trouble getting into neutral

[mightymatt43]

i have a new 2007 gear up with 200 km (yes, brand spankin new). i've been having trouble finding neutral because the indicator light does not come on unless i put pressure on the reverse shifter. i'm having trouble finding it regardless but without the indicator light it makes it even more difficult. i've tried tightening up things where i could (pictured below) but alas i'm still having the same problems.

any ideas?

[BillyG]

In the beginning when the g.b. is new and tight, reverse can be a little difficult to slip into. I found (in the beginning) it was easier to grasp the lever with my hand (palm on lever knob) and using a "stiff arm", pop the lever back using a little body weight. You can "feel" what is going on better than if you are using your boot.

There is actually two detents/notches to the neutral/reverse lever; the first will get you into neutral, the second into reverse. If you are aiming for neutral it really does not matter which you get into...just remember to move the neutral/reverse lever fully forward to stay in neutral. Some g.b.'s if the lever is just slightly aft a hair...you can not engage any gear. Usually happens at a traffic light and you'll think your g.b. just went out.

Later, after you get the feel for it, and the g.b. loosens up a bit...you can easily use your right heel on the lever to bump it into neutral or reverse. Once the g.b. is well worn (10,000 Km's or so) it will just about drop into reverse with little effort.

The adjustment for the neutral lamp is the nut/screw/wire just ahead of the lever in your picture above. Loosen the outer lock-nut while holding the screw steady with a screwdriver. Back the screw out 1/2 a turn or slightly more. Turn the ignition "ON", put the g.b. in neutral and slowly (very slowly) turn the screw in (CW) until the lamp illuminates. Slowly depress the shift pedal to see if the lamp flickers...you should continue adjust the screw until the lamp does not flicker or go out until you are starting to feel pressure (or slightly before) on the shift pedal BEFORE going into 1st gear. When happy, tighten lock-nut whilst holding screw steady. Does not need to be gorilla tight, just snug. BE CAREFUL AS IF YOU SCREW THE ADJUSTMENT SCREW IN TOO FAR IT WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO SHIFT THE G.B. AND CAN SHEAR THE ADJUSTMENT SCREW OFF. You have been warned. It is not as scary as it sounds.

If you are curious as to how all the bits and pieces work together in the g.b.....go here: http://myural.com/how_the_gearbox_works.htm

[Latguy]

When I got my GU in September 07, I rubbed a raw spot on the top of my left foot trying to shift it like my BMW. The dealer (Bill Coffin in Poland, Maine) suggested that I use the heel pedal to upshift and to move the lever firmly. I mentioned that Neutral was very hard to find and he assured me that as the gear box wore in a bit, shifting and finding Neutral would become much easier. With 2700km on the meter, he's right.
While it is possible that something is misadjusted, I think it is very likely that things will loosen up with the miles.
Happy trails!
Thanks - V

[QBall]

A good reverse then back shift always does it for me. I never find N with the shifter

[Spyder]

Mine has loosened up considerably since it was new, I'm at 3000k now and it's to the point where I normally drop to N from 2nd and the final coast to the stop. I find minor downward pressure to N is easier for me than all the way to 1st, then a tad up to N - dunno why, weight of the foot vs. upward applied force or something, but it works

Matt, don't you just friggin' love the smell of your garage after a ride?

"You smell that? Do you smell that? Ural, son. Nothing else in the world smells like that. I love the smell of a Ural after a ride. You know, one time we rode a hill, for twelve hours. When it was all over I walked up. We didn't find one inch of dirt un-touched, not one stinkin' blade of grass. The smell, you know that Ural smell, the whole hill. Smelled like - FUN. Someday I gotta paint these pipes, son."

[JohnBG]

Ivan don't surf!

[mightymatt43]

Bill - i adjusted the neutral lamp per your instructions and it helped tremendously. thanks for the advise.

spyder - i'm hoping once i break it in a bit it'll loosen up but i will say i've also found it easier to find neutral by moving my toe town rather than up.

and yes, i freaking love that smell. at first, i honestly thought something was wrong but now i'm realizing that's just how the beast smells. i love it. oh, and i may have to steal that "quote" for my sig line - priceless...

[S 854]

What's this... a scene from "Brokeback Sidecar"?

[Spyder]

What's this... a scene from "Brokeback Sidecar"?

BLASPHEMER!

[catfish]

Spyder why the uproar?? Wasn't he First Air Cav surely not a Marine??

CATFISH

[Spyder]

He played one on TV once ("The Great Santini"), but that's about as close as he's gotten to wearing my uniform

[Mud Pie]

And for the proper use of the reverse lever:

As I was trained by my dealer, do not, under ANY circumstances, use your hand to shift the reverse lever !!

It's a sure sign of a newbie and it makes the uniqueness of a geared reverse all too obvious.

The proper method is to use the heel of your boot to put it in reverse, then the side of your boot to take it out.

To onlookers, (especially those on 2 wheels) they will gawk in amazement as you pull back, then go forward, with no obvious flicking of levers, etc.

[JohnBG]

And for the proper use of the reverse lever:

As I was trained by my dealer, do not, under ANY circumstances, use your hand to shift the reverse lever !!

It's a sure sign of a newbie and it makes the uniqueness of a geared reverse all too obvious.

The proper method is to use the heel of your boot to put it in reverse, then the side of your boot to take it out.

To onlookers, (especially those on 2 wheels) they will gawk in amazement as you pull back, then go forward, with no obvious flicking of levers, etc.

I hit the reverse lever with my hand always.

Besides it's hard for me to maneuver the size 12 boot down there. I've tried using my foot but never could get it to work.

[Bilgekeeldave]

I'm usually already down there releasing the parking brake so it's no big deal.

Dave

[George Butz]

When I made my reverse lever, I left the stock lever in place. It's fun to kick it with my foot and watch people's faces when the tank lever moves by magic and I back out of a parking spot. People always watch, it seems, to see if I have to push it backwards or have reverse.
[with my ankle problems I can push it down, but can't seem to use my foot to move it back into neutral. Ouch Bend over to use my hand...double ouch ]