Hornet 250 gearbox help.

[hippie]

Hi Peoples

OK so im new to having a bike a riding but im loving it i have a 250 hornet now can anybody else tell me if there are known issues with getting into 3rd gear?
I look like a complete tool when winding it out a bit and going for 3rd gear only to find myself still in 2nd i repeat this process maybe 3-4 times untill ive slowed down enough that it seems to go into 3rd .
While stationary with or without the clutch i can only seem to get to 3rd and cant get any higher it seems to be getting progressivly worse which is a pain every other gear no probs at all and going from 4th down to 3rd is always sweet as.
I would appreciate it if anybody could help me out shed some light or am i looking at a new gearbox/rebuild?

[actungbaby]

Hi Peoples

OK so im new to having a bike a riding but im loving it i have a 250 hornet now can anybody else tell me if there are known issues with getting into 3rd gear?
I look like a complete tool when winding it out a bit and going for 3rd gear only to find myself still in 2nd i repeat this process maybe 3-4 times untill ive slowed down enough that it seems to go into 3rd .
While stationary with or without the clutch i can only seem to get to 3rd and cant get any higher it seems to be getting progressivly worse which is a pain every other gear no probs at all and going from 4th down to 3rd is always sweet as.
I would appreciate it if anybody could help me out shed some light or am i looking at a new gearbox/rebuild?

Am no expert or mechanic sure you not over stressing about it , i used to get pevved of getting netural going from

Ist gear to second might be just gear selector is not engaged right , if was gear issue as in the 3rd gear theeth

Id thought it be likey to make sound or jump out of gear , the selectors can be looked at witout taking engine to

pieces so thats good thing, i winder if oil change might help

[GSF]

i winder if oil change might help

This is a thought - have you had the bike long, and do you know how many km's the bike has travelled on current oil?

I've never ridden a 250 Hornet but have spent the last 3 years on a 250cc Suzuki Bandit, which is similar in that it's also a high-revving inline four 250 street bike.
When the oil is getting old and cruddy, shifts become a lot turdier, the bike sometimes pops out of 1st or 2nd back into neutral, or hangs up momentarily between gears - once oil is changed, it shifts smooth as silk again, every time.

[ducatilover]

Chances are you're being a bit n00b with your shifting.
Don't worry about it not going above third when sitting still, that's not exactly an issue.
Do an oil change, otherwise work on giving it a nice positive shift from 2nd to third
I've never seen/heard a Hornet have a real gearbox issue

[hippie]

Cheers guys

i will def try changing the oil this weekend and see how it goes. I could be noob with gear changing but as it is only ever 3rd im thinking its something else i try a very positive shift into 3rd and when its not reving much seems to go fine just not at high revs all on my way to exploration on how to maintain a bike can only be easier than i car as things seem to come apart easier rather than a cramped engine bay.

[Akzle]

things seem to come apart easier rather than a cramped engine bay.

get pre-96 RWD car.
you so don't deserve the title hippie.

[hippie]

get pre-96 RWD car.
you so don't deserve the title hippie.

Had a couple of pre 96 rwd cars and 1 4wd. With turbos and all that crap mashed into an engine bay my hands just werent that small.
Arent bikes better for the environment :innocent:

[ducatilover]

Arent bikes better for the environment :innocent:

Nope, much worse than most cars in terms of emissions :D Better for the...smiles?

Hopefully you don't have a gearbox issue, splitting the cases is never fun :facepalm:

[hippie]

Alright guys after a few google attempts and searching around the bike i have 2 theorys. Im a useless blind bastard or im a useless blind bastard. Im assuming that the bike has engine oil then a seperate gearbox oil? I cant find where the filler for the gear box oil would be the standard engine oil one is easy as to find also i can only find 1 sump plug for oil although uptowards the front of the sump i can see another bolt/plug but from the outside it all looks like one piece. Can anybody help out maybe with a pic or any advise on where the filler and drain plugs are for the gearbox?

[pete-blen]

Alright guys after a few google attempts and searching around the bike i have 2 theorys. Im a useless blind bastard or im a useless blind bastard. Im assuming that the bike has engine oil then a seperate gearbox oil? I cant find where the filler for the gear box oil would be the standard engine oil one is easy as to find also i can only find 1 sump plug for oil although uptowards the front of the sump i can see another bolt/plug but from the outside it all looks like one piece. Can anybody help out maybe with a pic or any advise on where the filler and drain plugs are for the gearbox?


:facepalm:
Engine and gear box oil are the same...
I'm assumeing its not dry sump with engine oil
reservoir...

[FJRider]

Cheers guys

i will def try changing the oil this weekend and see how it goes. I could be noob with gear changing but as it is only ever 3rd im thinking its something else i try a very positive shift into 3rd and when its not reving much seems to go fine just not at high revs all on my way to exploration on how to maintain a bike can only be easier than i car as things seem to come apart easier rather than a cramped engine bay.

Have a look at the position of the gear lever. Sit with both feet on the bike (on the mainstand is good but can be done on the sidestand) and close your eye's ... then put your foot where it is in the most comfortable position. Then change the lever to there and try it. This also can be applied to the clutch and front/back brake levers too. They can be changed easily (usually) and can make a big difference in ease of gear changes and bike control.

[Akzle]

Alright guys after a few google attempts and searching around the bike i have 2 theorys. Im a useless blind bastard or im a useless blind bastard. Im assuming that the bike has engine oil then a seperate gearbox oil? I cant find where the filler for the gear box oil would be the standard engine oil one is easy as to find also i can only find 1 sump plug for oil although uptowards the front of the sump i can see another bolt/plug but from the outside it all looks like one piece. Can anybody help out maybe with a pic or any advise on where the filler and drain plugs are for the gearbox?

go and buy a haynes manual. read it cover to cover every day for the next month.

also. most subarus don't count as cars.

