Won't come out of 1st gear

[Mo Lee]

Thanks for the invite but if the weather is right I may take the Spyder down to Willow Springs and say Hi to my family Haven,t been down there since Christmas. Actually I should do a little yard work. Say safe and watch out for cages.

Lee

 

[aubierules]

:agree: (good thing bone crusher didn't give his advice)

 

[aubierules]

I then asked him how do I properly get the machine from 1st to N,, he told me that the "best to his knowledge is that you hit the minus button",, we all know now thats incorrect,,

ok im confooosed...i have an se5 and all i have to do to get from first to neutral is hit the downshift(-) button once.....

 

[mike3069]

:banghead: OK, I got a bit curious and started doing some digging. The following blue text is copied from the 2009 Spyder GS owners manual online at the factory site.

page 12

4) Gearshift Lever (SM5 Model)
The gearshift lever is in front of the left
footrest.
The gear pattern is Reverse-1-Neutral-
2-3-4-5.

I can not find a straight forward gear pattern for the SE5. See the red text below.

page 13

To shift into neutral from first gear or
reverse, briefly press or pull the gear
selector. A longer activation will shift
over neutral. Refer to 7) SHIFTING
(p.55) for detailed instructions.
When the gearshift selector is released,
the mechanism resets for the
next shift up or down.
If operator does not downshift when
slowing down and engine rpm's drop
below a threshold value, the TCM will
automatically downshift gearbox to
the next available gear.
The TCM also automatically shifts the
transmission into neutral if the vehicle
is started with transmission in gear.

page 56

7a) Practice Using the Gear Selector
at a Stop
First, while stopped, practice to single
shift between reverse, neutral and first
gear. Then practice to:
– Double shift from reverse to first
gear
– Double shift from first to reverse
gear
– Repeat until you are comfortable.

This indicates that the pattern is R-N-1-2-3-4-5.

So who has one that works and can tell us what it REALLY is?:dontknow:

 

[Dudley]

:banghead: OK, I got a bit curious and started doing some digging. The following blue text is copied from the 2009 Spyder GS owners manual online at the factory site.

page 12

4) Gearshift Lever (SM5 Model)
The gearshift lever is in front of the left
footrest.
The gear pattern is Reverse-1-Neutral-
2-3-4-5.

I can not find a straight forward gear pattern for the SE5. See the red text below.

page 13

To shift into neutral from first gear or
reverse, briefly press or pull the gear
selector. A longer activation will shift
over neutral. Refer to 7) SHIFTING
(p.55) for detailed instructions.
When the gearshift selector is released,
the mechanism resets for the
next shift up or down.
If operator does not downshift when
slowing down and engine rpm's drop
below a threshold value, the TCM will
automatically downshift gearbox to
the next available gear.
The TCM also automatically shifts the
transmission into neutral if the vehicle
is started with transmission in gear.

page 56

7a) Practice Using the Gear Selector
at a Stop
First, while stopped, practice to single
shift between reverse, neutral and first
gear. Then practice to:
– Double shift from reverse to first
gear
– Double shift from first to reverse
gear
– Repeat until you are comfortable.

This indicates that the pattern is R-N-1-2-3-4-5.

So who has one that works and can tell us what it REALLY is?:dontknow:

Well, here's the way mine works. When I come to a stop and want to put it in Neutral, I pull up on the shift bar (-). When I want reverse, I pull up on the shift bar (-) and while holding it, I push the reverse button. To get back into Neutral from reverse, I push the shift bar (+) one time. To get to 1st I push it twice. Each push or pull on the shift bar is done slowly and firmly. Neutral is not between any gear. It is the last gear on the negative push. You cannot get to neutral except from a negative push from first after a complete stop or a positive push if you are in reverse. I can start the engine if it is still in 1st gear, but the foot brake MUST be applied. When that happens the transmission goes to neutral when the engine starts.

