GEAR CHANGE PROBLEMS gt 380
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- On the street
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- Country: UK
- Suzuki 2-Strokes: gt 380x2 gsxf cb 900 bmw funduro,KZ 650
- Location: Macclesfield Cheshire
- Contact:
GEAR CHANGE PROBLEMS gt 380
Hi
If any body out there can help in a niggling problem which has manifested itself on the bikes return to the road after being stuck in a garage since 1990.
I have a gear change issue which has me scratching for answers ,the problem is that when engaging any gear after 2nd going up the box it is difficult ,all gears coming down the box are no problem ,gear changing without clutch after 2nd are ok ,gear changing with engine stopped and on its center stand and wiggling the back wheel back and two I can engage all gears up and down the box .
The gearbox oil is clear of metal particles ,The gear change lever does seem to have too much play in neutral .
Any direction here would be helpful
Regards
Bazit
If any body out there can help in a niggling problem which has manifested itself on the bikes return to the road after being stuck in a garage since 1990.
I have a gear change issue which has me scratching for answers ,the problem is that when engaging any gear after 2nd going up the box it is difficult ,all gears coming down the box are no problem ,gear changing without clutch after 2nd are ok ,gear changing with engine stopped and on its center stand and wiggling the back wheel back and two I can engage all gears up and down the box .
The gearbox oil is clear of metal particles ,The gear change lever does seem to have too much play in neutral .
Any direction here would be helpful
Regards
Bazit
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- Road race school
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- Country: UK
- Suzuki 2-Strokes: GT380B, GT550B, GT750A, GSX1400
Re: GEAR CHANGE PROBLEMS gt 380
Possibilities that come to mind:
-clutch poorly adjusted or plates grabbing the clutch outer basket. Try the adjuster under the outer sprocket cover.
-gearchange pawl is wrongly engaged in the shift drum under the RH clutch cover. Easy to do if the clutch cover is off and you poke the shift lever. I found on my 550 I could not get above 2nd without huge difficulty, but down was easy...and it was that pawl out one tooth!
Good luck,
Mike
-clutch poorly adjusted or plates grabbing the clutch outer basket. Try the adjuster under the outer sprocket cover.
-gearchange pawl is wrongly engaged in the shift drum under the RH clutch cover. Easy to do if the clutch cover is off and you poke the shift lever. I found on my 550 I could not get above 2nd without huge difficulty, but down was easy...and it was that pawl out one tooth!
Good luck,
Mike
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- On the street
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- Joined: Wed Jul 09, 2014 6:27 am
- Country: UK
- Suzuki 2-Strokes: gt 380x2 gsxf cb 900 bmw funduro,KZ 650
- Location: Macclesfield Cheshire
- Contact:
Re: GEAR CHANGE PROBLEMS gt 380
Hi
Any pics /diagrams as to correct pawl placement when in neutral.
Thanks
Any pics /diagrams as to correct pawl placement when in neutral.
Thanks
-
- Road race school
- Posts: 792
- Joined: Sun Aug 05, 2012 1:18 am
- Country: UK
- Suzuki 2-Strokes: GT380B, GT550B, GT750A, GSX1400
Re: GEAR CHANGE PROBLEMS gt 380
I cannot post pictures here and don't have time to upload to Photobucket and post link right now.
Rest assured its 'exactly central' when in the right engagement.
Someone may be able to post what that looks like!
Cheers,
Mike
Rest assured its 'exactly central' when in the right engagement.
Someone may be able to post what that looks like!
Cheers,
Mike
- Coyote
- Moto GP
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- Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma
Re: GEAR CHANGE PROBLEMS gt 380
I have that picture. I will post it when I find it. Will start looking now.
I was born with nothing and still have most of it left.
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1978 GS1000C
1976 GT550 ongoing money pit.
.
1978 GS1000C
1976 GT550 ongoing money pit.
- Coyote
- Moto GP
- Posts: 3404
- Joined: Tue Oct 21, 2008 2:41 pm
- Country: USA
- Suzuki 2-Strokes: GT550x2, GT750, GS1000
- Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma
Re: GEAR CHANGE PROBLEMS gt 380
Ah yes. Here it is. This is a 550 but the 380 should be the same. The bike is in neutral. After looking at the picture and seeing the rusty clutch plates, this might be a 750. Still the same though.


