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Is anybody having issues with the 300? We've been having problems with the bike dropping back a gear, 5th to 4th, 6th to 5th ETC and sometimes just hitting a false neutral under heavy braking, backshifting. It doesn't happen to every rider all the time, but it happens enough to concern me. Suggestions? I'd like to have the transmission checked, maybe undercut if the gears are just worn.
Oil
Fresh oil change before ECR, and I only run Amsoil. So I don't think so. Changed it again before GSS this weekend and it did it again.
Check your chain tension, it will mess with false neutrals and mis shifting.
Get out of the cult just long enough to test another oil. My personal favorite is Rotella T. :)
Guess this didn't get fixed from 250 to 300.
The internal shifter mechanism did change and there are some options for improving it, wish the 250's had the same shifter set-up.
Check this out Kasey, it may help.
http://www.factorypro.com/Prod_Pages/prodk35_ex300.html
Awesome! Ill have my mechanic look at this. Thanks!
Not good... should be a recall on this like brakes and ECU...
I was reading the fine writing on that part link... did you need to replace the clutch cover and basket when installing this "fix" like it says?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Brad Thomas
In this context, remove and replace means to take it off, install the shift kit and re-install the stock oem parts (clutch basket and cover).Quote:
Originally Posted by Angela McWilliams
Great... thanks Brad.
Ensure that the shifter is in a good position to be fully engaged when depressed or pushed up on. I had problems with mine and made an adjustment to the shifter and had no problems after. (miss shifts that is)
Good one, I've goofed with that back and forth, ill need to see what the best way to go is.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jordan Pence
Kasey,
All 3 of our 300's have the same issues. One of them is brand new and the other two have minimal time on them. I about highsided one at GSS the other day because it downshifted mid corner at full throttle. I do not know of any long term fixes other than to undercut the dogs which isn't legal in SSP.
Oh and as far as oil goes I use M1 R4T in two of them and I don't know what John uses in the other. I highly doubt that is the issue.
Well damn, I'm glad you said that, I was set to pull the engine tomorrow for just that. I just figured it was a safety issue. Oh well, glad to know we're not alone!
It has started concerning me more and more. I honestly don't know what to do about it at this time.
If you have a product concern which may be time sensitive, we highly recommend calling Kawasaki Consumer Services at 866-802-9381.
http://www.kawasaki.com/ourcompany/ContactUs.aspx
Call or send them an email about this matter... its the only way to instigate a recall.
This is not an issue I would expect under normal operation. I wouldn't bring up a race issue on a bike built for economy.
I agree, but they labeled this bike as a Ninja and I want Ninja like properties....... Like black colors, moving silently in the shadows, and have ninja stars coming out the front and rear. I also had the same problem at GSS going through a high speed corner and it down geared on me without warning. I'm still gonna call and see what they say about it.
Jumping gears full throttle is dangerous and now I am concerned. We are starting to have an issue as well and thought it was the clutch or something that happened from the bike going down. He falls enough as it is so I like to ward off known issues and will definitely contact Kawasaki about it.
Thanks for the suggestion Brad, I appreciate your input. Just to be clear... does that shift pro kit fix the issue and is it a permitted mod?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kasey Lewis
I can't speak for Walter but I don't think he would have an issue with this modification. I suggest having a conversation with him. At the last ECR round I was coming out of turn 2 in the LW endurance race approaching a 300 at a pretty quick clip when the rider had a shifting issue. I barely avoided a collision, it was extremely close and I don't think it would have ended well had we collided.Quote:
Originally Posted by Angela McWilliams
All I can say is Factory Pro has been making shift kits for motorcycles that have sold very well for years. I don't own a 300 but I do ride the 250 which exhibits a similar problem however the 250 does not have the same type of internal shifting mechanism. The 300 shifter was updated to be more like bigger bikes which by the way is a better system in my opinion.
There are several things that could contribute to this issue and some have been mentioned already.
1. The external shift set-up is important. The angle of the knuckle on the shift shaft should be as close as possible to the angle of the shift pedal actuation arm. Imagine you are standing on the left side of the bike looking at the shift rod.
I_____I , /_____/ and \_____\ work best.
\_____I , /_____I , I_____\ and I_____/ are okay.
\_____/ , /_____\ are not optimal.
2. The heim joints need to be free to move and not in a bind. I’ve seen these jammed all the way to one extreme or the other when adjustments are made to the shift rod. The joints must have some room to rotate.
3. Eliminate as much free play in the external shifter/rear sets as possible caused by any loose bolts or nuts.
4. The spring on the internal shift mechanism that helps maintain the selected gear is often not up to the task of racing. This is where the Factory Pro shift kit may help. The stiffer spring makes it more difficult for the conditions experienced in this thread from occurring.
