From Neutral to 1st Gear...a clunk usually...sometimes no clunk at all?

Johnny Canuck

Johnny Canuck

Joined
May 27, 2013
Messages
146
Location
Newmarket, Ontario north of Toronto
Bike
1999 ST1100
While waiting at stop lights, I'm usually in neutral as I don't want to continuously hold the clutch lever in waiting for the light to turn green. When it's nearly time to move off, I'll put the bike in 1st gear, usually there's a clunk in the transmission when I do this....but on the rare occasion I don't get a clunk...just a quiet click. Why are there differences?
 
Maybe operating temp of the oil? I would never put my bike in neutral when stopped at a light. If someone is coming up behind and is distracted and doesn't stop you will be a sitting duck.
 
How many miles on your rubber bumper?
(Inside the rear wheel.)

I believe I have noted a difference in 'clunks' with new rubber and aluminum inserts.
 
Try double clutching... pull the clutch in, let it out... then pull it in, drop it in first. See if that makes a difference. You can also try holding the clutch in for a second or two before dropping it in first to let things sync up.
 
Who can fully know the wonderful mysteries of Honda engineering? Yeah, sometimes it clunks and sometimes it doesn't. It's normal. Keep riding.

+1 on staying in gear at a light. I hate watching cars come up behind me. I don't trust the drivers. I was rear ended in a cage once by an inattentive driver. I haven't been hit like that yet on my bike, but I'm always watching and ready to bolt out of the way ...just in case.
 
I would give it a few seconds after pulling in the clutch for the primary transmission shaft to stop spinning. with the engine running in neutral and the clutch out the primary side of the trans is in motion...
 
Johnny Canuck said:
While waiting at stop lights, I'm usually in neutral as I don't want to continuously hold the clutch lever in waiting for the light to turn green. When it's nearly time to move off, I'll put the bike in 1st gear, usually there's a clunk in the transmission when I do this....but on the rare occasion I don't get a clunk...just a quiet click. Why are there differences?
Click to expand...

The clunk IS normal. Just the 'dogs' on one gear going into slots on oppossing gear. BTW, NEVER sit at a stop sign or light with bike in nuetral! There is NO wear on clutch components with clutch in since everything runs in oil. BTW, a riding refresher course may be in store as a refresher.....just saying.....
 
Mine does same thing. Sometimes she shifts thru gears like a Swiss watch and sometimes like a 100 year old bulldozer. And I just completely changed all clutch parts. It is what it is. Just ride

Mark
 
omniron said:
Who can fully know the wonderful mysteries of Honda engineering? Yeah, sometimes it clunks and sometimes it doesn't. It's normal. Keep riding.

+1 on staying in gear at a light. I hate watching cars come up behind me. I don't trust the drivers. I was rear ended in a cage once by an inattentive driver. I haven't been hit like that yet on my bike, but I'm always watching and ready to bolt out of the way ...just in case.
Click to expand...

Get yourself one of those brake light LED strobes. Super bright, very effective. I keep watch in the mirrors and keep the brake on until I see them stop. Always in gear here, too.
 
Little Debbie cakes help stop the clunk or maybe it was the synthetic oil.
 
You will find that the transmission will clunk into gear much louder if you pull the clutch in and immediately drop it into gear. If you pull the clutch in and wait a second before dropping into gear this allows a full release of the clutch and allows the gears dogs to mesh together much more quietly without the engine dragging and causing tension against the gears and gear dogs.
 
All my Hondas made that <clunk> when going from Neutral to First, under your circumstances. Standard Honda Operating Procedure.

A more likely scenario than a car flying into you because you're in Neutral is the light turning green and you rev the engine to take off but go nowhere because you forgot to shift into First. The car/truck that stopped too close to you in the first place thinks you're taking off and does likewise. Bang, or tap. Or is distracted, then sees the Green light and looks past you to the car ahead of you taking off. No T/CSs, but I believe I've come closer to this scenario many more times than maybe almost having somebody failing to slow down in time.

I won't presume to tell you how to drive/ride as only you know how well your method works for you. I prefer to stay in gear, only occasionally going to Neutral to work my hand if I feel a cramp coming on.
 
Thanks for the feedback. I guess the reason for my question was the inconsistency I seem to notice where I get the clunk 95% of the time, and then the simple "click" the remaining 5%. Yes...I do pull in the clutch and usually wait 2 or 3 seconds before placing the bike in gear, and I still get clunks most of the time. Naturally I like the "click" as it seems less stressful on the mechanical parts and I was hoping that someone would have told me the blinding flash of the obvious which I have been missing. Seems like I'm not missing anything. Oh well....given the experience above I'll just grin and bare it.

HOWEVER....I do agree with ST Gui's take on sitting at the light and potential rear-ending when the light turns green and you've not put into gear. Maybe I will place the bike in gear until the vehicle behind me has come to a stop, place in neutral and then placing into gear when the opposing traffic light turns yellow - usually a 5 second warning or so before the traffic light turns green - then place into gear and be at the ready. Honestly, I don't see myself holding in the clutch for over a minute sometimes - given larger intersections with opposing advance greens, etc.
 
bdalameda said:
You will find that the transmission will clunk into gear much louder if you pull the clutch in and immediately drop it into gear. If you pull the clutch in and wait a second before dropping into gear this allows a full release of the clutch and allows the gears dogs to mesh together much more quietly without the engine dragging and causing tension against the gears and gear dogs.
Click to expand...

I'm finding the same thing as you, but sometimes I also blip the throttle, wait a couple of seconds, and then drop it into gear.
 
I brought this up a while back, and the response was that it's the clutch plates sticking together after you pull the clutch in. Try this: Start the bike with the transmission in neutral, pull in the clutch, and drop it into first gear. You should feel the "clunk". When it "clunks", it breaks the metal and fiber clutch plates apart and one or the other (I can't remember which) is allowed to spin while the others do not. Now, put it back in neutral, and without letting the clutch out, drop it into 1st gear again. You shouldn't feel the clunk this time because the clutch plates aren't stuck together.
 
Having completed improved rider courses with the UK police, their instruction is to pull up with room in front to spare, keep it in gear until car approaching from behind is stopped then creep forward to give yourself that bit extra room behind, in case of a shunt. then find neutral. By this time the lights have changed from red to green, then back to red. That puts you at the front of the queue ready to jump the next amber light.... Only kidding
My clutch also has a mind of its own and clunks often. I did replace the cush drive rubbers and it made a big difference in more ways than one
 
On Saturdays, I usually ride with a couple of other guys. Both of them owned STs previously, but have since transitioned to other bikes. That's fine for them. I'm staying with my ST for the long foreseeable future. I digress. As we mounted up after a stop to stretch (and unload ballast), I was waiting for one of the guys on a Ninja 1000 to get ready. I watched as he mounted, started the engine, pulled in the clutch, and shifted into gear. (I usually leave my bike in gear when I stop so it won't roll off the side stand, but apparently this guy doesn't.) Anyway, when he shifted into first, I heard the "clunk" even with helmet and earplugs on and the bike lurched a good half foot forward. I asked him about it later. He said it's normal for that bike.

I've never experienced anything like that on my ST. It may clunk sometimes, but it's not violent like a Ninja.
 
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