shift problem

[steveyfm350]

hey guys,

within the last couple weeks i have been coming close to crashing multiple times on jumps because while going up to the lip its shifts into neutral. now, first i thought it may just be my foot accidently hitting it. but i have started a habit of taking a glance at my feet right at take off and i am no where near the shifter. i was hitting the jump in 3rd gear and right when i went gas it on the take off it shifts down. any ideas on this?? i checked my shifter and it does have a little play to it but it doesnt seem to be enough to move at will. do you think there should be no play at all and due to the vibrations it may shift itself so to speak?
thanks guys!

Steve

 

[yamarider]

It wouldn't be possible for it to shift itself from 3rd to neutral the way you're thinking it. Sounds more like it's jumping out of gear. I've seen it a few times where the reverse linkage isn't adjusted out enough, and is just on the edge of where it needs to be to engage the gears so when you really lay on the power, like when approaching the jump, it slips out of gear momentarily. That actually happened to mine and once i adjusted the linkage it never happened again.

When it slips out of gear, does it really go into neutral and stay there, neutral light on and everything? Or does it seem like it just jumps out of gear for a moment, then pops back in itself?

 

[steveyfm350]

thanks for your reply. my neutral light doesnt actually work, but i know it slips in because i hit a table top and all i did was rev, not move.
how would i work on the reverse linkage and be able to adjust it? any tips would be great

 

[yamarider]

it's and adjustable linkage like a tie rod. Just loosen the lock nuts, turn the rod to adjust it to the desired length, and then tighten the nuts back up. I can't remember off the top of my head if it needs to be longer or shorter, but if you look at it you should be able to figure it out. It needs to push further into the forward position.