1985 YTM 225 DX Tri-Moto no longer shifts

[Afrothunderkat]

Was riding last night and on the way home my tri moto became impossible to shift. i had to pull the shift lever up by hand HARD to get it into 2nd. it will shift, if you pull up quick and let down slow on the shifter. i was riding in my field trying to sync the gears but they wouldn't. it shifts down fine, and i got it to shift fine and smooth for about 10 shifts (5 up 5 down) then it wouldn't come out of neutral. any ideas?


bike became hard to shift 3 other times over the course of 20 hours of riding, but problem was solved by shifting into 5th then back down and up again.

[Yamaha3wheeler]

Could be a bent shift fork or a worn drum. I wouldn't pull up HARD on the shifter as you will bend the forks if they weren't already bent.

Do you change your oil often?

Ever adjust your clutch? Loosen nut on the case. Turn the screw counter clockwise until resistance is felt. Then turn screw 1/8 turn clockwise and lock down the nut. This is from the yamaha manual.

I'd look into all possibly easy solutions before tearing into the case.

[Afrothunderkat]

Could be a bent shift fork or a worn drum. I wouldn't pull up HARD on the shifter as you will bend the forks if they weren't already bent.

Do you change your oil often?

Ever adjust your clutch? Loosen nut on the case. Turn the screw counter clockwise until resistance is felt. Then turn screw 1/8 turn clockwise and lock down the nut. This is from the yamaha manual.

I'd look into all possibly easy solutions before tearing into the case.

change the oil all the time, running 20w-50 cause its hot out. bent shift fork? i hope thats all. i have another engine with a good tranny that i could use for parts. i have tried adjusting the clutch bolt, it was grabing too much before so i spun the screw out 1 turn and tightened the nut.

[Yamaha3wheeler]

I would try re-adjusting the clutch to spec. I'm not saying this will fix your problem, but I would definitely adjust it to what yamaha recommends. See the details I posted above. I just find it kind of odd that your transmission was shifting fine and then all of a sudden was hard to shift. Did you hit anything that could have bent the shift shaft?

How did it shift before you had this problem?

[Afrothunderkat]

I would try re-adjusting the clutch to spec. I'm not saying this will fix your problem, but I would definitely adjust it to what yamaha recommends. See the details I posted above. I just find it kind of odd that your transmission was shifting fine and then all of a sudden was hard to shift. Did you hit anything that could have bent the shift shaft?

How did it shift before you had this problem?

I did roll her off a cliff. hit some nice big rocks before we rolled to a drop. i bent the peg, brake lever and front fender. nothing else. shift shaft isn't bent nor out of place. i will try adjusting to what you said. i was messing with that screw tonight, i made it so it wouldn't take off when gave it gas, it would slip and hardly grab. still didn't shift. then i made it so when you pulled up it clicked right into gear ( so that holding shift lever up dos not put bike in N) and it was still hard.

I wouldn't say you have to pull hard on it, but quickly pull up on it to get it into gear. ill make a video tomorrow showing the issue.

[code-blue]

Sounds like a bent the shift fork.

[Afrothunderkat]

Sounds like a bent the shift fork.

take my right side case off?

i have another engine with a good tranny i can use for parts.

[Zuplar]

I have a similar issue with mine, although I think part of it is due to age. I have heard over time the auto-adjustment stops working, as mine doesn't seem to affect the shifting, any truth to this?

[swampthang]

Ever adjust your clutch? Loosen nut on the case. Turn the screw counter clockwise until resistance is felt. Then turn screw 1/8 turn clockwise and lock down the nut. This is from the yamaha manual.

Your 100% right I just looked at my manual because I'm thinking about adjusting my clutch. My question(prolly dumb but I need to know) when you adjust it should the bike be running? Idleing in neutral? 1st gear? what kind of resistence can I espect to feel? Sorry for all the questions and to hijack the thread but maybe it will help this guy out too.

[Yamaha3wheeler]

I adjust it in neutral with the engine not running. You will turn counter-clockwise and feel it almost stop. It isn't a gradual thing. You turn it counter with very little force and bam, you feel resistance. Then go 1/8 turn clockwise after this. It works perfect for me everytime.

[Yamaha3wheeler]

To Afro man. Did this hard shifting start right after the flips? The gear shift could have caught a rock while tumbling. I'm not telling you what your problem is. You have to dig around and physically look. I can't do this over the internet.

Note: make sure to NEVER pull a bent shaft through the case. It will ruin your case. You need to get a hacksaw and cut off the end near the shifter and then debur that side before pulling it through. Changing this shaft isn't for the non-technical. You need to get a manual if you do not already have one.

[swampthang]

I adjust it in neutral with the engine not running. You will turn counter-clockwise and feel it almost stop. It isn't a gradual thing. You turn it counter with very little force and bam, you feel resistance. Then go 1/8 turn clockwise after this. It works perfect for me everytime.

Thanks man! I'm going to adjust mine tomorrow. I can assume it hasn't been adjusted in forever. Just seems to be alittle jerky when you shift it. I change my oil and filter very frequently and use the correct oil so hoping this helps.

If you do have a bent shaft and have to cut it to remove from the case it should be easy because the Yamahas have a clip near the case that is usually the weak spot where the shaft breaks off. I had this happen on the old 200e Yamaha.

