Making It Easier To Select Neutral

[Suzuki_Don]

I have read here on the site a couple of times lately with guys having trouble selecting neutral, particularly when the bike has come to a halt.

I tried this trick not knowing whether it would work or not. As it was it worked out really well and I can select neutral very easily when the bike is at a halt. before I did this mod I had to select neutral while the bike was moving, which is not always possible.

The mod is to replace the standard cam stopper No.2 spring ('77 GS550) with a heavier one from a GS650 which I pulled from a spare "G" motor I had in the shed (so I cannot be guaranteed it is the OE spring but anything heavier than the original would be good). The difference is chalk and cheese. It goes into neutral so much easier now. See following pic for comparison between the two springs.





The original 550 spring on the right, the heavier 650 spring on the left.

Any questions?

[tkent02]

The one with less coils should be the stronger of the two?
Or is the wire that much thinner?
What am I missing here?

[Steve]

The mod is to replace the standard cam stopper No.2 spring ...

Any questions?

Ummm, YEAH.

Just where is this spring?

I have a sneaking suspicion that such an animal does not exist on my 850s.

.

[wkmpt]

Chalk and cheese?

[Nessism]

The one with less coils should be the stronger of the two?
Or is the wire that much thinner?
What am I missing here?

I agree with Tom here. The spring with more coils will be softer.

My newest 1000 doesn't like to find neutral when the bike isn't moving. Maybe I need a spring with more coils?

BTW (for Steve): that spring is for the neutral stop. It pushes a metal plunger that engages with a notch on the shift drum.

[Steve]

BTW (for Steve): that spring is for the neutral stop. It pushes a metal plunger that engages with a notch on the shift drum.

So, you're saying it's inside the engine?

You have to split the cases to change it?

.

[Suzuki_Don]

OK Thanks for the queries (queeries)!!!!!!!!!!!

TOM: The spring on the left with more coils is much stiffer than the one on the right. The wire on the left one is much thicker, although the pic does not really show this. The spring on the right I could compress easily between my fingers (quite soft), easily compressed. The spring on the right is much harder to compress, also it could be the material they are made from.

Having said that I don't know if the original spring in the 550 was the one it came from the factory with and like wise with the 650 spring.

STEVE: All motors/transmissions have these springs, stoppers, etc. It is how you find neutral and no you don't have to disassemble the motor to get at it. There is a bolt type thingo the screws into the crankcase which is hollowed out to accept the spring and the other end of the spring goes into a nodule that presses against the shift drum and goes into an indentation when neutral is selected.

With the stronger spring in place there is a much more positive feel to finding neutral.

Just for you Steve, '82 GS850G shift mechanism and so others know what I am talking about.





The spring we are talking about is #21







This is the neutral plunger position on the 550s, the larger motors have the fitting from underneath the motor.

.

[Steve]

Thanks, Don.

I would guess that, because of the gasket involved, that oil would come out when the bolt is removed?

Next time I change oil on my wife's bike, I will have to check that spring. Her bike has been hard to find neutral.

.

[Suzuki_Don]

Thanks, Don.

I would guess that, because of the gasket involved, that oil would come out when the bolt is removed?

Next time I change oil on my wife's bike, I will have to check that spring. Her bike has been hard to find neutral.

.

Yes Steve, luckily mine is on top, although I did replace mine when the cases were apart. But I can't believe the difference it has made to my bike. Let me know how it goes when you do it.

[Steve]

It may be a while, don't hold your breath.

I will find out this week whether I am working between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Gives more time to work, but less money to play with.

.

[Buffalo Bill]

Doh! Just when I hear about a fix for that!

Bummer!
I got an 1100G, so their ain't no bigger engine to take a spring from.

[tkent02]

No, but there are spring suppliers chock full of them.

[Steve]

Bummer!
I got an 1100G, so their ain't no bigger engine to take a spring from.

Who said it had to be a "G"?

Keeping it Suzuki:
GS1150E
GV1200 Madura
GSX1250
GSX1300R Hayabusa
GV1400 Cavalcade
C90 Boulevard (1462cc)
M109 Boulevard (1783cc)



Or, as tkent says, plenty of spring supply houses.

.

[UncleMike]

So, how would one go about measuring the general spring rate of an item that small - you know, so they could order a stronger one for their ... oh to just pick a model at random - 1986 Suzuki GS 1150 E (in red)?

[Steve]

Springs from the red ones won't work, you need the blue ones.


OK, springs are measured by force necessary to compress (or extend) a measured amount.
Get a scale and a ruler and get busy.

.