False neutral downshifting from 4th

Subject says it all really, all other shifts are fine but occasionally get false neutral when going down to third. Appears to go from 4th to somewhere below 3rd, as when it happens another downshift gets 2nd or an upshift finds 3rd. Patient is mk3 850 with Lh shift.
I haven't dismantled yet, but any hints welcome. It seems curious that this is the only troublesome shift.

I am preparing to have a look see in my box as I have been getting false neutrals ,on up shift to second nothing and then straight into third. I am presuming it is the hairpin Spring but I am frequently wrong. For all the time it takes to strip the box it's no big wow.

Jg

Clanger said:

Subject says it all really, all other shifts are fine but occasionally get false neutral when going down to third. Appears to go from 4th to somewhere below 3rd, as when it happens another downshift gets 2nd or an upshift finds 3rd. Patient is mk3 850 with Lh shift.
I haven't dismantled yet, but any hints welcome. It seems curious that this is the only troublesome shift.

Click to expand...

I'm thinking of across bike linkage slop. Since is sound like unfulfilled ratchet plate stroke...therefore it might be second gear layshaft failed the full stroke.
More likely for this from linkage than gearbox failure. The linkage to me seems to suffer faster than the gearboxes.

Certainly you could have mechanical issues.

However.

Before you start pulling the gearbox apart try a good ride and ***think*** about your shifts, do them deliberately. If your gearbox is sound, I'm guessing that you won't experience any more false neutrals. I have experienced this on Nortons, Triumphs and BMWs, usually means that I have the shift lever positioned too low or too high, as the case may be, or my mind is elsewhere.