Shifting issues?

[travis103192]

I can't take it anymore, I have a 250sx(1985) and it ran fantastic for the first few months I had it, I then had some problems here and there that I could take care of, they were all easy fixes and then just recently I got it up and running at its best about 2 weeks ago after sitting for about 2 and a half months. I did a whole carb rebuild on it, waited on a new petcock, and had got lucky and found a complete pretty much brand new air box set up which was a life saver. Anyway my current issue is that I will be riding and more than half the time I shift, my shifter sticks and I have to use my hand to push it back or push with my foot and sometimes it's sticks pretty bad, now when it's sticking it acts like it's in neutral. It also sticks down or will have trouble most of the time it shifting from reverse. I don't know what the deal is and I really hope it's not my gears or something or if it's because it's been warm and cold here with all of this Minnesota snow we just got, this only just started happening yesterday morning and this morning. Before it started I was doing a ton of reversing and I'm am not bad at shifting so I don't think that would do it. Another thing is today it died about three times within about 15 minutes and I hope it wasn't related and I really don't think it was but I switched it to reserve and it was fine for about the next 5 minutes of riding until I parked it so I hope it was just the gas seen as the tank was close to half it looked like, I have put about 50 miles on it since I got it going and I just need to figure this out, I know that you need to put work into your machine when you have one, but I'm getting tired of pretty much rebuilding the entire trike so I really hope I don't have to buy a whole new clutch kit for it. I am good at repairing a lot of things but I can tell you that when I'm doing more repairing than riding it's no fun. Help please and help will be appreciated.

[Howdy]

here are a few threads on shifting issues. While the subject might be different the fix is the same 99% of the time.

Threads:
http://www.3wheelerworld.com/showthread.php/151172-85-250SX...wont-go-in-any-gear?highlight=250sx+shifting

http://www.3wheelerworld.com/showthread.php/145655-UPDATED-loose-pin-in-shift-drum.-85-250sx-doesn-t-waaaana-shift?highlight=250sx+shifting


Here is a picture of the shifter assembly. The items pointed out with the arrows are the items to check. These are under the left side cover right inside where the shifter shaft goes in. Most likely the pin / bolt ( #21 ) has come loose or broken. #2 ) the spring ( item #20 ) may have broken. I am 90% sure one of those 2 items will be the problem.

163020




Here is a little quiz I did 10 years ago. Funny answers!!!
http://www.3wheelerworld.com/showthread.php/5037-Testing-your-knowledge-What-is-wrong-with-this-250sx....?highlight=250sx+shifter+problem

yea, I have been here forever.

Howdy

[Flyingw]

The issue with it dying very well may be the vent in the cap is corroded closed. Next time it dies, pop the cap loose and see if it will start right up. A corroded vent is very common with the ES/SX vent caps.

The shifting issue is more than likely a bent shift shaft. There seems to be a rash of those latley. It doesnt take much of a bend to cause shifting problems.

[travis103192]

Here is a video of what is happening for a better understanding.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jYeXES7vEIk&feature=plcp

[travis103192]

So I made a quick video of my issue to help explain better than my words of my problem. Is there maybe some lubrication I need to add or something? My engine oil is fine? I'm stuck, please help.

Here it is: http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jYeXES7vEIk&feature=plcp

[Worden18]

My 2 cents on your wheeler dying on you....with the weather here in MN being warm and moist and then zero degrees or less, make sure you put "Heet" (isopropyl) in the tank to keep the moisture out. Also, keep the tank full if you can. Less room for moisture to develop. A little bit of moisture can really screw up the fuel system. Forgot to put heet in my car and also it had only 1/4 tank of gas and that damn thing died. Had a hard time keeping it going. It may not be the problem, but it's the easiest place to start; worth a try.

[tri again]

Deep breath.

I almost gave up on mine too.
All the shift parts are avail and pretty cheap. I got them at a local honda shop.
I had the odd threaded pin come loose and bend...the one in the end of the shift drum.

Read the threads about 'shifting' or 'shift problem' with the search key.
Tons of great pictures and advice, tips and tricks.
Not real hard at all.
Lay the trike dead level with the left side up, plug the internal holes incase you drop something and let us know if you can't find the links and posts.

A few of us went thru this last summer.
I think the pins were like 10-15 bucks and the bracket about the same.
Just think, after you get it fixed, you won't have to worry for another quarter century.