86 VFR750 runs well and shifts well EXCEPT 3rd/4th gears

Hi All,

I bought an 86 project bike, and love riding it although it looks like a POS right now. It seems to have been laid over at low / no speed. When I got it, the fairings had been caulked up with about a case of clear silicone (!) which indeed kept things more or less together. The front/lower and rear seat fairings are currently removed so it's quite nekked.

I ride it almost daily, and it shifts fine from 1-N-2 then in 3rd it gives a little grind (very short) then, if I leave it there in 3rd it acts like neutral. Same with 4th except there is not usually any noise. If I continue, it shifts just fine into 5-6. If I just keep shifting past 3 and 4th, it works just fine. But annoying. Same result at all speeds.

The fellow I bought it from said he thought is was a bent shifter fork. Yet I don;t know where he got this information.

I have an 86 donor motor (already donated a starter clutch) at the ready, and I am a fairly handy guy so I hope to fix this myself.

Anyone have any suggestions?

Also, I have searched for videos on servicing / repairing the geartrain but to no avail.

Any help would be appreciated. If there is someone near Newark / Fremont, CA who cares to come take a look and point me in the right direction, I am happy to reciprocate with pizza and your beverage of choice!

 

That does not sound promising, sounds like the shift forks are damaged and the related gears will be toast as well. Gen 2 transmission repairs are really not that bad but you will need to get the engine oot and on the bench(4 beer job if focused), cleaning and disassembly of the engine is fairly straight forward after the stator is removed (6 ish beers) and then I really recommend swapping the entire transmission set, not only for ease but mixing parts that are worn can have its pit falls and inspect the tips of the shift forks for wear as well as the dogs and guides, long way to go to be installing worn oot parts (3 beers). Reassemble and slap it back together (6 beers if focused) and ride.With a service manual you should have no problems, pretty simple job really, sounds way worse than it really is.

 

i agree with toe cutter but i have to say after consuming a full 12 pack + i dont suggest riding right away if you value whats left of the intact plastics. drink and ride only when having checked for cops prier to riding , and if you dont make sure some one is videoing we want to see what happens :bootyshake:

 

Thanks! Much appreciated! Is it possible to do this without removing the engine?

 

Not a snowballs chance in hell.

 

Ah, I see it now. Split right down the middle. Downloaded a shop manual and OMG this looks like a big job and more than a little scary!

 

You can dooooo eeeeeeeeiiiiiit!!

 

What Dukie said

Just get a case of beer and a Cresent wrench , duct tape, and a BFH (AKA VFRW torque wrench). You will be done before you know it. :eagerness:

 

and after your done you can give me the remains i think a 750 upgrade would be nice for my 700

 

Not worth the effort.

 

allways worth more having more cc and i would rebuild it before i install it :chaingun: but good luck with the trans repair

 

I am with Toe on the trans. It happened to me.

@ flash50080 Be sure you can find some rod, crank and main bearings available because an extensive search in the past produced no results. Drastically limits the possibility of a complete rebuild on the gen 2

 

^^ Agreed, Fred: not without replacing bearing shells is it a proper rebuild, maybe a new oil pump too if the mileage is high.