1st and Neutral Only

I posted my bike up for sale, but have had no takers, offers, even a nibble. What the hell, if it's only worth $500 in the shape it's in, if that, maybe it's worth more for what it'll teach me about bike guts, right?

So now I've taken the side panel off the bike, removed the gear shifter and the link it's connected to, and now? I feel like Alice down the rabbit hole. Whoa what an amateur, it's tough in here, guys! Question is, do I go down the left or the right side??

Yikes!

Ah well, still having fun, and still crazy...

 

you need to get something soft to lay the bike over onto the right side, make sure you don't a have a full tank of gas.
where you took off the gear shift, unbolt the whole side case & follow chacal instructions.
good luck & get help laying it over.

 

Bike was gently laid over on it's side, using a lever, oh I'm so clever! It's resting neatly at a gentle angle, and not moving. I've removed the cover but there are two diretions to head in. I can dig deeper to the left or to the right. Behind door number one is the shift cam assembly. Behind door number two is shift fork 1 2 and 3. I'm going to look behind door number 2 now. Wish me luck!

 

should find the knob on the drum

 

And the verdict is...it is hard to explain but it really is exactly as described, except for the mitigating factor that the drum, or most of it, is behind the bearing, and behind the wall of the main compartment. There is NO access to this area except through myriad holes that the oil flows through. They are about 3/4" in diameter and difficult to access.

My particular piece of junk (pics of which I hope to post shortly) is about 1/2" x 1/2" x 1/2" Once I got it loose (I was able to move the drum a bit by clutching in and turning the necessary piece) I was able to extract the offending detritus using forceps. They worked brilliantly. I lost a very small washer in the process, unfortunately, I don't know where, I'm hoping not inside the bike.

What else? Ah yeah, bikes lying on their sides often get oil fouled sparks (apparently). Change the right ones once you right the bike. Change the left ones too, just for fun.

I haven't managed to turn it over yet, and unfortunately, at last check the gears are still not shifting properly, but they are much better.

This bike is STILL for sale, STILL at $500 obo.

 

Wizard, thanks for your patient guidance, it's appreciated especially in times of frustration, not a problem for me today thank God. Go from the VERY BOTTOM and it's nowhere but UP.

 

I had the same problem on the first maxim i got. Unfortunately, as you mentioned, there is no real good way to get to the shift drum from the side covers. I ended up flipping the bike all the way upside-down (take you mirrors off - it will rest on the handlebars and the grab-rail on the back). If you remove the oil pan you will be able to see all the gears and the shift drum. I had A LOT of large aluminum and rubber/plastic particulate in mine preventing it from shifting past neutral.

 

Did you get it running/shifting again?

I did manage to pull the chunk out through a small hole, and it wound up shifting fine while it lay on it's side, but once standing upright, not so much.

Could have something to do with pin realignment on the shifter.

 

Well, I haven't gotten it running again, the motor is in a hundred pieces now. I did however get it to shift through all the gears after i removed all the chunks of whatever that was in there. Said chunks turned out to be the bottom of the aft timing chain tensioner guide thing.

 

What if you drained the oil and removed the oil pan?
Could you get to the junk from underneath with the bike on its center stand?

 

Getting in there to remove the fragments preventing the gear exchange IS best done after preparing the bike to be inverted and having a TEAM of helpers assist you in turning the Bike upside-down.

Two indespencible tools for the job are a Flashlight with new batteries and a
Vacuum Bottle.

The Vacuum Bottle is a BIG time saver. You get to hook it up to your Shop Vac and HUNT for any fragments in pools of Oil. The Bottle hook-up keeps the Oil from getting into the Shop Vac.

Make an UNBREAKABLE Vac Bottle. Some hose, a plastic jar, two holed and some hot glue.

 

Thanks everyone for your help. I had someone purchase this bike today. It's been fun, and I'm sure you'll see him here shortly!

You guys have been great help.