Hawk 250 dlx downshifting issues please help

Hawkdlx250 · 05-04-2022, 10:11 PM

My hawk 250 won't downshift from 5th gear unless I slam down on the shifter quickly and it barely wants to downshift, it's only got 1200 miles on it can someone please help me??? I've adjusted the clutch cable, changed oil, took apart the case and shifted it manually into neutral. It shifts great from 1st to fifth but it has issues downshifting. I think this could be an easy fix please help

Badluck · 05-04-2022, 11:12 PM

This is while moving?

Britt · 05-05-2022, 08:00 AM

Badluck's question might be key. These bikes (and many others) must be in motion to shift easily/reliably. Are you downshifting before you come to a complete stop, or are you rolling up to a stop with the clutch in and then trying to downshift through the gears while the bike is stationary?

Hawkdlx250 · 05-05-2022, 10:08 AM

This is while moving, I was able to downshift for a moment but I had to slam the shifter down quickly , now it's just stuck in fifth gear again.

Myinfo · 05-06-2022, 10:12 AM

Have you tried moving the shifter up a few teeth on the shaft? Like taking it off and rotating it up a few degrees? Maybe it's set too low to fully engage without extra effort.

Badluck · 05-06-2022, 11:05 AM

I remember seeing a few people with shifting issues last year.

My guess is either the star wheel on the shift drum or the shift pawl is a little loose because someone at the factory didn't install the bolts properly.

It sucks and shouldn't happen, but it looks like the fix is to remove the clutch side cover and inspect the shifting mechanism under and behind the clutch basket.

There's at least one other maintenance item you can do with the cover off and that would be to remove sludge from the spinner on the oil pump, so might as well kill two birds with one stone.

Best of luck.

NorthGARider · 05-24-2022, 09:13 PM

Thank you guys soooo much!! My Hawk was getting stuck in 5th gear too. Took off the clutch side cover, removed the shifter shaft and pawl, and sure enough.....the end of the pawl (the part that drops down/is recessed) had a slight bend in it. This was causing the pawl to slide over the shifter sprocket when downshifting. Looked like it just wasn't stamped correctly/fully. I was going to order a new one from csc, but deciced to see if I could flatten/correct it with some hammering (because you know, when your only tool is a hammer, everything looks like a nail). Made sure the end of the pawl was perfectly flat. Shifting smoother than ever!

Thumper · 05-25-2022, 09:29 AM

Nice diagnosis, fix. Sometimes taking it apart leads to clues!
I have a small collection of hammers, mallets and sledges. I know what you mean

05-04-2022, 10:11 PM	#1
Hawkdlx250 Join Date: May 2022 Posts: 2	Hawk 250 dlx downshifting issues please help My hawk 250 won't downshift from 5th gear unless I slam down on the shifter quickly and it barely wants to downshift, it's only got 1200 miles on it can someone please help me??? I've adjusted the clutch cable, changed oil, took apart the case and shifted it manually into neutral. It shifts great from 1st to fifth but it has issues downshifting. I think this could be an easy fix please help
	0

05-05-2022, 08:00 AM	#3
Britt Join Date: Jun 2021 Posts: 61	Badluck's question might be key. These bikes (and many others) must be in motion to shift easily/reliably. Are you downshifting before you come to a complete stop, or are you rolling up to a stop with the clutch in and then trying to downshift through the gears while the bike is stationary? __________________ 2022 KLR650 2021 Hawk DLX 2021 Lifan Xpect 2021 Hawk 150 (RPS Viper)
	1

05-04-2022, 11:12 PM	#2
Badluck Join Date: Jun 2021 Posts: 80	This is while moving?
	0

05-05-2022, 10:08 AM	#4
Hawkdlx250 Join Date: May 2022 Posts: 2	This is while moving, I was able to downshift for a moment but I had to slam the shifter down quickly , now it's just stuck in fifth gear again.
	0

05-06-2022, 10:12 AM	#5
Myinfo Join Date: Jun 2021 Posts: 19	Have you tried moving the shifter up a few teeth on the shaft? Like taking it off and rotating it up a few degrees? Maybe it's set too low to fully engage without extra effort.
	0

05-06-2022, 11:05 AM	#6
Badluck Join Date: Jun 2021 Posts: 80	I remember seeing a few people with shifting issues last year. My guess is either the star wheel on the shift drum or the shift pawl is a little loose because someone at the factory didn't install the bolts properly. It sucks and shouldn't happen, but it looks like the fix is to remove the clutch side cover and inspect the shifting mechanism under and behind the clutch basket. There's at least one other maintenance item you can do with the cover off and that would be to remove sludge from the spinner on the oil pump, so might as well kill two birds with one stone. Best of luck.
	2

05-24-2022, 09:13 PM	#7
NorthGARider Join Date: Apr 2022 Location: North Georgia Posts: 8	Thank you guys soooo much!! My Hawk was getting stuck in 5th gear too. Took off the clutch side cover, removed the shifter shaft and pawl, and sure enough.....the end of the pawl (the part that drops down/is recessed) had a slight bend in it. This was causing the pawl to slide over the shifter sprocket when downshifting. Looked like it just wasn't stamped correctly/fully. I was going to order a new one from csc, but deciced to see if I could flatten/correct it with some hammering (because you know, when your only tool is a hammer, everything looks like a nail). Made sure the end of the pawl was perfectly flat. Shifting smoother than ever!
	2

05-25-2022, 09:29 AM	#8
Thumper Join Date: Feb 2021 Location: Kansas City Posts: 2,359	Nice diagnosis, fix. Sometimes taking it apart leads to clues! I have a small collection of hammers, mallets and sledges. I know what you mean
	2