Gearbox problem - only got 1st and 2nd

[ajd]

Bike ran perfectly last week on 40 mile round trip commute. Washed and cleaned salt out of brake calipers over weekend, all shiny...this morning cannot get it in to 3rd gear. It'll go in and out of neutral, 1st and 2nd happily, but no more.

Can anyone suggest where I start looking to sort this one? Thanks...

This is a particular hassle 'cos I wrote off the car in the good Scottish snow 3 weeks ago...

 

[ianboydsnr]

try cleaning the gear linkage ball joints, maybe its not moving enough.

 

[elevensies]

+1 thats where i would start, also look for wear on the joint too.


happy shifting

 

[illustratedman]

Gears

Mine did similar the other week except would only do 4,5,6th after a good clean. Linkage was seized up not returning after changing down, good old squirt of acf50 over said linkage and a few wiggles (of the gear shift) problem solved.

 

[ajd]

Gentlemen all -

your collective wisdom has saved my bacon. Problem now fixed - was actually the gear lever pivot which had become so stiff with accumulated crud that it wasn't returning to its normal position. took it all apart and cleaned it up, works fine now.

I was certain it was a dead gearbox...James Sherlock had said that 3rd gear is generally the first big fault on these boxes...I was resigned to paying £400 for a 2nd hand one.

Thanks to all!