1981 cb750c transmission/clutch issue.

[jdub]

Hey! I just got my bike a few months ago and I'm starting to have issues changing gears. If the bike is not moving, the shifter won't change gears easily and often gets stuck in nuetral. When the engine is not running and I'm holding the clutch and pushing the bike, it's started making a quiet grinding sound. It also feels like the clutch might not be fully disengaging, as the bike sometimes lurches a bit when I start it up.

Any ideas of what I should look for, how tough this is to deal with, and what it might cost for me to repair it?

Thanks.

[LukeM]

Hello, and welcome to the forum.
Step 1:  Download the factory service manual for your bike at THIS LINK.

Go to the Maintenance chapter.  In there you should find the technique to adjust your clutch. Go through this, and see if your bike shifts better.
Also, check your bike's oil level. These bikes use a wet clutch, and lack of oil can cause the clutch to function improperly.
Then, take it for a test ride, and observe the following:
Is it hard to get into neutral when the bike is moving vs. standing still?
How is the shifting to the other gears, upshifting and downshifting?
Are there any other noises, like rattling or clunking?

Report back to this group with your findings, and perhaps we can help you further.
Luke M

[TOOLS1]

Welcome to the forum. I am assuming, you do not have much experience with bikes, so I will cover some basics on shifting. First never shift the bike without having the clutch disengaged. You can bend a shift fork by doing this, and damage the teeth on the gears. Second they are harder to shift when sitting still. Even with the engine running. Third they are designed to go from second to neutral. Not from first to neutral. That way, you will not hit neutral while up-shifting.
How many miles does your bike have?
TOOLS

[shinyribs]

X2 on what Tools said.Also,regarding your lurching. For one,just go ahead and start it in neutral. But that is typical. The clutches on these bikes are very grabby and feel like that until the bike warms up. It's all part of the wet clutch thing.