2nd gear problems
 

I was wondering if anyone could help me, I just bought a 93 ninja zx-6 last month, and when i ride, sometimes it slips out of 2nd in to neutral...i dont know if it would be one specific problem, or many possibilities. I am just hoping it wont be really costly!! Thanks! Justin

RE: 2nd gear problems
 

Welcome to the forums Justin!!

I can't help you on this problem, but hopefully some of our more experience riders can help....

RE: 2nd gear problems
 

it could be a few things but for sure second gear is shot.. needs new gear and syncro

RE: 2nd gear problems
 

I just remembered this topic....

https://www.kawasakiforums.com/m_2073/tm.htm

RE: 2nd gear problems
 

I have a 94 zx-6 e 2nd gear is one of those problems with our modle of bike for more information on this problem you should check out www.zx6e.com a great sight for bikes like ours

RE: 2nd gear problems
 

Hey man,
I really appriciate your help!!! I don't know very much about bikes, and at first I thought it was me doing it, but found out for sure that it wasn't. I had asked some other people about it at first, and they said the same thing you did, but when I found this site, I figured that you guys would know better than most people! Just a shot in the dark, but you wouldnt know roughly how much that would cost would you??

Thanks again,
Justin

RE: 2nd gear problems
 

Most likely you have a shaft fork that is bent. This will cause the gear not to engage the dogs all the way into the mating gear. I have an 06 636 that won't stay in first. I took it to my dealer (still under warranty) they tried to tell me it was abuse. But I never beat on the gears. Mine (and a few friends with 06 636's) have issues with missed 1-2 upshifts. It will hit neutral instead of second. Then when you pull the clutch in and try to get it back into second it has gear clash. Several companies make a new shift detent kit that will fix this problem. But most likely the damage is. I just tore my engine down to fix this. About $350 in parts for the gears and seals needed to fix it.

RE: 2nd gear problems
 

Try adjusting your shift lever a little lower first. You can also check out www.factorypro.com for the shifting star that they sell. Might solve your problem. If you had a bent shift fork, you would have problems in other gears as well. Most of the time it's just that you're not shifting up fully with your foot and the roller just sits at the top center of the shift star and falls back to neutral if you hit a bump or something.

RE: 2nd gear problems
 

I would hink that you might not be totaly getting it in gear all the way. does it make any funny noises when your shifting? or riding? if so you might have a bad syncro for that gear.

RE: 2nd gear problems
 

The first thing I tell people to do when they are complaining about misshifting is to check your chain tension. It should have about 1" of reflection roughly in the center of the chain, which I beleive is about 16" ahead of the rear axle.

If this doesn't help, then you might need some tranny work (forks,shifter arm, etc...). Also, what are you running for motor oil? It's the same oil for the tranny and if you are running a synthetic, you might want to try a heavy dino oil. Maybe some 20w-50 depending on your climate.