I was born with nothing and still have most of it left.
.
1978 GS1000C
1976 GT550 ongoing money pit.
.
1978 GS1000C
1976 GT550 ongoing money pit.
-
- On the street
- Posts: 37
- Joined: Wed Jul 09, 2014 6:27 am
- Country: UK
- Suzuki 2-Strokes: gt 380x2 gsxf cb 900 bmw funduro,KZ 650
- Location: Macclesfield Cheshire
- Contact:
Re: GEAR CHANGE PROBLEMS gt 380
Hi
Great pic of gear pawl ,and now a quick question relating to the spring behind the pawl my spring seems to have one part resting on the floor of the casing and the other under the pin ,is that how it should be ?as I cant see from your pic the whole set up,also is this position shown when the bikes in nuetral.
Thanks
Bazit
Great pic of gear pawl ,and now a quick question relating to the spring behind the pawl my spring seems to have one part resting on the floor of the casing and the other under the pin ,is that how it should be ?as I cant see from your pic the whole set up,also is this position shown when the bikes in nuetral.
Thanks
Bazit
-
- Road race school
- Posts: 792
- Joined: Sun Aug 05, 2012 1:18 am
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- Suzuki 2-Strokes: GT380B, GT550B, GT750A, GSX1400
Re: GEAR CHANGE PROBLEMS gt 380
The spring 'fingers' on the pawl of the gear change shaft should lie either side of the pin. This is so whether pushed up or down, when released, the foot lever will centre again and so move that selector drum to where it needs to be to enable selection of the next gear ratio.
The good thing is, with the clutch cover off, you can mess about with it until its very easy to change right up and down, checking you need do nothing except maybe rotate the rear wheel a little to achieve that. If you can get to that state, you have it all correct and can button it up with confidence
Cheers,
Mike
The good thing is, with the clutch cover off, you can mess about with it until its very easy to change right up and down, checking you need do nothing except maybe rotate the rear wheel a little to achieve that. If you can get to that state, you have it all correct and can button it up with confidence

Cheers,
Mike
- Coyote
- Moto GP
- Posts: 3404
- Joined: Tue Oct 21, 2008 2:41 pm
- Country: USA
- Suzuki 2-Strokes: GT550x2, GT750, GS1000
- Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma
Re: GEAR CHANGE PROBLEMS gt 380
Bike is in neutral. I stated that above the pawl picture.
I was born with nothing and still have most of it left.
.
1978 GS1000C
1976 GT550 ongoing money pit.
.
1978 GS1000C
1976 GT550 ongoing money pit.
- Suzukidave
- Moto GP
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Re: GEAR CHANGE PROBLEMS gt 380
The spring on the pawl is there to return the pawl to the center between shifts , if your spring isnt like shown it very well could be your problem .
the older i get the faster i was
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- On the street
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- Joined: Wed Jul 09, 2014 6:27 am
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- Suzuki 2-Strokes: gt 380x2 gsxf cb 900 bmw funduro,KZ 650
- Location: Macclesfield Cheshire
- Contact:
Re: GEAR CHANGE PROBLEMS gt 380
Hi
Well all my problems are gone with regards to the gear change problems I have persevered with all your help and have now a running bike with all its gears ,yahoo I wonder what its going to throw at me next.
So thanks again for all those that posted helpful pics and guidance (maybe a 750 next).
Bazit
(Barry)
Well all my problems are gone with regards to the gear change problems I have persevered with all your help and have now a running bike with all its gears ,yahoo I wonder what its going to throw at me next.
So thanks again for all those that posted helpful pics and guidance (maybe a 750 next).
Bazit
(Barry)
- Suzukidave
- Moto GP
- Posts: 3980
- Joined: Fri Oct 24, 2008 5:55 pm
- Country: US
- Suzuki 2-Strokes: GT750 x2 97 -1200 Bandit 86 GSXR1100
- Location: Lancaster Pa.