shift linkage sticking on upshifts??

[jmorton10]

I have a Baker DD7 in my 07 RK (that I put in when I ripped six teeth off the 3rd gear in the stock 6 speed) with a Pingel air shifter that has always shifted as smooth as any bike I have ever ridden.  I have the Pingel greasable shift arm & a shift rod with stainless heim joints. I am running a Bandit Sportsman clutch with one shim under the silver springs.  I can drop it into neutral at a dead stop any time I want.

The other day I was just riding along taking it easy when it started to stick slightly on upshifts from 3rd to 4th gear.  By stick I mean it would shift into gear no problem but then the shift lever would stick ever so slightly so it wouldn't snap back enough to shift up again.  If I just tap it ever so slightly with my toe it snaps up & is ready to go again.

It always down shifts perfectly, it only does this on upshifts & doesn't do it every time.  It's no big deal really as I can basically shift & tap it all in one motion but it's never done this before.  I ran it through the gears with the air shifter & that worked fine 3 times in a row. I thought maybe the Pingel cylinder was causing the problem, but disconnecting it made no difference.  I have Redline HD SHockproof in it which I will be changing this week.  Whether that will make any difference at all, I have no idea.

I had this problem once before on a different bike, but I can't remember how I fixed it LOL.

Anybody know what's going on here??

~John

[les]

Using the eccentric screw provided by the Baker kit, was the shifter pawl centered on the shift drum spokes?

[Hossamania]

Check for binding, bent linkage, loose shift lever on the transmission splines. New bushings for the shifter shaft running thru the inner primary.

[jmorton10]

Using the eccentric screw provided by the Baker kit, was the shifter pawl centered on the shift drum spokes?

Mine doesn't have a shifter pawl adjustment & this problem just started, it worked fine for the last two years.

~John

[jmorton10]

Check for binding, bent linkage, loose shift lever on the transmission splines. New bushings for the shifter shaft running thru the inner primary.

I've pretty much checked all that. Nothing is bent or binding & it all snaps back fine when it's not running. 

The shifter shaft bushings are constantly greased from the zirk fitting on the Pingel shaft.

~John

[ecir50]

I would pull it apart and inspect drum and forks.

[jmorton10]

I'm going to put a better lever on it just to see if it changes anything.

It may not make any difference at all, but I've always thought they where a good idea so I will use it either way.

~John

[les]

Do you have a stock rod that goes between both levers?  I was reading the other day here on HTT about the ball joints wallowing out on those.  I checked mine and found it to be loose, so I ran to the dealership and bought a new one.

[jmorton10]

Do you have a stock rod that goes between both levers? 

No, I have a straight round stainless rod that I made with stainless aircraft quality heim joints at both ends. I lube them probably once a week to keep my air shifter working correctly..

I haven't used a stock rod in years for exactly the reasons you stated.

~John

[Hossamania]

You might want to pull that Pingel shift rod out and take a look at it, just for shits and giggles. Could be a build up of grease or crud, or who knows what you might find. Beats going into the tranny.

[jmorton10]

I had the Pingel shaft out recently, it looked brand new.

I will add the better lever & then just do what I always do, beat the crap out of it until it breaks -then fix it LOL

~John 

[Hossamania]

then just do what I always do, beat the crap out of it until it breaks -then fix it LOL

~John

It's like we're riding side by side!

[jmorton10]

LOL hoss, my wife once accused me of breaking my bike on purpose to give me an excuse to make it faster. I have no idea what she was talking about......

~John

[les]

Sorry for throwing out wild guesses that even as I type I don't think it's the problem, but a while ago I gutted a Softail tranny to replace a shifter pawl spring that broke.  Usage over the years pawl cut through it.  (This before I bought the JIMS tool to replace the pawl sleeve without gutting the tranny.)  The symptom was that the lever just flopped around.

Could there be a problem with the pawl spring, maybe worn out?

[jmorton10]

I guess it could be les, but it's not old enough to be worn out.

~John

[skunk]

John,
Kinda having almost the same issue here, DD7, about 10k miles tied to a 08 RG with a 117. Only happens to my when lightly cruising along, mainly upshifting into 2nd and 3rd. It might just be me being light/lazy on the shifter (heal, toe set up) not rotating the shift drum fully to the next detent, but the dogs pulling it fully into the next gear? Shifter comes back to center but I have to kick it with my heal before it will grab the drum again. Second season on the trans and I don't remember having an issue the first year. Running ShockProof Heavy in it. If I am "leaning" on it I must be a little more aggressive on the shifter as I don't have shifting issues. Rear peg is not hitting on the board. For S&G's I gave Baker a call and they couldn't remember having an issue like this before. Yep, for now it seams like I will be going with the beat on it till I find the weak link and upgrade. Maybe ride 3 wide with you and Hoss
If you find out what is going on, let us know

[pwmorris]

Have Baker replace the whole trans....see what they say (I am interested in their response).
or,
Time for the real deal. R&D. You don't have enough HP, foot strength banging or any other means to stop it...
Regular proven 500 HP plus use and it asks for more. I beat the hell out of mine (6K Pingel shifts) with only 170-, and it just looks at me and says...."that all ya got?"
Time for the Brown Truck to visit you....

[Rockout Rocker Products]

Not sure what's going on at Baker these days but three requests for an RMA number to return my DD7 have been ignored.

[hattitude]

Not sure what's going on at Baker these days but three requests for an RMA number to return my DD7 have been ignored.

This is all second/third hand info... but....

I read on another forum that Baker was recently bought out... not sure if it's true...

The same thread had several people posting complaints about Baker not responding to requests about pending orders, and not being able to get a transmission. Some said their transmissions are on back order for like 60 days minimum....

Someone else said that "Mark", who used to reply for Baker on that forum, had parted ways with the company. They apparently didn't give the job of answering forum questions to anyone else, because no one has stepped up to defend Baker for their lack of response to customers or the inability to get a transmission...

Again, all second hand info....FWIW

[rigidthumper]

I think the crew has been in Sturgis, since the 18th? They're sponsoring a drag race Wednesday.

[jmorton10]

I called Baker on Thursday & talked to a tech (didn't catch the name).

I talked to him, explained the problem & we  talked briefly.  He stopped me at one point & said he "needed to check on a few thing" & he would call me back (he has my cell #)

I am still waiting for him to call me back.

~John

[jmorton10]

Yep, for now it seams like I will be going with the beat on it till I find the weak link and upgrade. Maybe ride 3 wide with you and Hoss

HaHa, that's a plan bro.  Should we take bets on who can break their bike first??

Not really fair though, I would win that bet everytime LOL (just ask my Wife)

~John

[FSG]

This is all second/third hand info...

that's the best kind to have, it gets the forums buzzing   

[skunk]

Yep, for now it seams like I will be going with the beat on it till I find the weak link and upgrade. Maybe ride 3 wide with you and Hoss

HaHa, that's a plan bro.  Should we take bets on who can break their bike first??

Not really fair though, I would win that bet everytime LOL (just ask my Wife)

~John

Once was told "God hates a coward" guess he loves me than,lol. You might have to handicap me slightly, IIRC you are running a 124? against my lil ol 117. Kinda like taking a 38 to a 45 gunfight. However I do drag a Bushtech trailer so maybe that shortens the handicap? Like the song goes " I'll take your bet, your gonna regret" , and so on. LOL.
  When you hear back from Baker, and I'm sure you will, Please share what they have to say.

[Hossamania]

Sounds like my poor little tired 95" is going to take a beating. I'm in!