many mps one should shif this bike? I've heard some say that the manual says too early, then others say it's better to lug the engine than to wind it up.

Thanks,
JD

[Uncle Bob]

Shift point shouldn't have anything to do with being able to shift from one gear to the next. You should be able to downshift to first gear at 80 mph as long as you keep the clutch in ( don't let it out though ).

Eihter your clutch or tranny needs some serious trouble shooting.

I had the same problem....geez...thought I had a Harley for a while. Was stomping on the shifter trying to get down below 4th. The solution, believe it or not was to spray some duralube on the shifter. Apparently, when hot the shifter dragged enough to defeat the wimpy return spring inside the tranny. I got the bike used and it sat out in a carport for a couple of years. Lubricant must have dried out or I got some corrosion and it started dragging. Shifts totally effortlessly now...up or down. I had a binding problem with the choke also and the same solution worked like a champ. Man, those must be some close tolerances on that shifter!
JimT
Downeast in NC
'01 Intruder 1400

[bohod]

Last year I was on a cross country trip from Vancouver BC to Sault Ste Marie Ontario. Had the bike sreviced before I left. Half way I couldn't shift down or up.Visions of sitting on the side of the road for hours. Then rememberred something I had read about it in my owners manual. Had some 3 in 1 oil with me and oiled the shifter. It had worked well since that time just remember to oil it the start of each season and carry some with you on a trip as the heat seems to dry it out.
BOHOD

[DrBob]

As others say, lube the shifter. Also, you should change the fluid in the hydraulic clutch every now and then, as it breaks down over time and absorbs moisture. You usually don;t notice, but after a long ride or a very hot day, the fluid gets hot and bubbles form in it. This causes the slave cylinder to not travel all the way, so the clutch does not disengage fully, and it suddenly becomes hard to shift. I don't know how old your bike is, but I change my clutch and brake fluid every spring. This time (bike is 8 years old) I also had to change the rubber diaphragms on the master cylinders, as they were deformed and starting to leak.