I replaced my gear shifter arm (the piece that attaches to the gear shift spindle on the left side. the shifter arm is a small piece at the top then has the rod that attaches to the gear shift at the bottom). I wasn't able to push the new arm on, so i tapped it with a hammer. Now the bike wont shift at all. It just moves up and down freely. Any ideas what the problem might be? Do I need to remove the clutch and remove the gear shift spindle? Any insight would be great. Thanks.

 

How hard did you tap it?

also, is the bike running? If your only trying to shift the bike without it running or it moving, the shifter will not engage the gears, it will only move up and down.

Is the rod arm adjusted to the same length as before?

is the shifter arm in the same location as before? Due to the arc of the shifter and the shifter arm, the ratio will change if either is not in the same location as before. You may end up pull the shifter arm off and moving it one spline at a time until you get the ratio correct again. Of course, this won't be the case if the shifter arm has the bolt that locates its location, but Im not sure if your bike has that or not. Some do, some don't.

 

It's probably not adjusted right. Your're probably in first gear and can't bring it up because of clearance. Nothing happened inside the transmission.

 

I didn't tap it extremely hard. Just hard enough to get the shifter arm on it. I have not started the bike. It has been off since I did that. I didn't want to mess anything up by starting the bike. The rod appears to be the same length as before. I'm concerned because the shifter spindle moves, but moves freely up and down. It doesn't seem to be in any gear.

 

rock the bike back and forth. If its between gears without the bike running or moving, it will not be able to go into gear. Or, if the bike is on a stand with the rear tire of the ground, spin the tire and try it again.

 

I'll try rocking the bike back and forth. It is on a stand and I did spin the rear wheel. No change. Should i try starting the bike? I'm kind of scared to do that though.

 

If turning the rear wheel didnt allow the gear to engage, then thats not the issue.

I can't say wether or not I would start the bike. If I were standing there and could see exactly what is going on, that would be different. But so far, I would suggest you don't start it just in case something is internally wrong. It would be very hard to imagine there is, but just in case.

If it still doesnt engage, I would think your going to have to remove the shifter arm, and rotate one spline, put it back on and try it. You need to get the ratio correct for it to work. In fact, I would remove the shifter shaft first, then try to shift just the shifter arm by itself and see if it goes into gear. My guess is it will.

If thats the case, remove the shifter arm and lay on the end of the spline shaft without actually letting it hit the splines. Rotate the shifter pedal back and forth so you can see where the center of the rotation is. It will only travel so far up, so far down. Try to guess and place it in the somewhere in the middle. This should allow enough travel up, and enough travel down.

If that doesnt work, I really have no idea.

 

Ok, so I pulled the spindle out and it shifts, but I think I knoced a screw loose because I can push it in and it will not shift. I think the shifter plate washer is bent or the screw came out. Gonna have to open her up.

 

I would get a service manual before you tear into it if you don't already have one.

what bike do you have?

You can usually download a copy. At least that way you can see what the possibilities could be.

 

I do have a manual and have resolved the problem. Thanks for all the input it was very very helpful. I have an 03 Honda CBR 600RR. What happened was, when I hammered the gear shift arm onto the gear shift spindle, I bent the gear shift spindle setting plate ( a very small plate that keeps the gear shift spindle in place. I removed the clutch cover and was able to straight the setting plate back to its normal position. Bike is roaring like a lion and shifting properly again. Thanks again.