Loud whining/whirring in 1st...stuck in gear

[0Dogg]

So I, of the repeating gear lever issues, encountered another problem today on the way to lunch.

As I downshifted at a stop sign, I thought to myself that the approaching car sounded awful and needed to have its belts looked at. To my dismay, I realized that the awful noise was coming from my 2011 V7R.

I was able to shift out of it at that point, but at the next stop, I heard the same noise and I wasn't able to shift out of 1st for a moment...it eventually worked itself out and I was able to shift back. I should note that the bike was in gear and accelerating, but just making an awful noise and I couldn't shift up for a moment.

After a couple attempts to recreate the issue, all seems normal again.

My question is two-fold...

1. Anyone else experience this issue?

2. Here is a photo of the lever pin/shift lever on my bike. For lack of a better description, it just looks wrong to me. Dirty, for one thing...which seems counter to the fit and finish of the rest of the bike. But also the washer/gasket? looks warped. Am I overreacting here? If possible, I would be obliged if someone would post a picture of theirs so I can compare.

Thanks!

 

[Trout]

Not normal & I have not seen or heard of another Guzzi doing that.

Bear in mind that is only a support for the shaft/lever & would not directly cause a "belt slipping" type of noise.
However if it is worn enuf it may not be allowing the trans to shift properly & get the gears to fully mesh.
That would normally be a grinding sound rather than a screeching belt sound.

It could make shifting difficult if the bushing inside is worn (or the shaft is worn) & causing slop or linkage to bind.
There should be no play or wiggle in the shaft, it should rotate freely.

I'm not that familiar with the V7R & can't visualize what the shaft is connecting to on the other side (trans side) of the mount.
If possible I would try to disconnect all linkage on both the shifter side & the trans side then wiggle the shaft to see how much play it has.
It is probably a bushing inside the housing rather than a bearing & may be possible to have a machine shop turn a new one.

 

[0Dogg]

Honestly, the sound caught me off guard, so I may not be describing it very well...it certainly wasn't as high pitched as belt slippage...maybe like a really powerful leaf blower? That might be more accurate.

Also, if it is of any help...here is a youtube link to the amount of movement in the lever pin/shift lever.

 

[GuzziMoto]

I don't have a V7, so keep that in mind.
I am pretty sure that washer is bent like that on purpose.
The shift shaft typically has a set of levers on it that spin the shift drum in one direction or the other. If the shift drum is rotated partially so that it is partially in one gear and not out of the other it can make some disturbing noises. It could be the the shift linkage was binding and sticking, that can make some funny noises. That is not an uncommon issue with any bike. Some bikes, especially Italian bikes, also have a bad habit of having false neutrals between gears other than 1st and 2nd.
Not sure if any of this helps, but I hope it does.

 

[0Dogg]

I don't have a V7, so keep that in mind.
I am pretty sure that washer is bent like that on purpose.
The shift shaft typically has a set of levers on it that spin the shift drum in one direction or the other. If the shift drum is rotated partially so that it is partially in one gear and not out of the other it can make some disturbing noises. It could be the the shift linkage was binding and sticking, that can make some funny noises. That is not an uncommon issue with any bike. Some bikes, especially Italian bikes, also have a bad habit of having false neutrals between gears other than 1st and 2nd.
Not sure if any of this helps, but I hope it does.

Well, it makes me a feel a little better anyway...so that helps! Haha. I am hoping that it was an anomaly and won't present itself again.

Just a little frustrating because I've been having issues with the same general area of the bike, so hopefully I'm just overreacting.

 

[Vagrant]

looks normal to me. I'd start by making sure the shifter actually throws the shaft all the way. in other words make sure the lever isn't hitting something before getting all the way into first gear.
for you own peace of mind if that checks ok change the trans fluid and check out the magnet for metal.

 

[Trout]

GuzziMoto is correct. That is a wave washer & is designed to keep some tension on the shaft so it does not move back & forth easily.

At the end of the video it looked to me like the shaft had some up & down play & that could cause shift problems & what I was refering to in my other post. If it was me I'd disconnect the linkage & check for up & down play.

I agree with Vagrant about changing trans oil & looking for metal shavings.

 

[0Dogg]

GuzziMoto is correct. That is a wave washer & is designed to keep some tension on the shaft so it does not move back & forth easily.

At the end of the video it looked to me like the shaft had some up & down play & that could cause shift problems & what I was refering to in my other post. If it was me I'd disconnect the linkage & check for up & down play.

I agree with Vagrant about changing trans oil & looking for metal shavings.

Thanks, Trout. I will do as instructed and report back! Hopefully this will help someone else down the road!

 

[tonUPRacer]

Clutch lever adjustment?