Gears stuck?

[DanielM8]

Chinese motorbike, just bought it, has been sitting in somebody's garage for years... yet to fire it up, just turned the ignition on and gears show gear 5. a downshift makes the light go off, will only shift back up to 5 then, wont go up or down any further... whats going on here? if its in 5 and I downshift, it should go 4, not go off. And why is it getting stuck? Kickstart wont move an inch.. suspect because it's theoretically in gear 5. wheels wont move without clutch in (again, obviously because it's in gear 5?) Bike newbie, please help me out. Bike is a ZongShen ZS125-7 ... 125cc. Thanks!

[Jantar]

Chinese motorbike,....... Bike is a ZongShen ZS125-7 ... 125cc. Thanks!

There is the main problem. However try changing down while rocking it forwards. Sometimes the dog clutch in the gearbox isn't lined up sufficiently.

[tigertim20]

if its been sitting it could be a few things . .

first, try ricking the bike forward and backwards as you push the gear shifter down and see if thats makes any difference. can you find neutral?
if you can find neutral, try the kickstarter again

If you cant find neutral, pull the clutch in, and see if you can move the kickstarter with the clutch in. if not, its probably seized. You can try whipping the plug out and putting a little oil down the plug hole and leaving it for a few days to see if you can free it up a little.

[Katman]

How far is it to the tip?

[bogan]

Yeh get the gears moving around by spinning the rear wheel as you shift through them as the dogs often don't line up, another option is your indicator light is buggered maybe? Hard to tell from what you posted.


if its been sitting it could be a few things . .

first, try ricking the bike forward and backwards as you push the gear shifter down and see if thats makes any difference. can you find neutral?
if you can find neutral, try the kickstarter again

If you cant find neutral, pull the clutch in, and see if you can move the kickstarter with the clutch in. if not, its probably seized. You can try whipping the plug out and putting a little oil down the plug hole and leaving it for a few days to see if you can free it up a little.

If its been sitting for a while I wouldn't be surprised if the clutch needs a good wack to free up.

[bogan]

How far is it to the tip?

Too far to ride by the sounds of it :pinch:

[DanielM8]

Thanks! Just rocked in forward each time I kicked the gear lever down, it went 3 down then 3 back up... but its still not doing that little click each time, it feels like its still getting stuck.. in any case, let go of clutch lever, and the bike rolls forward/back now where it got stuck before... tried changing up gear and rolling again... rolled still. up again still rolls. does this mean it's stuck in neutral or is it meant to roll even when in gear? any other advice you can offer, does it need oil/greasing done being it's been 4 years, how do I do this? and do you recommend a newbie to bikes not open the transmission cover on the side or can no harm be done if i reassmble exactly as I deassembled..?

Cheers

[DanielM8]

Yeh get the gears moving around by spinning the rear wheel as you shift through them as the dogs often don't line up, another option is your indicator light is buggered maybe? Hard to tell from what you posted.



If its been sitting for a while I wouldn't be surprised if the clutch needs a good wack to free up.

What other details can I give? I don't exactly know what I'm talking about, and am trying to learn what it all means as it comes to light... it did seem to free up a bit, I'll give it some more goes tomorrow.. rolling it and kicking the downshift.. although it feels like its not freely clicking and it's jamming half the time (but what do I know)

the clutch I think must be fine? as it wouldn't roll before, until I pulled the clutch in, and then the bike would roll fine... this would indicate the clutch is working fine right?

[Jantar]

While rolling it forward, try changing down without using the clutch.

[DanielM8]

if its been sitting it could be a few things . .

first, try ricking the bike forward and backwards as you push the gear shifter down and see if thats makes any difference. can you find neutral?
if you can find neutral, try the kickstarter again

If you cant find neutral, pull the clutch in, and see if you can move the kickstarter with the clutch in. if not, its probably seized. You can try whipping the plug out and putting a little oil down the plug hole and leaving it for a few days to see if you can free it up a little.