[Afrothunderkat]

To Afro man. Did this hard shifting start right after the flips? The gear shift could have caught a rock while tumbling. I'm not telling you what your problem is. You have to dig around and physically look. I can't do this over the internet.

Note: make sure to NEVER pull a bent shaft through the case. It will ruin your case. You need to get a hacksaw and cut off the end near the shifter and then debur that side before pulling it through. Changing this shaft isn't for the non-technical. You need to get a manual if you do not already have one.

i got a manual off the web, will i have to split the case? i just had it all apart, the hard shifting happened before, but was alleviated via shifting into 5th then back down to first. the bike then seemed to shift normal. this no longer fixes the shifting issue.

here is a video of the issue


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5DXMMEQNsM

[fabiodriven]

I don't think yanking on it like that is going to help anything.

[trizilla]

get as service manual for this thing.... i just bought one last night for $15.00 shipped.. then read it..... tear into that right side cover and be thorough with your parts inspection..... your likely to find your problem there.....

[trizilla]

here's a link.... this will work for you.....http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Yamaha-YTM225DRS-Service-Manual-/200600450312?pt=Motors_Manuals_Literature&hash=item2eb4b7f508#ht_500wt_876

[Afrothunderkat]

get as service manual for this thing.... i just bought one last night for $15.00 shipped.. then read it..... tear into that right side cover and be thorough with your parts inspection..... your likely to find your problem there.....

right side, so clutch side case? can i do this with the motor in the frame?

[muthey]

I think you can but it is much easier with it out, I've only done it with the motor out, and if you really have to tear things down I highly recommend a full gasket set, and having the motor out

[Afrothunderkat]

http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/308488_1964846966808_1411891511_31740092_3916252_n .jpg

http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/185278_1964846686801_1411891511_31740091_4457373_n .jpg

And this is the culprate... this stud fell out and got jammed in the shifting mechanism.
http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/305410_1964847726827_1411891511_31740095_7314399_n .jpg
http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/s720x720/228944_1964848006834_1411891511_31740097_4230787_n .jpg

shifts fine now. all it needs now is rings, so it will stop smoking.

[muthey]

awesome glad you got it fixed, and I guess I was right you could do it in the frame, but on a side note what is going to keep it from falling out again? it should never have fallen out in the first place so time to make sure everything is ok before putting it back together.

[Afrothunderkat]

awesome glad you got it fixed, and I guess I was right you could do it in the frame, but on a side note what is going to keep it from falling out again? it should never have fallen out in the first place so time to make sure everything is ok before putting it back together.

HA! i didn't put it back in. shifts fine with out it hahahaha!

[muthey]

I guess my question is as I didn't pay much attention to it at the time I stripped down a 225 dr what does it do as it wouldn't be in there if it had no purpose maybe some one can help. Now I am wishing I had paid a little more attention when I tore it down

[fabiodriven]

HA! i didn't put it back in. shifts fine with out it hahahaha!

I was just about to compliment you on a good job.

Please look into this a little further and fix it right. It's for your own good. I'm sure the engineers at Yamaha had a purpose for that part.

[muthey]

thank you fabio, that was my thoughts, it has a purpose and if it just fell out I fear something else might be broken

[Afrothunderkat]

I was just about to compliment you on a good job.

Please look into this a little further and fix it right. It's for your own good. I'm sure the engineers at Yamaha had a purpose for that part.

its a stud that makes the shifting tight, with out it the shifting is not as tight, meaning you must pull the lever up an extra inch for it to shift. its not sloppy but its not precise. i was not about to put something back in that fell out, nor was i going to try and hammah the part in. the bike is fine now, i also swapped out some internals for some new ones i had. replaced springs and shes all good.

[muthey]

ok as long as you know what it is for and that it is not required for proper running procedures then we won't critisize you for your decision, just remember that it is out if your tranny starts acting funny may need to replace that side of the crankcase at some point

[fabiodriven]

ok as long as you know what it is for and that it is not required for proper running procedures then we won't critisize you for your decision,

Got a mouse in your pocket?

[muthey]

sometimes fabio lol I know you will still criticize, but I still wanted to make him feel better about his decision

[Zuplar]

I need to look into this for mine. Where did you get the springs at?

[Lil Earl]

i would figure out the problem, if you have a spare bottom end, use that and fix the problem the right way

[Afrothunderkat]

I need to look into this for mine. Where did you get the springs at?

from the spare engine i had.

[Afrothunderkat]

i would figure out the problem, if you have a spare bottom end, use that and fix the problem the right way

i would, but i dont know how to press studs into an aluminum block. id rather have it be working then broken because wanted to be a nitpick and pound a stud back in.

[Zuplar]

BTW, I took my side case off this weekend to see on my issue. Upon doing this I found out the centrifugal part of the clutch was pretty much toast. The springs on both side that hold it from engaging were broke. This basically means it was always engaged and always trying to move the trike. Also the spring was broken in a ton of pieces interfering with the shifting mechanism making it hard. I had a spare motor so replaced the clutch and clutch basket to a better one, slapped it back together and it shifts very smooth now. Shifts and runs better than it ever has since I've owned it. Didn't cost me any money since I had the parts just about 3 hours of my time.