I have a '98 300EX that decided last weekend during a ride that it wasn't going to shift into 3rd, 4th, or 5th gear. Clutch is fine as it shifts into 1st, 2nd or reverse. I thought that the engine would need to be torn apart...the Honda dealer said bring it in...they said a gear that could be accessed from the clutch entrance could be jammed or needing replacement. They said it was a chance -- and not the shift fork, which would require the motor to be torn apart.

Has anyone had a similar experience with a 300EX?

Thanks...
h4trx

 

hey h4trx..
I have a 95 300ex. I can shift into all gears!! But the shifting is not real smooth. Like a clinky shift. When i shift into 1st, the bike kinda jumps forward a little !! I thought it was a clutch adjustment. It may be, but I am still unsure of the solution !! All gears just seem to be hard to get into. Like something is not lined up correctly.. or something like that !! I will let you know when i find out more. I hope you solve it before i do, i am kinda slow at fixing my problems !! One cause of money and two because i just keep putting it off till later!!

Good luck


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Exer_95....Jason....95' Honda 300ex

 

I have a "00" 300EX, and when my machine is "cold" or right when I start it up and shift into first gear, it to jumps ahead slightly. But once it is warmed up, it never happens. I think that it is a lubrication thing. When parked for some time, all of the oil drains down to the bottom of the engine and out of the clutch. After riding it for a couple of minutes, everything is then lubricated. And works correctly. I could be wrong. And if I am, someone please correct me so that I can fix my bike.
As far as not being able to shift above 3rd gear. I would probaly have a dealer look at it unless you are firmilar with clutches. It's more complex than what you think in there.

Chris "00" 300EX

 

The reason that the quad jumps forward when it is cold and not warm is because of the oil. An example of this is trying to pour oil out of a jug at 32° and 90°. When the oil is cold is is very thick and when hot it pours very easy. Now imagine that oil between two plates with a 1/8 inch gap between them. If you spin one plate and hold the other one stationary, when the oil is cold it is able to transmit force from one plate to the other because it is very thick! and when the oil warms up it does not transmit as much force.

So that is why it changes when the quad is hot or cold.

P.S. the gap between the clutch plates is much less that 1/8"

 

I had the same problem with the jumping when cold with my old 83'XR500... but dont have the slightest problem with any of my new bikes..91'XR250,98XR400,88'CR125 ect.. what I did on the 500 is shift it into second before starting it and rocked it back and forth with the cluch in,, breaking the cluch loose seemed to cure the "cold clunk and lurch prob"
Joe

 

I understand your hot and cold ideas. And i also know they tends to happen.. But mine doesn't seem to stop when it is warm or hot. doesn't really change. And yes there is oil, and yes it is Honda lube !! I think 10-30. Maybe 10-40 would work better, or even 10-50. Do they amke 10-50? but then in the winter, that will thicken up the oil even more, and have much less Lub. when not warmed up yet !! Not good i am thinkin !!!

Please tell me what you think !!!!!


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Exer_95....Jason....95' Honda 300ex

 

Since no one has responded to my original post...I guess I'm the only one with a 300EX that has serious problems.

 

I have had the same problem with a 94 yamaha Blaster.You take off the side cover (on the clutch side, of course). then you spray all of the clutches with WD-40. It worked for me, as I hope it does for you.

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YA U PROBLY ARE THE ONLY ONE WITH PROBLEMS WITH YOUR 300EX BECAUSE HONDA UNLIKE POLARIS DOESN'T MAKE LEMONS!!!

DG_300EX,
No profanity please!
ATVBBS

[This message has been edited by atvbbs (edited 11-10-1999).]

 

H4trx, something is definitely screwed up with your shifting and transmission, maybe a bent shift fork? I really don't know. And for the other responders, mine too lurches forward when it's cold shifting into gear, but when it warms up, it's fine. Another thing to add to the "oil not being on the clutch when it's first started" solution is that when the oil warms up, all the clutch plates expand. This could be another thing contributing to it. Also, Exer_95, you might have grooves on your clutch basket, filing them off may help for shifting a little, but probably not solve it entirely.