[hippie]

go and buy a haynes manual. read it cover to cover every day for the next month.

also. most subarus don't count as cars.

who said anything about subarus? Cheers guys so do any bikes have separate gearbox oil to motor oil?

[nzmikey]

Alright guys after a few google attempts and searching around the bike i have 2 theorys. Im a useless blind bastard or im a useless blind bastard. Im assuming that the bike has engine oil then a seperate gearbox oil? I cant find where the filler for the gear box oil would be the standard engine oil one is easy as to find also i can only find 1 sump plug for oil although uptowards the front of the sump i can see another bolt/plug but from the outside it all looks like one piece. Can anybody help out maybe with a pic or any advise on where the filler and drain plugs are for the gearbox?

The Motor & gearbox run common oil the filler point is on the right hand side of the bike ( by ya right shin when you are sitting on the bike )

My Hornet that I have just sold had done 50,000 & was still running mint, I did 22,000 on it in 12mths 7 changed the oil every 5,000 so I never felt any problems .

If in doubt go take it to a bike shop & get them to test ride it & see what they have to say about it .
no offence but from what I can tell .... you dont know the difference between a hammer & a screw driver .

my 2c worth .... good luck

:corn:

[Akzle]

who said anything about subarus? Cheers guys so do any bikes have separate gearbox oil to motor oil?

you'll get used to me. not every sense makes thing with me.

to answer your question: not often.
if it's a four-toker (and it is) the crankcase/box/clutch is one big wet unit. i'd guess about 2 litres of oil in it. filter will be either obvious spin on (more likely) at the front or cartridge type... also at front.

only think i can think of would be dry clutch bike...

[Akzle]

T...the difference between a hammer & a screw driver .


one's yellow and used for fitting powerbands... the other is for taking them off... :D

[FJRider]

Cheers guys so do any bikes have separate gearbox oil to motor oil?

Do you know how to check the oil level in your bike NOW ... ??

[nzmikey]

you'll get used to me. not every sense makes thing with me.

to answer your question: not often.
if it's a four-toker (and it is) the crankcase/box/clutch is one big wet unit. i'd guess about 2 litres of oil in it. filter will be either obvious spin on (more likely) at the front or cartridge type... also at front.

only think i can think of would be dry clutch bike...

Hornet is a 4 Stroke INL4 .
Crankcase/box/clutch is 1 big wet unit ;.......... 2.1 - 2.2L of oil
Filter is on the bottom of sump .... sump nut on 1 side , filter cartrage is on the other .

Clutch is a Wet clutch ....


you almost got it:laugh:

[nzmikey]

one's yellow and used for fitting powerbands... the other is for taking them off... :D

lol cant fault that ..... :laugh:

[hippie]

If in doubt go take it to a bike shop & get them to test ride it & see what they have to say about it .
no offence but from what I can tell .... you dont know the difference between a hammer & a screw driver .

my 2c worth .... good luck

Ive changed cam belts on cars rebuilt brake calipers and other bits and pieces on cars its easy peasy if its all the same oil. im just new to bikes and wrongfully assumed that there was separate oil for each there only looked like one sump plug for the oil but i was erring on the side of caution and making sure i was on the right track.

[FJRider]

Ive changed cam belts on cars rebuilt brake calipers and other bits and pieces on cars its easy peasy if its all the same oil. im just new to bikes and wrongfully assumed that there was separate oil for each there only looked like one sump plug for the oil but i was erring on the side of caution and making sure i was on the right track.

KB is the department of silly questions ... better to ask first ... than not. Usually works out better that way.

But check your oil level before you do anything. Low oil level will cause what you describe.

[hippie]

Do you know how to check the oil level in your bike NOW ... ??


yep know how to check oil level already done a tail tidy on the bike oil level is fine but looks a tad old ive only had the machine 3 weeks just plenty to learn.

[FJRider]

yep know how to check oil level already done a tail tidy on the bike oil level is fine but looks a tad old ive only had the machine 3 weeks just plenty to learn.

Get a workshop manual for your bike. Well worth the money. They explain how to just about everything that needs done. (with pictures/diagrams)

[ducatilover]

From memory you run the same filter as the VTR/VT250 series, TRX4/500s etc, so they're cheap and plentyful
Oil/filter change is easy, being a Honduh it'll be either 17 or 14mm sump plug and very easy to get the filter cover out the bottom of the engine too.
Take note of where the spring is on the filter and which way it goes in, people do manage to fuck it up :shutup:

[hippie]

Alright oil has been changed and been for a ride in this crappy wind but the problem is still there.
If the bike is over 7-8k revs it just doesnt change into 3rd from 2nd fine from 4th down to 3rd below those revs it changes every time like a dream all other gears are fine. Any other ideas anything else that might make it hard to change into 3rd?

[FJRider]

It's fucked ... sell it on trademe. Buy a yamaha. :done:

[Akzle]

Any other ideas anything else that might make it hard to change into 3rd?

pinions, throwout, selector forks.

adjust you clutch as per the workshop manual i told you to buy on page 1.

if still no joy, check your throwout/selector forks for signs of massive wear.

still no joy, pull the box and check your bearings, journals, end-play, and the condition of the teeth on your third-gear pinions.

elsewise. i will give you five buck and a bag of chips and remove the problem from you...

[FJRider]

elsewise. i will give you five buck and a bag of chips and remove the problem from you...


I'd give ten buck's and three bags of chips ... if he delivers it ... :innocent: