Transmission locked in neutral

[DougD]

Amigos.... Why would my transmission lock in neutral? Bike has been sitting for over a year as I rebuild this and fix that. One unverified possibly is that someone (a kid who will not be named) may have sat on the bike and shifted it, but the transmission has experienced no trauma and was clutching and shifting perfectly when parked. I have searched the Forum and have seen the related thread, but my questions are: 1) how could this happen, 2) is there an easy fix, or do I have to dive into the clutch? There is *no* play in the shift lever, quoting – it’s as if the shaft was welded to the case. (1978 GS 550)

As always, insight appreciated.

[azr]

ok, first thing, enlarge your font..my old eyes could barely read it and I'm one of the 'young' guys on this site. Have taken the bike off it's stand and rolled it ahead to try and engage it? lots of times it take rolling the bike to engage it into or out of gear.

[DougD]

Thanks - will try forthwith. Sorry about the font size. Cut and pasted.

[DougD]

No joy! As noted the lever feels like it's welded to the case; no movement at all. Rolling the bike doesn't help. So... why would this happen, and what are my next steps?

[tom203]

So it's stuck in neutral???? If so, put on centerstand, activate starter (jump starter solenoid if need be) to get engine/trans spinning briefly. does your kickstarter lever feel normal?

[DougD]

Bike starts and runs fine - yes, it's stuck in neutral. I'll check on the kickstarter and get back.

[Agemax]

it sounds like you need to pull the clutch cover and check the quadrant section on the end of the shifter shaft, just in behind the clutch, it may be dislodged from its correct position, or the spring has jammed or broken

[DougD]

This probem has been resolved. Thanks for all input.

[chef1366]

This probem has been resolved. Thanks for all input.

Help someone in the future
How was it resolved?

[UncleMike]

This probem has been resolved. Thanks for all input.

Great! What did it end up being?

[JEEPRUSTY]

My god I read through a whole thread for the first time and I get no happy ending.

[earlfor]

Probably no more than a corroded and frozen clutch cable.