Difficult Finding Neutral

[MasterGuns]

I am really tired of bleeding my clutch and besides I don't think this is my problem anymore. Ever since the Barnett clutch, I have a really hard time finding neutral. If in first, I seem to pass through neutral and end up in second. If in second, I seem to always go right past neutral straight into first. The lever seems really difficult to move as well. This is the case when the motor/tranny is hot. If cold works like new. I have bled the clutch fluid several times and am confident there is no air nor old fluid left. There are no leaks at all, everything is dry. What else could be wrong? Could it be the Amsoil synthetic? Need some advise.

[buddy]

I know when its time to change the oil out on the 83. It will get real hard to shift between gears and neutral is hard to find. Once the oil is changed old 83 shifts fine untill the next oil change. May not be your problem but I hope it helps.

I find that 20w50 works longer in the Beast for Summer time.

[fixit3546]

I know when its time to change the oil out on the 83. It will get real hard to shift between gears and neutral is hard to find. Once the oil is changed old 83 shifts fine untill the next oil change. May not be your problem but I hope it helps.

I find that 20w50 works longer in the Beast for Summer time.

 

same here...

[KingSizer]

I know when its time to change the oil out on the 83. It will get real hard to shift between gears and neutral is hard to find. Once the oil is changed old 83 shifts fine untill the next oil change. May not be your problem but I hope it helps.

I find that 20w50 works longer in the Beast for Summer time.

 

 

What he said.

[SilvrT]

My '87 has a barnett clutch too...it was in it when I bought it. I had the same problems with exact same symptoms (easy when cold, etc). It's not quite as bad now but I rarely ever use neutral except when I shut it off and need to roll it or when I'm starting up. It's easy then coz I just apply a bit of pressure on the shifter and rock the bike a bit (without the engine running).

[timk]

A trick I used on my 86 was when in 1st gear, let the clutch out till you hear the RPM's drop, pull lever in while pressure is on the shift lever. Works every time.

[Guest Bigin]

It is difficult, for me at least, to understand how difficult finding neutral is for you, but I can offer that on both my 89 and 91, both of which are the factory clutch setup, one with all new plates and spring, the other with well worn plates and a doubled up spring because it started to slip before the plates were worn enough to discard, are not the easiest bikes to find neutral on that I have owned.

 

Seems easier when cold also, at times but not always.

 

Servicing the clutches, and master has not improved the problem.

 

I know this doesnt help much but sometimes a performace comparison can be insightful.

 

Probably the most insightful, and somewhat hilarious, thing I have discovered about this issue, is that my latest riding boots, with a different design and all the added foot protection causes more missed neutrals and generally poorer shifting than my last pair of boots did!

 

if I really wanted a slick shifting transmission, all I have to do is go back to riding with tennis shoes, or maybe even barefoot, no parts or mechanics required!

[MasterGuns]

Thanks gentlemen for the suggestions. I will try to modify my riding habits as SilverT and Timk advised. But, I think I may also drain the $50.00 oil and replace it with 20/50 Rotella T as has also been advised on this site. But I will drain the Amsoil into something clean for reuse. Heck, it has less than 100 miles on it. Don't suppose I could have a problem with the clutch slave cylinder? Read somewhere a similiar problem was caused by a bad slave. But wouldn't it be leaking or otherwise show some sign of severe wear. Hell, the bike is just approaching 40k. Any thoughts?

[autopilot]

Don't suppose I could have a problem with the clutch slave cylinder? Read somewhere a similiar problem was caused by a bad slave. But wouldn't it be leaking or otherwise show some sign of severe wear. Hell, the bike is just approaching 40k. Any thoughts?

 

 

Compare it to a auto brake master cylinder. It's possible that you can have internal bypassing happening which would require replacement. But, I would reserve that for a last stab (unless a long time, imminently knowledgable venture pilot recommends it) Short answer is no you wouldn't necessarily have external leaking.

 

My 2 cents.

[buddy]

Now that I remeber my buddy Randall changed out his clutch system on his Virgo and had all sorts of trouble shifting gears what he found out later was when he used form-a-gasket instead of the gasket it put the clutch in a bind. Once he installed the gasket his probelms went away.