combat wombat shifting into neutral from 3rd to 4th

[mthomas]

Does anyone know what might cause a combat wombat to shift into neutral from 3rd to 4th? It will down shift into 4th from 5th gear, but most times on the up shift from 3rd to 4th jumps into neutral. Very frustrating. Got any advice?
Thanks, Marty

[hodakamax]

Shifter problems are usually caused by wear of the components. It used to work, now small glitches are occurring. One of the main causes can be the collapse of the shifter springs on the control shaft. Another could be sloppiness in the case shifter parts. Shims, bushings and springs are all available to get things back to spec. Replacing the springs requires a special tool that makes the process much easier.

You may be able to adjust the shifter arm in or out and cure it. The Forum gang can work you through it. I'd try adjustment first but at least consider that it may be time to replace the shifter springs.

Hope this helps!

Max

PS--there has been some posts on how the adjustment is done on the Forum already if you (or we) can find them.

[bobwhitman]

This is one of the classic signs of improper adjustment. Work on adjusting the shift case properly and the problem should go away. The Wombat shop manual is the bible on this, but there may be old chat discussions as well.
Bob

[Bullfrog]

Unfortunately, that symptom is also a classic symptom for something being worn too much . . . or a partially collapsed control shaft spring.

Step one in the diagnostics? Break out the Official Hodaka Workshop Manual and adjust the shifter mechanism. If all your efforts at adjusting do not result in proper shifting, you have positive indication that something is worn too much or a control shaft spring is partially collapsed. No amount of adjusting can "make up for" an excessively worn shifter mechanism or collapsed control shaft spring.

The first place to look for excessive wear in the shifter mechanism? Check for sloppiness of the foot change shaft (the shaft the shift lever is mounted on) in its bore. Slop there indicates that it is time to have the shifter cover re-built.

Ed
PS: Don't fall into the trap of simply replacing a partially collapsed control shaft spring to restore shifting. It might work (for a little while) . . . something caused the control shaft spring to collapse. (and that something is usually 1) excessively worn shifter mechanism, 2) stomp and hold shifting (snick your shifts) or 3) shifter mechanism being out of proper adjustment.
PPS: Did I mention snick your shifts?

[mthomas]

I tried adjusting the shifter arm and now I have no gears between 1st and 5th. What kind of special tool do I need to replace the shifter springs on the control shaft?

[dcooke007]

Marty here is my post on shift cover rebuilding. This might help if the cover is the cause of the problem.

Danny

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=846&p=4073#p4073

[Zyx]

I tried adjusting the shifter arm and now I have no gears between 1st and 5th. What kind of special tool do I need to replace the shifter springs on the control shaft?

Actually, it can be done with simple tools most of us already have. A special gizmo to help replace the control shaft circlip is nice, but not critical.

But it most likely isn't the springs. Sacked out springs make shifting indeterminate, but not impossible. The ball receiver will not be positively centered between the springs, and will sometimes engage, sometimes not. What you are going through, neutral between fourth and fifth (presumably the others were fine) and now after changing adjustment, nothing works, suggests it still needs adjusting and perhaps whatever you just did inadvertently made it worse instead of better. No big deal. Just do it again, but first read through Danny's how-to on adjusting the shifter.

As for the springs, you can get a general feel for how good they are by removing the shift cover and shifting by hand by pushing the control rod in or out until you have engaged a gear. Doesn't matter which one. Once you have a gear selected, gently push and pull on the rod. Very gently. If it feels firmly engaged and the rod doesn't wander in and out while staying in gear, it isn't the springs. Good springs hold the ball receiver pretty tightly between themselves. To move the ball receiver, you have to begin to depress one or the other spring. There should be no discernible slack in this. That is the rod won't go in or out with a feel of slop in the connection. If it feels tight it is okay. If there is slop or shake in the rod, then perhaps the springs need replacement. Or if the whole thing hangs up between gears and takes a lot of force to move to the next one, maybe a spring is hanging up inside the control rod. But if that were the case, shifting would have sucked to start with, not just a missed shift between fourth and fifth.

So either the shift arm is out of adjustment (and it is now by description) or the sliding pin is worn out. There is a lot of tolerance for shift misalignment in this system, because of the spring centered ball receiver. Get the shift adjustment right, and it will shift because the ball receiver will seek engagement if it is close, and take up slack from a worn pin.

If this doesn't make sense not to worry. Just try the adjustment again. You will get it.

[hodakamax]

Marty, I don't know if you have discovered it, but the shifter adjustment bolt has a cam below the head and the rotation of the bolt adjusts in and out. Set the bike on a stand where you can rotate the rear wheel and try adjusting it by turning the shifter adjusting bolt in small increments and testing it while rotating the rear wheel. There should be one place in the rotation of the bolt that all gears work. If this fails I would suspect the springs. Keep trying, as AZ says, you will get it!

Hope this helps.

Maxie

[mthomas]

Thanks for everyone's input. You folks are a wealth of helpful advice. The shift arm adjustment bolt is where you make adjustments, is that correct?
I noticed that the bolt seemed loose, so I tightened it down. As I said earlier, this caused me to lose 2nd 3rd, and 4th gears. So then I loosened it back to where it was before, but I still had only 1st and 5th; also the shifter arm in 1st gear was so far out that it was bumping into the little adjustment plate cover. I am going into the shop now and will try to readjust; will let you know how it goes. Again, thanks for everyone's help.

[mthomas]

After trial and error, the combat wombat seems to be shifting fine. I really appreciate everybody's helpful advice.

Marty