Sorta Off Topic but still MC related.

[Marc Albea]

My wife has an '03 Yamaha VStar that has developed some shifting problems.

Cold, no problems at all.  At speed no problems.  Machine is hot and have come to a complete stop bike refuses to shift to neutral.

Went out to the various VStar message boards but it seems that there aren't really any technical posts of any consequence out there.

Sorry to waste a slot on non-Magna issue.  

Like the Magna it's got a wet tranny but the clutch is not hydraulic unless I'm missing a Master Cylinder somewhere.  It's certainly not on the handlebar like the brake cylinder is.

I'm starting to think it might be oil related.  Haven't figured out how to change the oil on the silly thing yet.  Oil filter is in-line and I've heard you have to remove the whole exhaust assembly to get to it.  Other issue is getting to the drain plug.  No center stand of course and it sits low enough to the ground that even blocking up the side stand doesn't get you clear enough access to the drain plug.  Really bad design or else Yamaha really wants you to spend 200 dollars in labor or so for an oil change, which I refuse to do.  

Anyone got a lift for their 3rd gen Magna they want to let me borrow for a weekend?  

Thanks!

Marc.

[Charles S Otwell]

Marc there is a mechanic in Redwater that rides and works on his on Yamahas I'll pick his brain to see if he has any useful info.




Charles
#279

[Marc Albea]

Thanks Charles!  Any advice appreciated.

MArc.

[roboto65]

Marc I used to have a Vstar and I hope we are talking about a 650 before I got a magna anyhow with the stock exh you have to just drop it a bit and yes you are right about the clearance I used a paint roller pan to drain the oil in it will get  full but it will slide underneath and as far as the oil filter I had Hard khrome exh on my bike and could change the filter without having to drop the exh and oh what a sound best exh for that bike IMHO !!!!!  Anyhow If you have any ??? let me know  and yes It does sound like an oil problem with the shifting

[Greg Cothern]

Marc sounds like the clutch is dragging a bit, could be oil related.  Regular automotive oil seems to exagerate this sligthly.  Synthetic goes the other way.
Sounds like to me that if it were me I would put synthetic in it and get the max out of mileage before having to wrestle with it on oil changes.  Some extend their oil/filter changes to 7-8K mileage range with synthetic.
Sounds like Roboto65 has ya covered on the how too as well.

[Marc Albea]

Thanks for the tips and yes it's a 650.  She loves it cause it's got enough power for her plus she can flatfoot it at a stop.  This weekend I'm going to make the attempt to change out the oil as well as the filter assuming the filter arrives in time.  Guess I'd better actually order it huh.

I "was" planning on using the same motor oil I use in Big Bird.  Shell's Rotella T 10W40.  I may just go ahead and try that and see how it works out before spending the cash on full synthetic.

[Grumpy]

If it's doing fine cold, but won't find neutral hot, you MAY have a case of warped pressure plates in the clutch pack. In some cases, heat causes a slight increase in the warpage requiring greater "throw" on the release mechaqnism to disengage the transmission from the engine. In this case, changing to a slicker oil (as in a synthetic) could help until the clutch wears further. Or have you checked the lever freeplay... the clutch may simply be out of adjustment.  The freeplay at the end of the clutch lever should not probably exceed 1/4".  You have to have just barely enough freeplay so the clutch release bearing is not always pressed against the pressure springs. Try adjusting the clutch.  Another possibiity may be a braided clutch cable may be in pre-failure mode with some braids broken which allows the cable to stretch when you pull the clutch lever which will prevent the clutch, in some cases, from releasing completely.  A transmission not fully disengaged from the engine will always resist finding neutral.
JR         Die alte

[Marc Albea]

Since I changed out the oil I've had no problems whatsoever, hot or cold.  I'm told by 650 afficianados that the 650 is notorious for a long travelling clutch mechanism, so much so that there is someone out there that sells a mod to shorten the clutch travel so the clutch lever doesn't have to be almost out all the way before the clutch engages.  12 bucks, I'm told it works well and I've ordered it but haven't seen it yet.

Marc.