Very clunky shifting

[kDiqq_imp]

You guys thought I was talking about a transmission?!

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[SUPERCRUZ_imp]

When my CB doesn't shift as smoothly as I expect, I adjust the chain. More than one owner has noted that the CB is very sensitive to chain adjustment, and an out if adjustment condition manifests itself in sloppy shifting.

Another vote for chain adjustment. I think this will solve all your problems. Adjust the chain and the trans will shift like butter.

[mininsx_imp]

I recommend adjusting your shift lever, and it usually doesn't take much movement to improve your shifting.

[CBXBob_imp]

Smoothest shifting bike I ever had. Proper shift lever adjustment geometry helps.

[offroadfx4_imp]

When I first got my CB750 in 1976, I took it back to the dealer and complained about clunky shifting and he told me I just didn't know how to shift it right....I think for the most part he was right.

I thought I knew how to shift a manual transmission until I rented a Ford CL9000 semi truck 30 years ago and drove it on a 400 mile round trip. To make a long story short, I burned the clutch out of it coming back and had to drive it all the way home without a clutch.

I found out, when shifting up gears, you always need to accelerate right before you shift and as you let off the throttle, it will synchronize and "float" out of that gear hit the higher gear in sync.

Shifting down, you always need to bump the throttle to help synchronize the gears and help them "float" together.

I'm sure motorcycles like cars have "synchronizing" rings that help mesh gears together even if you don't help by shifting correctly, but helping them will make things go smoother.

The funny thing about the semi truck, is going up or coming down in gears was not a problem without the clutch unless you missed one or tried to skip a gear, then it was anyone's guess what the proper synchronizing was needed so you almost had to come to a complete stop and start over.

Another funny thing is without a clutch, the only way to stop at a stop light, was you had to accelerate in 1st gear right before you wanted to stop, then pull it into neutral, but under de-acceleration it wouldn't come out of 1st. Then, luckily 1st gear was so low, to take off you just had to jam it into first without the clutch and it would take off immediately.

That was the first and last time I ever drove a semi truck ;-)



PS: I agree, tightening chain tension does also help, I'm not sure if it actually makes the shifting smoother or it creates a more direct drive that reduces the impulse-momentum the slack in the chain can build up. More physics than I want to thing about, but is a link about it: [url=http://www.physicsclassroom.com/calcpad/momentum]http://www.physicsclassroom.com/calcpad/momentum

[kDiqq_imp]

Working on my shifting and tightening the chain has alleviated most of everything. Still makes a loud 'thud' when shifting gears. I guess due to its weight, it's not a small trans.

Still don't like how in finding the left side of the motor louder than the right...

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[Elipten_imp]

On the older BMWs you have to preload before the shift or they are difficult and clunky. My CB1100 shifts smooth and precise.

[the Ferret]

I think my 14 clunks a little louder than my 13 did, especially from first to second. 2 nd to 6 th is pretty much snick snick snick snick. May be my imagination too. The shift from neutral to first on every bike I've ever ridden is very noticeable audibly. Since nothing in the trans is moving or meshing that is to be expected. I can sit at at light and tell when anybody I'm riding with drops their bikes from neutral to 1st by all the clunks. All in all though, the CB 1100 is the smoothest shifting bike I have ever ridden.

[Todd_K_imp]

When I first got my CB750 in 1976, I took it back to the dealer and complained about clunky shifting and he told me I just didn't know how to shift it right....I think for the most part he was right.

I thought I knew how to shift a manual transmission until I rented a Ford CL9000 semi truck 30 years ago and drove it on a 400 mile round trip. To make a long story short, I burned the clutch out of it coming back and had to drive it all the way home without a clutch.

I found out, when shifting up gears, you always need to accelerate right before you shift and as you let off the throttle, it will synchronize and "float" out of that gear hit the higher gear in sync.

Shifting down, you always need to bump the throttle to help synchronize the gears and help them "float" together.

I'm sure motorcycles like cars have "synchronizing" rings that help mesh gears together even if you don't help by shifting correctly, but helping them will make things go smoother.

The funny thing about the semi truck, is going up or coming down in gears was not a problem without the clutch unless you missed one or tried to skip a gear, then it was anyone's guess what the proper synchronizing was needed so you almost had to come to a complete stop and start over.

Another funny thing is without a clutch, the only way to stop at a stop light, was you had to accelerate in 1st gear right before you wanted to stop, then pull it into neutral, but under de-acceleration it wouldn't come out of 1st. Then, luckily 1st gear was so low, to take off you just had to jam it into first without the clutch and it would take off immediately.

That was the first and last time I ever drove a semi truck ;-)



PS: I agree, tightening chain tension does also help, I'm not sure if it actually makes the shifting smoother or it creates a more direct drive that reduces the impulse-momentum the slack in the chain can build up. More physics than I want to thing about, but is a link about it: [url=http://www.physicsclassroom.com/calcpad/momentum]http://www.physicsclassroom.com/calcpad/momentum

Mental note: Chuck Norris doesn't need to double clutch, the threat of force gets the transmission into gear.

On topic: for me, first gear is clunky - at rest and when downshifting a little too early coming to a stop; the others are usually smoove. Shifting into neutral while rolling to a stop will also get me a clunk on occassion - enough to make me think I overshot and hit first by mistake.

[offroadfx4_imp]

Haha....one of my students mentioned Chuck Norris when looking at a 30 year old picture in my room....I was surprised they even knew who Chuck Norris was ;-)