80's LT230GE clutch trouble

[jtoney]

Hi there, I am new here and have two older Suzuki ATV's.  The one I am having trouble with right now is a mid 80's LT230GE Shaft with a semi auto clutch and I don't know where to go next on this one.

It would not shift into neutral, and now that I did a clutch adjustment I only get 3 gears, not sure which ones.  Any ideas on what to do next?  Do I need to tear into the clutch now?

[Gwbarm]

Sometimes  neutral is hard to find sometimes you have to rock back and forth to find neutral, but im sure you know that , so something must be different, I would try adjusting the clutch again.. Turn to the left until you feel resistance, then turn to the right 1/8 of a turn and lock it down. I would also change the oil to get some clean lubrication in there.

[Mech]

Readjust the clutch.

Are you trying for neutral and the gears with the engine running, or off ?

[jtoney]

Holly cats!  So this might mark me as a dumb dumb but I guess was turning the adjustment screw the wrong way!

I am trying the gears with out it running, couldn't get it started. Maybe it's just me but seems really dumb to me to make it so you have to drain the oil to adjust the clutch. 

So now that I bottomed out my adjustment screw in the wrong direction how would I go about fixing that little boo boo?

[Gwbarm]

I would turn it counterclockwise to get it back to where you started, just keep turning it counterclockwise until you feel resistance and then turn it clockwise 1/8 of a turn. You do not have to drain the oil to adjust the clutch. 

[Mech]

For a lt160...

And yeah, I thought it strange to have to drain the oil..  I'd just jack it up on that side so the oil runs to the other side.

[jtoney]

You guys have obviously spent a lot more time trouble shooting, lol.  I didn't even think of just jacking it up on the one side.  I have a new filter and gasket on the way (figured I would just change them), so I'll put some more oil in it once I get that and give this another try on the adjustment.  I'll let you know what happens!

19 minutes ago, Mech said:

And yeah, I thought it strange to have to drain the oil..  I'd just jack it up on that side so the oil runs to the other side.

 

[jtoney]

27 minutes ago, Gwbarm said:

I would turn it counterclockwise to get it back to where you started, just keep turning it counterclockwise until you feel resistance and then turn it clockwise 1/8 of a turn. You do not have to drain the oil to adjust the clutch. 

Thanks for the suggestions and help. I've done a lot of work on my cars but this small engine stuff is new to me.

[Gwbarm]

Thanks Mech, I see now the adjuster is under the cover, so drain oil so you don't get it all over the ground.