Won't shift into 2nd Z1R
- perrito
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Won't shift into 2nd Z1R
05 Sep 2020 09:30
Hey guys, so i'm tearing into this 1978 Z1RTC D1 and it will shift into first and neutral but not any further. I'll be scouring the forum here for answers but maybe this was common and someone has some insight?? The motor was built by big bore racing and research and the turbo pak is from Blake engineering in 1978
Thanks.
Thanks.
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- KZQ
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Re: Won't shift into 2nd Z1R
05 Sep 2020 11:31 - 05 Sep 2020 11:33
Pretty sure that's Kawasaki's Neutral finder. The trans won't shift into second below a certain RPM. Or is it road speed? I'm not sure which.
Bill
Bill
www.KZ1300.com
Riders:
1968 BSA 441 Shooting Star, 1970 BSA 650 Lightning, 1974 W3, 1976 KZ900, 1979 KZ750 Twin, 1979 KZ750 Twin Trike, 1981 KZ1300, 1982 KZ1100 Spectre, 2000 Valkyrie, 2009 Yamaha Roadliner S. 1983 GL 1100
Projects:
1985 ZN1300
Riders:
1968 BSA 441 Shooting Star, 1970 BSA 650 Lightning, 1974 W3, 1976 KZ900, 1979 KZ750 Twin, 1979 KZ750 Twin Trike, 1981 KZ1300, 1982 KZ1100 Spectre, 2000 Valkyrie, 2009 Yamaha Roadliner S. 1983 GL 1100
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1985 ZN1300
Last edit: 05 Sep 2020 11:33 by KZQ.
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- krazee1
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Re: Won't shift into 2nd Z1R
05 Sep 2020 11:40
There are slots in the transmission shaft, holes in the gear, and ball bearings that provide the neutral finder feature, a bike without this feature can be pretty annoying! Unless the transmission is spinning which throws the balls out of the slots by centrifugal force, the balls will block the gear from sliding into 2nd.
Hope that makes sense! Mike
Hope that makes sense! Mike
Former M.E. at Kawasaki Motors Manufacturing, Lincoln, NE
1966 W1 (the Z1 of 1966-50H.P. and 100mph!)
1974 Z1
1978 KZ1000 LTD
1976 KZ900B pile O parts
1980 KZ750E
1980 Honda XL250S (I know, wrong flavor!)
1966 W1 (the Z1 of 1966-50H.P. and 100mph!)
1974 Z1
1978 KZ1000 LTD
1976 KZ900B pile O parts
1980 KZ750E
1980 Honda XL250S (I know, wrong flavor!)
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- martin_csr
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Re: Won't shift into 2nd Z1R
06 Sep 2020 05:21
On the center stand you should be able to spin the rear wheel by hand to shift up into 2nd, but I think that's as far up as you can shift when the engine is off. With the engine running & spinning the rear wheel, it should shift fine thru all the gears whether you're on the road or the motorcycle is on the center stand.
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- zed1015
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Re: Won't shift into 2nd Z1R
06 Sep 2020 06:02
Once you have spun the wheel and engaged 2nd you will be able to get 3rd, 4th and 5th just by rocking the wheel .
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- 650ed
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Re: Won't shift into 2nd Z1R
06 Sep 2020 06:19
These are the 3 little balls that prevent shifting into higher gears with the rear wheel standing still. Ed
1977 KZ650-C1 Original Owner - Stock (with additional invisible FIAMM horn)
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Re: Won't shift into 2nd Z1R
06 Sep 2020 09:24
Welcome to KZRider
Yes , Very common question
NOW How about some bike pictures !!!!!!!!!
Dave
Yes , Very common question
NOW How about some bike pictures !!!!!!!!!
Dave
Original owner 78 1000 LTD
Mr Turbo Race Kit, MTC 1075 Turbo pistons by PitStop Performance , Falicon Ultra Lite Super Crank, APE everything. Les Holt @ PDM's Billet Goodies . Frame by Chuck Kurzawa @ Logghe Chassis . Deep sump 5qt oil pan. RIP Bill Hahn
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- asphalt900
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Re: Won't shift into 2nd Z1R
06 Sep 2020 10:59
Some photos to help make it make sense. Yes the output shaft has to be spinning to throw the little (3) loose ball bearings out allow the gear to slide.
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- RonKZ650
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Re: Won't shift into 2nd Z1R
07 Sep 2020 21:12
Been asked and answered at least once a week on this forum alone. Hard to believe guys still don't know about this problem, which is not a problem after all these years gone by. I never tried a google search on the subject, but must be 1,000,000 times this has been asked, and the same old answer is given. We need a frequently asked question thread on transmission won't shift to 2nd. Maybe there is, but doesn't matter as no one reads and will ask the same question tomorrow, next week, next year regardless.
Sorry, but this question is so old and asked so often it is beyond rediculous.
Sorry, but this question is so old and asked so often it is beyond rediculous.
321,000 miles on KZ's that I can remember. Not going to see any more.
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- krazee1
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Re: Won't shift into 2nd Z1R
07 Sep 2020 23:18
Sorry, but some people find miss-spelling annoying when there is spell check. (rediculous) :laugh: :laugh: Maybe he didn't understand the search feature yet.
Mike
Mike
Former M.E. at Kawasaki Motors Manufacturing, Lincoln, NE
1966 W1 (the Z1 of 1966-50H.P. and 100mph!)
1974 Z1
1978 KZ1000 LTD
1976 KZ900B pile O parts
1980 KZ750E
1980 Honda XL250S (I know, wrong flavor!)
1966 W1 (the Z1 of 1966-50H.P. and 100mph!)
1974 Z1
1978 KZ1000 LTD
1976 KZ900B pile O parts
1980 KZ750E
1980 Honda XL250S (I know, wrong flavor!)
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- 650ed
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Re: Won't shift into 2nd Z1R
08 Sep 2020 06:33 - 08 Sep 2020 06:35RonKZ650 wrote: Been asked and answered at least once a week on this forum alone. Hard to believe guys still don't know about this problem, which is not a problem after all these years gone by. I never tried a google search on the subject, but must be 1,000,000 times this has been asked, and the same old answer is given. We need a frequently asked question thread on transmission won't shift to 2nd. Maybe there is, but doesn't matter as no one reads and will ask the same question tomorrow, next week, next year regardless. Sorry, but this question is so old and asked so often it is beyond ridiculous.
In fact, the neutral locator 3-ball device is even described in the Kawasaki Service Manual, but for some reason folks either don't read the manual or don't understand it. Ed
1977 KZ650-C1 Original Owner - Stock (with additional invisible FIAMM horn)
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Last edit: 08 Sep 2020 06:35 by 650ed.
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- SWest
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Re: Won't shift into 2nd Z1R
08 Sep 2020 08:44
It's caught me a few times. That uneasy feeling putting it together and trusting it will work.
Then getting it on the road, banging it into third and IT WORKS. :woohoo:
I don't mind the question from newbies. :whistle:
Steve

I don't mind the question from newbies. :whistle:
Steve
Z1b1000 1975 Z1b
kzrider.com/forum/11-projects/598262-kz-...-will-it-live#672882
kzrider.com/forum/2-engine/597654-poser?start=240#704229
kzrider.com/forum/11-projects/598262-kz-...-will-it-live#672882
kzrider.com/forum/2-engine/597654-poser?start=240#704229
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