Difficulty finding neutral

[VladTepes]

This morning at the lights...

1-2-1-2-1-2-1-N

Happened like this several times (but not every time).

Anyone got any ideas on what may be causing this?


It's a K7.

[Sweaty]

Not really Mike, but this could be part of the Tap in the arse you received 

I take it the oil has been changed on the regular intervals ?

[VladTepes]

haha I don;t think so.

Yep oil changes regular and it was serviced just before the MCR.

[KiwiCol]

Clutch not disengaging completely?   Ya haven't got shorty levers on have ya?  Been adjusting the position by chance? 

This'll be a good one to diagnose & fix . . .

[gsxbarmy]

Could be worth checking a few things
- is the clutch pushrod sticking?  You may have a build up,of muck and goo from where you've oiled your chain that has built up over the months.
- when was the clutch fluid last changed? Fluid level? Fluid clean or black-ish?
- chain needs adjusting - could be a bit loose (or tight) - or chain may have a tight spot possibly

[KiwiCol]

Different shoes / boots?

Shifting too fast to find neutral?

Oil cold (in Aussie??) n basket sticking? till it warms up

[grog]

IMO, clutch not releasing fully mate. Just bleed it, see how you go, 14 is one of the best ive had for finding neutral.

[seth]

As @gsxbarmy said check the clutch slave cylinder is ok as they get crudded up and can stick making the clutch operation not as smooth as it should be .
Good luck

[Kiwifruit]

Finding neutral is usually pretty easy. Make sure linkages are as they should be. I had to pinch my shift lever up. It had become a bit loose on the spline. Does seem a bit odd.

[Mick_J]

I know it sounds wrong but is the clutch cable pull too tight, I had real issues with my MZ as I could never find neutral 1-2-1-2-1-2-1 but I cured it by turning the lever reach dial down one so it didn't push the clutch in as much and it's cured, can find neutral every time first time.  Just a though.

[seth]

@mjgt
The mighty gsx1400 has a hydraulic clutch no cables involved

[Mick_J]

Your quite right  my mistake but so has my MZ and the span adjuster solved my neutral problem.  Seems it was pushing the clutch push rod too far.

[Notty]

My Kawasaki MeanStreak had a neutral finder which was brilliant - it also had what I thought were faulty indicators as they kept turning them selves off until I read the handbook (who ever reads those?) and they had auto cancel after bike upright for 50 yards _ it was 2 years before I realised Duh 

[gsxbarmy]

I know it sounds wrong but is the clutch cable pull too tight, I had real issues with my MZ as I could never find neutral 1-2-1-2-1-2-1 but I cured it by turning the lever reach dial down one so it didn't push the clutch in as much and it's cured, can find neutral every time first time.  Just a though.

The span adjuster on the standard clutch lever just alters the rake of the clutch lever itself, not how much the clutch actuates - so whilst what you say is true where a cable is involved, given (as Notty and others have said) it's a hydraulic clutch, unlikely to be clutch lever.

Having said that your post prompted me to think of another possibility in that the clutch lever (and the small brass insert) may have dried out and want removing and greasing (if it has dried then the fluid won't actuate the clutch as it would normally, thus not pushing the clutch rod in far enough - which could cause the issue).

@VladTepes - maybe a quick additional check - remove clutch lever and brass insert, re-grease and re-assemble.

[Taniwha]

I thought that was normal.
Does anyone know how to stop finding neutral at 5000rpm and the occasional wandering neutral up between 4th & 5th?