'02 Yamaha V-Star 1100 shifting problems

[STEVEWEST]

My 2002 Yamaha V-Star 1100 is not shifting smoothly. It seems the clutch is not fully disengaging the gears.

A couple times it got stuck in 1st gear for a while. The problem seems to come and go. Sometimes it shifts fine and other times I can barely get it to shift at all.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Steve

[Aussie Steve]

Steve check the clutch fluid. If it has only been changed once in five years it would need changing again....of course it may have never been changed! so it definatly will need to be.

BTW welcome

Steve

[DrBob]

Ummm...the 2002 1100 has a cable clutch, not a hydraulic one, so there is no clutch fluid to change. Make sure the cable is adjusted correctly, the shift rod is properly adjusted, and that you are using the correct type and level of oil. Often motorcycles will get to shifting funny when it is time for an oil change. This will eliminate the easy stuff. If the problem persists, it could be something more serious, like an internal shaft or fork out of adjustment, out of alignment, or damaged. But serious problems generally are consistent, not intermittent, so it is most likely one of the easy things.

[STEVEWEST]

Thanks for the advice! I did try adjusting the clutch cable per the instructions in my owners manual. That made no difference. I will definitely change the oil. Last year I didn't change the oil filter when I changed the oil. Perhaps that's a problem. Also, my bike tipped over last summer. The foot peg snapped off and the shifter was slightly bent. However, it shifted fine after that, so I didn't think that was the problem. In fact, I still rode the bike while waiting for the replacement foot peg.

Where can I find info about changing the oil filter? My owner's manual advises to take it in to the shop for that, but it doesn't seem that it'd be that hard...if only I knew how.

Steve

[Clint]

Is your filter hidden somehow? If not, screw off, check that the old gasket came off, screw on one turn past initial contact. I don't think that's your problem, though. New oil probably is your best bet.

[STEVEWEST]

In my reading about changing the oil filter on the V-Star 1100, I believe someone wrote that you need to take the exaust system off to get at the oil filter. Could this be true?

Steve

[Clint]

Could be. That alone would be reason to sell it for me.

[Aussie Steve]

Doh!! I didn't think any bikes of that size had cable operated clutches!

One thing what condition is the cable in. I had an old clutch cable that was just too kinked and ratty to operate smoothly. The thing would work sometimes it was fine and others it wasn't. I finaly got sick of the rougth changes and changed the cable out. This cured the problems.

S

[STEVEWEST]

I put a new battery in last night. Took it out for a spin and it shifted perfectly(with the usual clunking noise). Perhaps it was fussy because of sitting in my garage for the winter.

[Aussie Steve]

Fitting a new battery fixed the gearchange?

[STEVEWEST]

Sounds crazy doesn't it? Don't worry, it's just a coincidence.

[Madwrench73]

If you should ever get tired of pulling your exhaust to get to your oil filter, Jardine makes a filter relocation kit for your bike. I could be wrong but I believe you can use the Yamaha filter part #5GH-13440-10-00, which is a spin-on type as opposed to the cartridge type it uses now. A few other companies make relocation kits as well, but it requires buying a Harley oil filter.