What's this shaft for on Left Side of my RTL under/behind front sprocket?

[Peter Aawen]

Mike is it hooked to anything inside?

Not Mike, but YES! :thumbup:

The SE gearboxes are essentially the same MANUAL gearboxes as the SM gearboxes, only the SE's have some sexy 'electronic shifting' gear added, and they use a Centrifugal clutch (SE5) or an Oil Pressure driven Hydraulic clutch (SE6) instead of the lever operated jobbie the SM's get. But everything else is the same - so the SE's are MANUAL gearboxes that have the addition of some computer controlled and electrically operated solenoids to actually shift the gears in micro-seconds as and when prompted by the ryder operating the flappy paddle thingies up on the left hand Handgrip. And that shaft is simply where the SM gearboxes would have a shift lever fitted to allow the operator to select & change gears.

The SE's have those added electronic shifting bits, so the ryder doesn't need to use the foot lever, but they CAN if they wish/need to, and there are even a few owners who have fitted a shift lever onto that shaft so that they can use the alternative shifting facility it provides. And if your Gear Position Sensor fails, or something inside jams the gearbox in a gear, you can usually grab that lever with a set of multi-grips or pump pliers & twist it to manually select Neutral (or another gear) that way! hyea: Just don't try to ryde your Spyder while selecting gears with pump pliers, it's a bit difficult to reach under the Spyder while you're moving and the Authorities seem to take a dim view of it?! :dontknow:

:cheers:

 

[PMK]

Not Mike, but YES! :thumbup:

The SE gearboxes are essentially the same MANUAL gearboxes as the SM gearboxes, only the SE's have some sexy 'electronic shifting' gear added, and they use a Centrifugal clutch (SE5) or an Oil Pressure driven Hydraulic clutch (SE6) instead of the lever operated jobbie the SM's get. But everything else is the same - so the SE's are MANUAL gearboxes that have the addition of some computer controlled and electrically operated solenoids to actually shift the gears in micro-seconds as and when prompted by the ryder operating the flappy paddle thingies up on the left hand Handgrip. And that shaft is simply where the SM gearboxes would have a shift lever fitted to allow the operator to select & change gears.

The SE's have those added electronic shifting bits, so the ryder doesn't need to use the foot lever, but they CAN if they wish/need to, and there are even a few owners who have fitted a shift lever onto that shaft so that they can use the alternative shifting facility it provides. And if your Gear Position Sensor fails, or something inside jams the gearbox in a gear, you can usually grab that lever with a set of multi-grips or pump pliers & twist it to manually select Neutral (or another gear) that way! hyea: Just don't try to ryde your Spyder while selecting gears with pump pliers, it's a bit difficult to reach under the Spyder while you're moving and the Authorities seem to take a dim view of it?! :dontknow:

:cheers:

Interesting idea to install a shift lever. Concern would be that if manually shifting there is no engine cut, so it becomes totally a roll off throttle to shift method.

 

[Jcummins]

This shaft looks like it needs something on it. This is on a 2020 RTL the shaft is below the front sprocket kind of behind it just a little bit. It's circled in red in the picture.

 

[Arion]

Sorry, can't find your picture?

 

[Jcummins]

Sorry, can't find your picture?

Had trouble uploading picture. It's there now.

 

[robtdonna]

Splined to attach the foot shifter for manual transmissions.

 

[Woodaddict]

These 2020/2021 new owners are just crawling ALL under their bikes, to find what is missing, aren't they?? Just recently another 2020/2021 had same question with a pic. Got the same answer.

 

[Flamewinger]

It's the shift shaft that would have a foot shifter if it were a manual transmission.

 

[Jcummins]

These 2020/2021 new owners are just crawling ALL under their bikes, to find what is missing, aren't they?? Just recently another 2020/2021 had same question with a pic. Got the same answer.

I spotted it when I was putting on a belt guard.

 

[bikerchris1270]

I spotted it when I was putting on a belt guard.

Doesn’t hurt to ask questions.....

 

[Cruzr Joe]

Doesn’t hurt to ask questions.....

:chat:

 

[bikerbillone]

Thought asking was a good thing????

 

[daz]

So I was under my 2018 RTL looking at the sprocket/pulley. It looks clean. But under the sprocket there was a splined shaft with nothing on it. I am assuming that shaft is for the manual shifter Spyders. Questions: Does it turn? What happens if I turn it? Is it for the manual shifters?

Thank you.
Happy trails!

 

[bikerchris1270]

Reverse shift shaft…..

 

[jtoro1]

For manual shift

 

[Peter Aawen]

Yep, you assumed right daz - it is for the manual shift lever - your SE Gearbox is NOT an 'Automatic' as such, it's actually a Manual Gearbox (just like the SM's) converted into an Semi-automatic with the addition of a sexy Electronically controlled hydraulic clutch & solenoid operated shifting triggered by the little flappy paddles under your left thumb & forefinger, with the result being gear changes that're a fair bit faster, direct, & more positive than the best you could ever do with a manual clutch & your foot! :lecturef_smilie:

So that lever is there because your gearbox is still a manual, & it'd be harder to take it out than it is to simply add in all the sexy electronic shift & clutch gear that make the SM into an SE! And in answer to your questions -

• YES, it turns;
• it changes gears if you turn it;
• it is for the manual shifting versions of this gearbox and it works & would function just like the foot lever on one of the SM's if you fitted a foot lever to it, but you'd also hafta somehow work out a way to integrate it & co-ordinate it & your foot with the electronics that operate that sexy clutch! :shocked:

Some have even used that lever to select Neutral or another gear when they've had some other failure or difficulty/dead battery - it can be a handy thing to remember if your battery dies when you've left your Spyder parked & in gear, but don't have access to a good battery &/or a jump start! :thumbup:

 

[daz]

Thank you Peter for the complete answer. Just what I wanted to know. Please have a wonderful day!

 

[motoguzziman]

Mechanic at the SOAR rally told us that if the battery is dead and you are in gear, you can manually shift the transmission by moving this shaft to allow you to get the bike into neutral so you can roll it around freely

 

[Flamewinger]

Mechanic at the SOAR rally told us that if the battery is dead and you are in gear, you can manually shift the transmission by moving this shaft to allow you to get the bike into neutral so you can roll it around freely

Semi autos left in gear when shut off will roll if the parking brake is not on. They have a centrifugal clutch which starts to grab when you give it gas. Since it’s off you’re not giving it gas and it will roll. Turn the key on, release the PB and push it, no need to start it.

 

[Baveux]

I've used the search function, but nothing came out so I'm sorry if this topic's been brought up before...

While inspecting the left side of my RT 2023, behind the driver's footpeg, I noticed a shaft protruding from the gearbox with a spline at the end that isn't connected to anything. Is this normal, or have I lost a part? The Spyder operates smoothly without any noise or issues.