I'll have a go kicking it with the clutch in tomorrow when it's light enough (garage isn't very suitably lit at night time)... is it possible it has seized from time? it hasn't been started cranked or driven since it was left to sit 4 years ago.. it had done 150km since new on its first oil change and then left to sit

[Katman]

and do you recommend a newbie to bikes not open the transmission cover on the side or can no harm be done if i reassmble exactly as I deassembled..?


What could possibly go wrong?

It's not like it's ever likely to go again.

[pete-blen]

I think you have found the reason why it has been sitting for years...

You have to remove the motor from the frame & split it & have a look inside...

forget about the pushing /pocking/wobbling it.... It's more than that tool box can fix..
if it hasn't free up by now chances are it's not going to...

Its a good bike to learn about what goes on inside a motor... Pull the fucker apart...

[DanielM8]

I think you have found the reason why it has been sitting for years...

You have to remove the motor from the frame & split it & have a look inside...

forget about the pushing /pocking/wobbling it.... It's more than that tool box can fix..
if it hasn't free up by now chances are it's not going to...

Its a good bike to learn about what goes on inside a motor... Pull the fucker apart...

A Few half second taps of the starter motor and it has come free now. Seems it was only slightly stuck.

[Paul in NZ]

A Few half second taps of the starter motor and it has come free now. Seems it was only slightly stuck.

Well be careful - its rare to only slightly hurt yourself if it all goes pear shaped....

[White trash]

How far is it to the tip?


What could possibly go wrong?

It's not like it's ever likely to go again.

I have a sneaking suspicion you're being ignored mate.

[Akzle]

I have a sneaking suspicion you're being ignored mate.

he's more fucking ignored than me. i'm quite incensed. he's not half the cunt i am.

[FJRider]

A Few half second taps of the starter motor and it has come free now. Seems it was only slightly stuck.

If the starter motor goes ... sell it. Probably the best bit on the whole bike.

[FJRider]

he's more fucking ignored than me. i'm quite incensed. he's not half the cunt i am.

He IS half a cunt ... you're the complete cunt ...

[DanielM8]

Didn't check by for a few days... oh how I love the biker community.

Please forgive me for ignoring your "to the tip" comment... I thought you were being a prick, but may be you were being slightly serious. Also forgive me if I am taking your "entire seriousness" as "slightly serious" - that's pure ignorance... willfully, ofcourse.

[Paul in NZ]

A motorcycle gear lever isnt a light switch - every time you push is something miraculous does not occur. Its a lump of metal connected to other lumps connected to a bunvh of messy cogs that have been abused.

Drag it out and push it back and forward - see if that makes a difference. Get a mate to push you and see if you can make it go click that way...

However - I'd suggest you find someone a little more experienced in actual meat space and get them to look at it because your descriptions thus far are really just asking for a ribbing. maybe not your fault but just saying....

[Banditbandit]

There is the main problem.


Yeah .. I've known people who've had them .. my advice is strip the engine completely and reassemble it - it's the oly way to be sure ..

Had a mate with one ... he took the barrell off ... the nuts on the conrod were only finger tight .. you'd freak at the things he found when he stripped the engine completely ... bearings in wrong ... nuts not tight ...

It's a good way to get a cheap bike - but you need to strip them and rebuild them before riding ..

[Banditbandit]

he's not half the cunt i am.

Which half are you ?

[Akzle]

Which half are you ?

the inside.

[slofox]

Yeah .. I've known people who've had them .. my advice is strip the engine completely and reassemble it - it's the oly way to be sure ..

Had a mate with one ... he took the barrell off ... the nuts on the conrod were only finger tight .. you'd freak at the things he found when he stripped the engine completely ... bearings in wrong ... nuts not tight ...

It's a good way to get a cheap bike - but you need to strip them and rebuild them before riding ..

My first bike was a 1953 Ariel 350 single. Eventually I got round to stripping the engine. And found that the crankpin was in back to front. Meaning there was no direct oil feed into the big end...just whatever it picked up from dipping into the oil in the crankcase each time it went round...

Amazing it didn't cease. But it kept going. Nothing like an understressed engine. :eek5: