Shifting semi auto transmission

[WillrogersII]

Do you have to let off the gas pedal when shifting gears on a semi auto transmission. ATV has 5 manual gears but no clutch. So can i just change them as I am holding down the gas throttle with out damaging the transmission. Thanks  

[Mech]

Well..  Most bikes, the gear-change lever does have a connection/linkage to the a clutch so when you change gear it self clutches.. as long as the clutch is adjusted correctly. This is a second clutch with plates in it, not the main drive/takeoff clutch which is a centrifugal one.

You can test this disengage feature by shifting into gear but don't let the lever return to it's center position, keep holding it up with your toe, now give the bike a few revs(enough to start moving usually) and then let the lever down. The bike should lurch forwards as the manually operated clutch takes up.

If that clutch is disengaging correctly, and at the right point in the gear-change operation, that is, it should disengage before the gears start to mesh/shift, which you can test for(very carefully), by giving the bike a few revs before trying to engage gears. If the clutch is adjusted correctly, the clutch will have disengaged before the gears try to mesh, and there should be no loud graunching if you engage gear slowly. It might clunk into gear because of a bit of drag on the clutch, but it should go into gear.

If that second clutch, the manual one, not the centrifugal clutch that normally does the drive engagement, is ok and adjusted correctly, then yes you can change gears with the throttle open. It's always a better idea though, to throttle off momentarily, as with any vehicle, to save the clutches and prevent harsh engagement of the spinning gears.

 

 

Edited June 3, 2022 by Mech

[WillrogersII]

Excellent! Above and beyond my expectations, not only did you answer my question you explained in good detail on why and how to test for proper operation. Thanks and be safe.   

[Mech]

Haha...

My pleasure.

That manual clutch feature... it's handy for mounting logs or getting out of ruts..  You can rev them up and dump the clutch with your toe once you've worked out the sequence of operations to end up in the right gear with your toe still under(or on) the lever..

Edited June 4, 2022 by Mech