'00 ZX6R Gearbox

[lifeofcrimeguy]

Been having a little trouble finding neutral lately, the bike finds 2nd instead whilst stationary and from there I seem to be able to access right through to 6th as well. I vaguely remember a review for this bike saying that the gearbox was solid as and didn't have any known problems, Just wondering whether this is something I should be concerned about. Not something that occurs regularly but maybe 2-4 times a month. I'm thinking it might be an age thing?

[Gosling1]

I think Swabio had a similiar problem with his old orange ZX6R ?? I can't remember what the cause was eventually determined to be....

[Wattie]

I think Swabio had a similiar problem with his old orange ZX6R ?? I can't remember what the cause was eventually determined to be....

swabs was an 05 but wasnt it??

how long since you changed the oil??

might not help, but worth a try.

[Gosling1]

It coulda been an '05, I think there was some type of common gearbox ailment in this model range ? Especially jumping out of 2nd gear etc.....Swabs could shed a bit of light on this....

[Slow and wobbly]

Kawasaki gearboxes are solid. The problem may be with the positive neutral finder. Whilst I haven't yet had the pleasure of pulling one down, I believe there is a spring loaded ball bearing or similar that throws out with inertia from the output shaft that assists in the first to second gear change. But when the output shaft is at low speed or stationary it is held in by detent that allows neutral and neutral only to be selected. It sounds like this mechanism may be jammed and is not allowing neutral to be selected.
Try google "Kawasaki positive neutral finder" and you will find the answers. I did but couldn't be bothered sifting through it all.

[Rusty]

How old's the oil, and how dirty does it get before it's changed?

My ZZR600 does something similar when cold on old oil. As Adrian said, it'll just be the PNF.

[Gosling1]

......Kawasaki gearboxes are solid......

they are, but they still fuck up. I have trashed a solid Z1000 gearbox from track-use, I know Mick C had *issues* with the box in his old ZX9, and Swabio had all sorts of problems with the gearbox in his ZX6....

This problem may be the positive neutral finder,. It sounds more to me like the return spring on the shift pawl is either stretched beyond specification, or perhaps has even broken completely......or it could just be old and dirty oil. On the old Z750's, once the oil got old and dirty, the small bearings in the starter clutch would not 'throw out' properly, and the starter clutch would just spin......then grab.....then spin....etc etc. Changing the oil fixed this..........for a while anyway

[lifeofcrimeguy]

Yeah I assume it would be the PNF seeing as not finding neutral seems to be the only problem. Just got the girl back from a service tonight, will see over the coming days/weeks whether it come back again.