 

[mike3069]

Well, here's the way mine works. When I come to a stop and want to put it in Neutral, I pull up on the shift bar (-). When I want reverse, I pull up on the shift bar (-) and while holding it, I push the reverse button. To get back into Neutral from reverse, I push the shift bar (+) one time. To get to 1st I push it twice. Each push or pull on the shift bar is done slowly and firmly. Neutral is not between any gear. It is the last gear on the negative push. You cannot get to neutral except from a negative push from first after a complete stop or a positive push if you are in reverse. I can start the engine if it is still in 1st gear, but the foot brake MUST be applied. When that happens the transmission goes to neutral when the engine starts.

Well folks, there ya have it.

Thanks Dudley!

 

[aubierules]

This indicates that the pattern is R-N-1-2-3-4-5.

So who has one that works and can tell us what it REALLY is?:dontknow:

this is exactly how my 08 se5 works

 

[aubierules]

Well, here's the way mine works. When I come to a stop and want to put it in Neutral, I pull up on the shift bar (-). When I want reverse, I pull up on the shift bar (-) and while holding it, I push the reverse button. To get back into Neutral from reverse, I push the shift bar (+) one time. To get to 1st I push it twice. Each push or pull on the shift bar is done slowly and firmly. Neutral is not between any gear. It is the last gear on the negative push. You cannot get to neutral except from a negative push from first after a complete stop or a positive push if you are in reverse. I can start the engine if it is still in 1st gear, but the foot brake MUST be applied. When that happens the transmission goes to neutral when the engine starts.

exactly...me too:agree:

 

[bone crusher]

:agree: (good thing bone crusher didn't give his advice)

Hey, I have a suggestion.........hehe....:cus::yes:

 

[xpeschon]

Got to ride today

Well, here's the way mine works. When I come to a stop and want to put it in Neutral, I pull up on the shift bar (-). When I want reverse, I pull up on the shift bar (-) and while holding it, I push the reverse button. To get back into Neutral from reverse, I push the shift bar (+) one time. To get to 1st I push it twice. Each push or pull on the shift bar is done slowly and firmly. Neutral is not between any gear. It is the last gear on the negative push. You cannot get to neutral except from a negative push from first after a complete stop or a positive push if you are in reverse. I can start the engine if it is still in 1st gear, but the foot brake MUST be applied. When that happens the transmission goes to neutral when the engine starts.

To all THANKS A BUNCH here... I took my spyder out the other day (jsut haven't had much time to update you) and practiced (1st to N) and my end result is just like yours Dudley,, I found out that using the (+) button does not work however--- Mike is correct that the book does say this statement:
To shift into neutral from first gear or
reverse, briefly press or pull the gear
selector.

Now if you are using the press method I believe they are telling you the (+) button right? Now if you use the pull method I believe they are telling you the (-) which is the correct one and the one that works for both me and dudley.. Just a light (almost 1/2 in tap) is what I found out will put you in (N).. Now Dudley let me ask you this.. Lets say you are in Reverse and you backed out of your driveway ready to go down the road,, You had mentioned your push the (+) button twice,, You do not need to do that,, all you need to do if you want to move forward is HOLD the (+) and it will go straight to 1st gear in order for you to take off--or move forward, now if you are parking it yes, just hit the (+) one time as you stated.. I ended up watching the vedio the other day and it mentioned that, so I thought that was cool,, and yes I practiced this as well,, works really good... Again, Mike Thanks and Dudley you as well but it appears that MY SHIFTING problem has been solved.. Now your method in getting the machine in (R) is tne (-) button then the (R) button,,, I would have to watch the vedio again but I believe it tells you to HOLD the (R) button then tap the (-) button.. I am going to look at the vedio again tomorrow, but if you find the correct method please let me know, I do know that using both methods it will go to reverse however, what is the correct method?
Chears.
Joe

 

[NancysToy]

Joe,
Glad you got things sorted out. I find some of this a little amusing. Lots of people want the SE5 because they think it is less complicated, but it seems to me that it is just complicated in a different way. I'm glad that BRP gave us choices, so people could ride whatever they like. No sense throwing rocks at each other, we are all Spyder riders, and that's absolutely all that counts! Enjoy the Ryde!
-Scotty

 

[Dudley]

Well, here's the way mine works. When I come to a stop and want to put it in Neutral, I pull up on the shift bar (-). When I want reverse, I pull up on the shift bar (-) and while holding it, I push the reverse button. To get back into Neutral from reverse, I push the shift bar (+) one time. To get to 1st I push it twice. Each push or pull on the shift bar is done slowly and firmly. Neutral is not between any gear. It is the last gear on the negative push. You cannot get to neutral except from a negative push from first after a complete stop or a positive push if you are in reverse. I can start the engine if it is still in 1st gear, but the foot brake MUST be applied. When that happens the transmission goes to neutral when the engine starts.

