Ducati Sporting Club UK > Model Specific - Discussion, Technical Problems and Help > Sport Touring: ST4 / ST3 / ST2 > False Neutrals

[Jools]

When I launched my ST down the road at Rockingham, it went down on the right hand side and travelled backwards for about 30 feet, sparking as it went.

One of the suprising side effects is that I'm now getting a lot of false neutrals and very crunchy gear selection. This wasn't too surprising at first, because the chain must've taken some of the shock and had been banged out of tension.

Trouble is the tension is now fine, and everything is still more graunchy than normal, and I'm still coming up to road junctions and getting neutrals instead of first or second. Any ideas?



[Edited on 12-5-2003 by Jools]

[nelly]

Jools, sorry to hear about the tumble mate.
Did you definately knock the tension out of the chain? or just assumed/thought you had?

[Jools]

Well mate, The chain tension was fine before I lobbed it, 'cos I had just put some ceramic wax on it between sessions, and I know it was good.

After I lobbed it, it was like a skipping rope and I had to get the CSS mechanic bloke to tension it because it wouldn't pass scrutineering.

[nelly]

Pop it up on the centre stand and spin the wheel.
Have a listen for any strange noises around the front sprocket area.
The tension must have been released somewher and the adjusters wouldn't have moved.
May have knocked a bearing or something on the output shaft?????

[Jools]

Phew! Thank gawd! I haven't got knackered output bearings....sorted by the simplest thing.

Did as you suggested Neil, to see if there were any nasty front sprockety noises, operating the gear lever by hand.

I found nearly a centimetre of slop in the gearchange linkage. Hmmmmm, that'd do it....

The excess play traced back to the front allen bolt on the footrest hanger which had come very loose, allowing the whole footrest and gear linkage gubbins to flex sideways. Tightened it all up again and voila! Proper gear selection.

Funny how your feet can't detect that amount of play innit?

[nelly]

Glad that bits sorted