Example of internal shift parts:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voi70IqJJfM
Yep... the response from a rep at Kawasaki was to remind me of my now voided warranty... and recommend that I take it to a mechanic.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kasey Lewis
That's a very good write up, and ill be checking the shifter angle. Now I'd love to get a shifter kit in and demo it, but it takes 7 days to process, any way you can speed that up?Quote:
Originally Posted by Brad Thomas
They are much more understanding on the race models, but not on a 300!Quote:
Originally Posted by Angela McWilliams
Their service sucks. My ZX-6 has and issue when you sit at 10k RPM in any gear (which happens to be a real nice spot to sit at when you cruise the highway or commute to work) where it would deliver inconsistent power at when at a steady throttle. I called them and they response was that it wasn't happening, even though my mechanic could reproduce the problem.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kasey Lewis
That may have been me, green 300 and red leathers. I know toward the end of the race climbing the hill after turn 2 I somehow managed to click the shifter twice and lost all my RPMs. I somebody came by really close on the outside when I lost the drive and we both gave the "oops, it's all good" wave.Quote:
Originally Posted by Brad Thomas
I tucked in behind ya to go up the hill and suddenly that O-****e moment got me. Glad we made it Sloan.
Sent from my SGH-T889 using Tapatalk
I had the same problem with 2 of my 300s, it only happens when I'm leaned over so I changed the oil and went to rotella cause that's what we use on all the dirt bikes for a sec I thought the problem was cured but as I put more and more laps down the problem came back, it felt like I'm just not getting a positive shift or the clutch was not out all the way, I drilled a hole on the clutch arm coming out of the case and ran a spring to the frame to pull the clutch further back and it seems like its working then once in a while it would still do it and then I read somewhere that the peak horse power is made way down on the rpm range 10-11k rpms and i started short shifting when I did this it has not popped back any more, when I go into the high rpms 11500-13000 it does do it but under that it does not, I'm just thinking maybe vibration oil level / viscosity break down all have affect, just my 2 cents,
Oh I have a picture of the spring that I I stalled but I do t know how to post it
512-567-0381 if anyone wants to see it.
My 300 seems to have a similar problem when under heavy engine braking. Tipping into corner after letting off brakes, it will seem to pop out of gear, which usually causes a pucker moment due to loss of engine braking. Worse still, it will then catch again and has almost high sided me on a couple of occasions. Have not experienced any problems what so ever with missed shifts, or it popping out of gear during upshifts. Any possibility of it being a malfunction in the slipper unit?
Try to adjust your shifter geometry as well, that may play a part. We moved the knuckles on both my 300's and it reduced the issue. Still happens occasionally, but not nearly as often
Installed the Factory Pro shifter kit and it seems to have solved the problem. Ran the bike pretty hard at Harris Hill today and it did not down shift or pop out of gear one time. Crossing my fingers that this problem is gone for good.
Apart from doing the factory pro shift kit mod, anyone actually go a step further and undercut the gears to see if that took care of the problem for good? Pretty sure that's the route you'd have to go to really take care of these transmission issues.
Is undercutting the gears legal for you guys? I'm just doing track days at H2R and not competing, so it really doesn't concern me. I was pretty skeptical that the heavier spring would fix this, but so far it really does seem to work.
^I don't see how doing a mod that will make a bike much safer to ride/won't give you any advantage, would be illegal. I'm going to have my transmission sent out over the winter to have them undercut the gears to prevent the popping out of gear issue I've had (different bike).
Anyone else care to chime in on the legal matter for this reason? (preferably one of the higher ups on the B.O.D.)
While I can't speak to the 300 I do know I had the same issue with my 250.
I tried adjusting the linkage and it help a little but for me the issue seemed to be a vague(not positive) shifts and the missed shifts seemed to be mainly a matter of a more firm pressure on the shifter.. The false neutrals is what bugged me the most though.. I decided to change the detent spring.. Instead of the Factory Pro I when to a local fastener shop and bought some hardened springs with a stiffer ratio than stock.. Night and day difference.. very sharp shifts.. no more false neutrals and it never has jumped out of gear since..
I would bet my money the issue in the 300's is the same.. a weak detent that won't hold the shift drum in place when it's being pushed hard... fix that and your problems likely will go away..IMHO I think Greg is correct..
The shift kit will most likely fix the problem unless there is already transmission damage.
300
http://www.factorypro.com/Prod_Pages/prodk35_ex300.html
250 - Special THANKS to Mitchell Klein for helping me find this modification!
http://www.factorypro.com/Prod_Pages/prodk04.html
The 250 shift spring takes about 3 minutes to replace.
Easiest, most effective modification I have ever done.
Look at the difference in the spring length.
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B5ge...ha2txSU00/edit