Kawasaki Triples Club

Hi KTC,

I was wondering if there were any obvious indicators of the problem i have with my S3A gear change from first to neutral.

It can be difficult getting it out of first (when the engine is warm) and into neutral. It seems to jam. The bandwidth for neutral is also very precise.

Admittedly, the gear linkage is sloppy due to wear but it is tightened up as much as it can be without new parts.

There is slight movement on the gear change shaft too. The rebuild notes mentioned that the "gear change shaft was very worn around the oil seal".

Not sure if any of these observations point clearly to the issue but one can always hope.

thanks for any expert advice.

Hi , as well as what to have stated in your post it could be clutch drag, meaning the clutch is showing signs of getting close to its wear limits, the best way to test this is, start bike, put into first when engine is warm or go for a little run, then when you have stopped with the bike in first gear try to select neutral, if you can't get neutral hit the kill switch to turn engine off and if she selects neutral easily then I would also question your clutch plates and or clutch springs.

Hope you get sorted, cheers Gary

Sound advice. I'll check this next. Still has the old clutch plates, last used circa 1982.

much appreciated,

many thanks Gary