To all THANKS A BUNCH here... I took my spyder out the other day (jsut haven't had much time to update you) and practiced (1st to N) and my end result is just like yours Dudley,, I found out that using the (+) button does not work however--- Mike is correct that the book does say this statement:
To shift into neutral from first gear or
reverse, briefly press or pull the gear
selector.

Now if you are using the press method I believe they are telling you the (+) button right? Now if you use the pull method I believe they are telling you the (-) which is the correct one and the one that works for both me and dudley.. Just a light (almost 1/2 in tap) is what I found out will put you in (N).. Now Dudley let me ask you this.. Lets say you are in Reverse and you backed out of your driveway ready to go down the road,, You had mentioned your push the (+) button twice,, You do not need to do that,, all you need to do if you want to move forward is HOLD the (+) and it will go straight to 1st gear in order for you to take off--or move forward, now if you are parking it yes, just hit the (+) one time as you stated.. I ended up watching the vedio the other day and it mentioned that, so I thought that was cool,, and yes I practiced this as well,, works really good... Again, Mike Thanks and Dudley you as well but it appears that MY SHIFTING problem has been solved.. Now your method in getting the machine in (R) is tne (-) button then the (R) button,,, I would have to watch the vedio again but I believe it tells you to HOLD the (R) button then tap the (-) button.. I am going to look at the vedio again tomorrow, but if you find the correct method please let me know, I do know that using both methods it will go to reverse however, what is the correct method?
Chears.
Joe

I did a little refresher course today. Sometimes one does things and they work... Ok, to go into reverse you have to be in Neutral first. I have only always held the (-) and pushed the Reverse. Guess I happened to be in Neutral when I did this or got it into Neutral without thinking.:dontknow: I have never tried just holding the (+) to get to 1st after a Reverse. I have always tapped twice. Will try the longer hold on the (+) tomorrow. It's a learning game. My wife and I had taken an SE5 demo Spyder for a day before we bought ours. Stopped at a McD's, all proud and puffy. Had something to eat. Got back on Spyder...guess what? I COULDN'T get it started! I rocked, put parking brake on and off, pushed the (-) (+) back and forth, no luck. I had parked it in 1st gear and couldn't get it to Neutral. I called the shop and finally got someone who knew about the foot brake. Well, my puffy was un puffed and I really felt a bit humble. Happens that the gear position cannot be changed without the engine running. It's a learning game.:cheers:

 

[xpeschon]

You too dudley

You to dudley, basically the same experience on my end except we where at a gas station discussing the syder and having a soda and a bag of chips and people came right over and was taking pictures and stuff, talking, and I messed around and ended up applying the foot brake and it started,, Correct me if I am wrong but I believe if a person does this once it starts in up it goes straight into N position? I think so anyway.. It's a rainy day here today so I am going to watch the vedio and DIG into the book again about the proper shifting procedures cause again,, I'm thinking you can go from 1st GEAR to REVERSE with-out going to N,, again by holding the (-) while you are holding the R button at the same time.... Let me take a HARD look at this with the materials I have, your thoughts dudley?? I'm sure I saw that somewhere as well but I may be wrong on this one.. If I find it I will referance it with a page and para number.. Take care let me know if you find anything new about this..
Joe

 

[xpeschon]

Looked in the book

First the copy of the Owners Manuel that on this site does not match the Owners Manuel that I have.. At the bottom of the cover my number is 219 000 571 and on the Owners Manuel the numbers are differant, it must be a version thing.. Ok here are my finding as I Combed over the Owners Manuel on the 3 issues:

First: If you shut off the engine in 1st gear and go eat lunch and come back to start it (after the proper procedures have been done, foot brake is applied) it states on PG 31 last paragraph of my owners manual under Transmission Control Module (TCM) (SE5) (which by the way on the Owners Manuel thats in this forum that we all downloaded I'm sure was not there)

Quote: The TMC also auto-matically shifts the transmission into neutral if the vehicle is started with transmission in gear..

