Shift selector won't change gears

My bike is a 81 maxim 550. Took apart clutch. Thanx Bigfitz52 for the instructions. Removed hub and all. Noticed selector wasn't making contact with gear. Was able to pop back in but as I would shift it would pop out. Spring appears to have good tension and the whole rod is straight as an arrow. Right now it will shift into nuetral then up to 4th. Can't get into 1st or fifth. I tested this with all asembled, full of fresh oil, on bike stand with clutch pressed in and simply shifting up and down. Now is that fork looking piece that won't stay in place bent? or is it the spring? I was on the road when I first discovered this and kept going up and down till I finally got it working. Please someone help!!

 

What part are you "popping back in" that "popped out?"

The shift shaft is attached to a "mousetrappy" thing that engages pegs on the shifter drum. What keeps coming out of place?

 

the mouse trap that engages the the shifter drum. It looks like a kinda backwards C and won't stay in the shifter drum.

 

It shouldn't be able to move laterally enough to come disengaged.

-Do you have a manual?

-You may have a broken or missing clip (or spring?) you need to look carefully at the mechanism or at a diagram.

-Is the screw that holds the shift drum to the shaft secure? (The screw in the center of the drum.)

 

This part won't engauge. It seems like it wants to stay away from drum. Drum has no free play.

 

All parts are there accordding to diagram

 

can you find where the play is. the shaft, joint, or ???

 

See thats just it there is no play. It\'s a real tight fit. When i had it apart I had to push hard to get it into place. What I'm thinking is I will have to bend it slightly toward engine so it will want to stay in place. I first thought it was the spring but that isnt it. the lever probably just needs like a degree or 2 bend towards the engine.

 

If you are shifting with the bike standing that could be your problem, I know my bike only likes to shift when It is moving

 

That shaft crosses over from behind the clutch to the left side of the bike. One missing clip or washer or spacer, on EITHER SIDE could allow the shaft to move laterally enough to become disengaged.

I think you need to pull the sprocket cover on the left (the shift shaft comes through it) and be sure all of THOSE parts are there as well. If you can "put it back in place" and have it work for a while before it "pops out" then it's moving more that it should, and for a reason.

I'm leery of "bending" as a solution, there's no logical way for it to have become "bent" to begin with. I think you're missing a clip or washer.

 

Like Bigfitz says, don't bend anything. I replaced a spring in my shifter and had a similar issue. Eventually and after watching what was happening I found that there a spacer out of sequence. You have the diagram, make sure it is assembled correctly, put it together in stages and ensure that each step is correct. A manual describes it in detail.

 

I'll take all your advice. I'm going to attack it full on tomorrow wish me luck. Oh and bigfitz i followed your procedure for the clutch. When I removed the plates they were aligned to the DOT But I aligned them as you instructed. Was the previous repair wrong or am I or is it not important.

 

If the tabs were ALL pointed at the dot the previous repair was very wrong. It IS important, that's one of the reasons I did the article, as it's not really clear in either service manual (factory or Clymer.)

If you "staggered" the tabs as per my article it is now correct.

 

Sweet Thanks Big fitz. It did seem to run smoother. now for the shifter mousetrap problem. heading out to attack it.

 

Fixed it!!! It was the torsion spring on the stop selector. It wasn't in the right spot as it was catching on the hole below and pushing back on everything. I fixed it and I want to thank all of you for your help.