Sometimes not going into 1st gear

[Guest]

Have a 80 550E 11K ,about 50% of the time ,at a light or stop ,after shifting to into neutral it doesn't want to go into 1st. If I roll the bike foward or backwards in neutral it will then shift into 1st.
Is this a "characteristic" of the bike ,do I have a problem if so any "easy" fix.
Thanks
A good Memorial day to all...

[tkent02]

How about if you quickly let the clutch out and in again does it go into first then?

[Geo]

No,as I recall it has no effect.

[Agemax]

check your clutch adjustment and your chain for correct adjustment and lubrication (and the condition of the chain and sprockets)

[Geo]

Adjusted the clutch and lubed the clutch cable. Cleaned ,adj and lubed chain. Yes, I did measure the stretch, well within specification...I should add no problem shifting up or down through the gears.

[Mekanix]

What does it do when shifting down past neutral to 1st while rolling with the clutch in a bit before coming to stop ?

I'm thinking that if your at a stop and then try to shift down that you are clashing one gear with another and preventing it from sliding into place. By moving back and forth your allowing the gears to mesh properly and slide to where they have to go. Sometimes you get lucky and they are in line and there's no problem.

It seems completely normal to me from the description.

[1_v8_merc]

I had a problem like this with my 650, one day I realized there was a seperate drain bolt for the transmission...doh!

[koolaid_kid]

He has a chain drive, same fluid for engine and tranny.
The symptoms reported indicate a clutch cable that is stretching, but you have checked that.
Have you cleaned and serviced the clutch actuation mechanism? That is, the entire worm drive stuff under the sprocket cover?

[hjfisk]

He has a chain drive, same fluid for engine and tranny.
The symptoms reported indicate a clutch cable that is stretching, but you have checked that.
Have you cleaned and serviced the clutch actuation mechanism? That is, the entire worm drive stuff under the sprocket cover?

I am not sure if it has any thing to do with it , but on my 750 ed years ago I changed my oil to a brand that I didn't use before[ Torco] and it would hang in gear dumped the oil and went back to the oil I had always run and no more hanging in gear.