Went out for a ride today, about 10 minutes in, I couldn't down shift while driving. At first, when I stopped it would down shift. Another 5 miles heading back home, I lost any ability to down shift. Any ideas on how the fixed the problem?
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1971 R75
The last time this happened to me the bolt holding the shift lever in place had simply come loose.
🙂
Owning an old Airhead is easy.
Keeping an old Airhead running great is the true test.
This is a classic sign of needing the transmission input splines lubed. I experienced balky downshifting on my R75/5 a few years back and the spline lube cured it. Be sure to check the bolt on the shift lever first, that being easy to do. However, the nub for the shift mechanism on a 4 speed transmission has splines (not un-like the input shaft) and the lever is matched on the inside diameter, the bolt on the shifter simply pinches the parts together. If your bike has a later 5 speed ( not un-heard of on a /5 ), then the likelihood of the bolt being loose is more pertinent .
former Airmarshal, IL.
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