How do I know if my fork shift is bent?
You can tell by the wear mark in the center of it. The fork was bent by the gears popping in and out under a load. If you are looking for wear on the gear teeth, you might find some or you might not, but the teeth are not where your problem is.
What are shift forks?
A shift fork is a forked end metal lever that straddles a manual transmission gear shaft. Its purpose is to slide gears into or out of engagement with other gears in order change from one gear ratio to another in a manual transmission.
What causes a bent shift fork on a motorcycle?
A bent shift fork will cause its corresponding slider-gear cluster to bind in one gear, and then have insufficient dog-to-pocket engagement in the other gear in the cluster, with the other gears functioning as expected.
How can I change out my shift fork?
Get the transmission to your work table with some assistance from a friend with a good back or an engine hoist. This way you can begin to open it up to gain access to the cam to change out your shift fork. Be sure to organize your nuts and bolts organized in small dishes or baggies.
What causes a motorcycle transmission to wear out?
Indecisive shifting, a worn shift mechanism, bent or worn forks and worn gear spacers can cause wear in the dogs and pockets. If you determine that your dogs and pockets are worn, then you need to modify your shifting technique or look at the other aforementioned components to prevent further damage.
What should I do if my transmission Fork is broken?
Once you get the transmission open you should see that the fork is now accessible. Once this is opened you will see the shifter fork right in plain sight. Look around for gears or cogs that may be damaged or broken and replace those as well. Install your new fork and reverse the process to get the transmission back into place.
A bent shift fork will cause its corresponding slider-gear cluster to bind in one gear, and then have insufficient dog-to-pocket engagement in the other gear in the cluster, with the other gears functioning as expected.
What causes a motorcycle transmission to pop out of gear?
Wear in the dogs and pockets will allow the slider to engage, but can allow it to pop out of gear when subjected to the heavy loads of rapid acceleration or compression braking. Indecisive shifting, a worn shift mechanism, bent or worn forks and worn gear spacers can cause wear in the dogs and pockets.
Can a bent gearchange shaft cause a leak?
Bent gearchange shaft with transmission cover removed. Thankfully, it was not bent enough to affect shifting, but given time this shaft would wear out the seal and cause the transmission to leak. So, last Sunday I started the process of replacing this bent shaft with a new one purchased online at BikeBandit.
Why is my shift lever not working on my motorcycle?
You will feel them through your shift lever. The shifter pawl return springs can fail, leading to a limp shift lever and a temperamental or non-functioning shifter. The shift forks connect the shift mechanism to the sliders.