QUIZ What stopped my 86 200X from shifting right??

[Dirtcrasher]

I bought this 86 200X about 8 months ago. Needed some brakes and things but the owner claimed his "uncle" rebuilt the motor. And, let me tell ya, it ran and runs strong and smooth with no noises. I have beat it well since the day I bought it.

So, yesterday we go out for a blast. I let my bud ride it (who already owes me 600$) and he falls way behind. I go back and he says that the thing isn't shifting up right all the time and won't down shift right and he doesn't want to owe me any more money. So I try it and it's not terrible but something is definitely wrong; shifts perfect one minute and bad the next and this is all completely out of the blue. One minute every gear is as it should be and the next I'm hitting neutral and nothing is right.

I asked him if he hit a rock (said no...) or he jammed it and he said one time it wouldn't down shift and he forced it down.

What happened? There have been allot of posts lately with shifting problems so just assume I posted this as a question and what advice would you give me?

When we can see a mechanical problem it's easy. It's the stuff we can't see that stumps us and we can all learn from it. Please, post your opinions and I'll give you the answer by tomorrow...

[stoney420]

lol i thought i was all done with school, damn...

[Jason Hall]

My guess Is the spring that holds the end of the shifter shaft In the center & makes the fork grab the drum & turn It.

[Dirtcrasher]

Update, no one wanted to play my "quiz" game so I never posted the answer, I'm bored so here it is.

Anyhow a previous self proclaimed "mechanic" LOL decided that a thrust washer on the shift shaft wasn't necessary. That thin washer caused some parts to rub together and it was shifting like it had a bad transmission or a bent fork etc etc. A 1$ part fixed it.

My point was that sometimes we are all quick to think we have a huge gearbox issue when in fact it's a simple overlooked problem. As soon as I tore into it and saw the scratches on the shifter plate, I knew something was wrong. Then I just looked online at a parts schematic and found the missing washer in the bottom of the motor. I retrieved it with a magnet and it's been good ever since.

I find that 90% of all shifter problems I've encountered are the external parts that either play a part in shifting or holding it into a selected gear that are usually the culprit when something isn't right.

[Aka_am]

yeah mine the spring came off, and good thing i looked into it. Oil pump gear broke and still isn't fixed.

[james9r9r]

Your a good guy