Second: Shifting from 1st gear to Reverse. See PG 21 Shifting into Reverse Bottom lower potion of page.. I believe I found a mistake in the book as well,,

Quote:

1) With the engine running. the roadster stopped, and the brake depressed, shift into (I think this is a mistake they meant to say OUT OFF) first gear or neutral. (this is key)
2. Press and hold the reverse button.
3. Pull the gearshift selector toward you to downshift to reverse.

so it looks like we can shift straight from 1st to Reverse..

Third and final: Shifting from Reverse to 1st gear. Again pg 21 Right side middle.

Quote:

Shifting out of reverse
SE 5 Model
To shift out of reverse, stop vehcle and push on upshift selector quickly to shift into neutral and more longer to shift in first gear. ( again this is key)


So there you have it folks as per Owners Manual.. Is this the norm for most people?

Joe

 

[Dudley]

You are really making me think again!:banghead: With the manual stating to go to Reverse, you come to a complete stop and shift to 1st or Neutral. Well, if you are stopped, you will be in 1st. I have always held the shifter when I push the Reverse button rather than the way the say to do it. My reason: I can hold the shifter with my fingers and apply pressure on the R button with my left thumb (that way I have both hands holding the grips), or I just hold the shifter up and just cross over and tap the R button with my right hand. Guess it all boils down to what works best for the individual. But this thread has had a few of us going back to the manual and relearning, which is great. I will get on the Spyder today and go through all this in observation mode rather than reflex mode and post again later.

 

[zzneonzz]

That sounds like the same way I Into Reverse. If i'm in first altready i can just hold R and paddle down to go strait into reverse. I have not tried going from reverse to first without tapping the shifter twice (just habbit)

 

[xpeschon]

I know

Again this is the book method so I'm thinking this is the best way to do it if you can do it in a safe manner of course however,, I am interested in what you have to say after you test out the steps dudley so be sure to give it a whirl and let us know.. As for zzneonzz your statement of:

If i'm in first altready i can just hold R and paddle down to go strait into reverse.

When you say paddle I am thinking tap right? Now according to the book all you need to do is just is HOLD the down paddle and not paddle it, or tap it.. Is kind of cold here today so I'm not really testing any of this I'm just going by the book only, I do understand I could test in while its in the garage shop but I'm gonna wait to hear from Dudley..

I do like the HOLD function from R to 1st, and the 1st from R instead of the tap method,, I KNOW the R to 1st works good but have not tried the 1st to R method yst.. Again, this is the book.. What your findings today Dudley?

PS: I do think this is a good SE5 threat though.. Kind of took us back to basic although I'm a new owener and still at the basic level!!!

Joe

Joe

 

[Dudley]

Well, here it is, SE5 101. I backed the Spyder out of the 10X12 and stopped in reverse. I then went into observation mode. I held the shifter a little longer than usual (+) and it went from R to N to 1st. Dang! Ok, I then pulled the shifter up (-) held it, it stayed in 1st, pushed the R and it went into reverse. Dang! Put it back in 1st, pushed the R and held it, pulled the shifter (-), it went into reverse. Dang! Left in 1st, pushed and held the R, pushed down on the shifter, nothing. Held the shifter down, pushed on the R, nothing. Guess I read too fast in the manual, but the extra shift push and pulls I do work also. I think either way will not be harmful to the Spyder. Do I get at least a "B" in SE5 101?
Ryde Safe Everyone. It's getting warmer by the day here in the desert!

 

[xpeschon]

GREAT up-date

So I guess when its all said and done the manual is correct--- yeapee---, I do find out that it does come in handy though,, I think you will use these figure more then you think now, well see---Oh and as for a Grade you passed with flying colors... At least an A,, what ya think zzneonzz are you will go go ahead and give him the A+?? Again thanks for the update and I like the lesson SE5 101, good catch!!!
Joe

 

[Dudley]

This was a very fun way to learn together. Hopefully if anyone else reads the thread it can help them understand the SE5 a little bit better and give them an even greater joy in riding.