Hard shifts

[Norm M]

This past winter, I pulled an 81 GS550TX from a ten year storage and got it running agian with the help of this forum. This is the first bike I have actually worked on myself, so I am sure to have many questions. The bike starts and runs fine, but shifts hard into 1st. With the bike running, it will not upshift, nor will it return to nuetral. With the engine stopped, the selector moves with ease through the gears. I have about 1/4" of freeplay at the clutch lever. Am I looking at clutch replacment, or just some adjustment?

[renobruce]

Try tightening up the adjustment just a hair. You should have about 2-3mm of play. It sounds like it's not engaging completely.

[Norm M]

I made the adjustments (I tried more freeplay and then zero play) and found no improvement. How about the cable adjustment at the case?

[Poot]

try at the case


for that, you have to screw in the handlebar locknut + adjuster in completely, and then you can adjust the bolt on the case until there is 2-3mm free play in the clutch lever.

if not done yet, change the oil?