Shifting difficulty; adjustment?

[sgtsteve]

1981 XS 650 Special; so we finally got the bike charging correctly. Now, shifting.

I've got my lever/cable gap set but I'm having two difficulties:

1) Rough shifting up and down through the gears.
2} Bike idling, 1st gear, clutch IN, bike creeping forward.

I have adjusted the cable previously but have never adjusted the clutch. Didn't know enough about it previously.

thanks in advance for your help.
Sgt Steve

[rikroc]

I have the same bike (60,000+ miles). Pop the cap on the side cover to access the clutch adjustment. Loosen the locknut while holding the screw shaft with a phillips. The manual recommends turning in the shaft until it makes contact and then backing off a half turn. I've found that doing the opposite, turning in a quarter/half turn, will eliminate most of that problem. If your bike still shifts hard after warm up with the clutch pulled all the way in, try keeping slight pressure on the shifter while slowly letting out the clutch. There's a sweet spot where it will drop into gear smoothly.
Hope this helps...

[grizld1]

Step One: Turn the the adjuster at the lever perch all the way in for maximum slack.

Step Two: Break loose and back off the lock nut on the worm gear adjuster in the left engine cover. Turn the screw in until you feel light contact with the clutch pushrod. Then back the screw off 1/8 turn. Note: If you leave the adjuster in contact with the pushrod, the pushrod will constantly turn with the pressure plate,the pushrod and bushing will wear prematurely, and the pushrod seal will leak. You may also end up with a slipping clutch. The book specifies 1/4 turn clearance, but we get better results with 1/8.

Step Three: Adjust at the perch. When the motor warms up fully, readjust.

[preston]

Sgt Steve,
Not to raze you too much, but welcome back.
and if the bike has been sitting, you may have to run the snot out of it to get rust off the clutch plates...
and, do you have good oil in the bike , like Yamalube or equivalent ?
I tried synthetic once, and clutch slipped.
I tried some generic brand, and i could hear trans noise at each shift,, BUT, never had it creep forward in first.
Do what Griz says, and report back.
preston