Needing tramsmission info

[Karl C.]

I have a 1984 v65 sabre as well as my 1983 venture. My Sabre runs good but here is the problem: when it is cold it shifts just fine after I ride it and get it warmed up good it gets hard to shift. I also notice that even when I am stopped and go from neutral to 1st it, to me, has a pretty good "clunk". I am used to hearing a little something but this just seems harder than normal.

 

I realize that this is a honda issue and this is a yamaha venture forum but most of the people here seem nicer than most forums elsewhere so please forgive me on this one...

 

I would appreciate any feedback though.

 

On a better note my venture is coming along, getting ready to put fork seals in and redo some wiring.

[Freebird]

I hate to state the obvious but have you changed the oil recently? Dirty oil can indeed cause hard shifting. I'm sure you keep it pretty clean but just thought I would mention it.

[Karl C.]

well freebird i have to agree with you and I did just that , changed the oil. I used 15w40 rotella t and it is a little better but not much. I am wondering if going to a syn 10w40 might be worth the try. I also thought I might check the linkage but still am not sure how that could play a part in hot vs. cold.

[utadventure]

I'm presuming that the clutch is cable driven. Cold could be cause things to contract (springs, etc) so that there isn't as much travel when the clutch is pulled in. It may be worthwhile to check and adjust the clutch cable while the system is cold.

 

Dave

[remmertb]

The V65s were prone to tranny problems (2nd gear), but all the magnas had really klunky transmissions. I had an 87 supermagna, and it was always like that. My brother had a couple V65s and they had trans problems. I'd try Castrol GTX 20W50, I've run it in everything from ATV's to Harleys (and Venture and Vmax) and it's always performed well, no slipping and shifts good.

[Karl C.]

I'm presuming that the clutch is cable driven. Cold could be cause things to contract (springs, etc) so that there isn't as much travel when the clutch is pulled in. It may be worthwhile to check and adjust the clutch cable while the system is cold.

 

Dave

 

 

the clutch on the v65 sabre is hydraulic. and I am wondering if air inthe clutch can have anything to do with this problem... I honesty feel it is on the tranny but I dont have enough experience to say either way. the last sabre i had ran so smooth, no problems with anything except that you were always going faster, much faster than how it felt..

[Karl C.]

See I just bought this sabre and the old oil came out about as thin as water, dirty also. I am wondering if I would hurt anything by flushing the system then putting a good synthetic oil in it. I am aware that at that point if there is a leak in a gasket and plugged with gunk it will start leaking but I gotta try something..

[Squeeze]

I wouldn't risk putting synthetic Oil in it, maybe you're calling in more Problems with the synt. Oil. Sometimes a Engine starts to leaking here and there and everywhere.

 

I'd give the System a good Flush and use a good Brand mineral Oil to start with. We use Motul 3000 on the Vmaxxes if there's a Problem with clunky Shifting. Helps most of the Time.

 

Of, Course, if the hydraulic Clutch has Air in the System, it won't help in smooth shifting. But bleeding the Clutch shouldn't be much of a Problem.

[Karl C.]

When I first changed my oil and filter I expected a change right off the bat... it didnt. but it did change eventually... after about 100 miles of riding it shifts much nicer now but I think I am going to go ahead and change the oil again sooner than later and see what kind of crap i can find in it. I have always heard that rotella cleans very good anyway and I guess it needs to for being an oil that started out for diesels.