stuck in 3rd gear!

[gogogasser]

I have a 2001 xc 300 that is stuck in 3rd gear. Rode a 6 hour race, when i finished came throught the pits and turned the motor off and now wont shift up or down. Has anyone ever had this happen.

[Jiikoo811]

Not sure, but it can be broken that small spring which keep gearlever in middle position. Not bad to check just have to drain coolant and put bike laying it left side and open clutch side cover, no need take motor off.

Sent from Razr MAXX

[Moto7man]

There is a thread on this somewhere on the forum. The shift shaft is accessible from the clutch side. Either the shift shaft has a cracked weld or the shift shaft is bent most likely.

[AZRickD]

A Glorious Thread Revival.

At yesterday's Tonalea Hare Scrambles, I was having a genuinely enjoyable time with the 2011 EC250R, Lectron Carb and Rekluse EXP2.0 through the first half of what would be a 4-lap, 40-mile race. The Gasser's components were working to my liking.

However, when I exited the woodsy single-track and hit the first of several sand dune climbs. I couldn't get the bike to rev. It took me a while but I found my shifter to be not doing it's duty. I was stuck in 3rd gear for the next 3.5 laps and 35 miles. On the plus side, despite my nursing the bike around, I got 3rd Place.

More later after I unload and take the right cover off.

[Jakobi]

It'll be the weld on the scorpion end of the shift shaft.. Almost for sure.

[AZRickD]

Much to my surprise, everything was intact.

The problem was that the the actuator (you call it the scorpion?) was stuck in a retracted position. A few taps with a dowel rod allowed it to release. It worked the six-point star-shaped thing up and down the gear range. After several passes the actuator got stuck in the retracted position. Another tap-tap and it released.

Caution: Photos are upside-down.

I took the whole mechanism out of the case and looked it over. The weld on the shift rod looks very good, smooth, conical (on the inside). Maybe I don't know what I am looking for? I was intending to get it re-TIGged but I'm wondering if it really needs it?

My next step is to 1) await your advice, and 2) take the slider mechanism apart and polish them up with some 800-grit sand paper and oil.

Thoughts?

Rick

[desertgasser300]

Check the scorpion for burrs where it slides on the post.

[AZRickD]

Whilst I'm at it... here are two photos of the shift-rod/scorpion junction.

[gasmonkey]

From what I can see (1/2 weld)it looks good.When mine broke 1/3 weld hadn't stuck,1/3 weld old crack,1/3weld new crack and dnf.As DG says check slider and wetndry sand any burrs or sticky points.

[AZRickD]

I took out some 600 grit paper and mineral oil and scritchy-scritched whatever minimalist imperfections the edges had.

While the cover was off I tightened up the slop on the PValve using a modified "Swizzle Stick" method popularized in these pages. I also polished up the kicker pivot as it was a little sticky.

All is well.