Difficulty engaging first gear.

mine is a right pain to get in 1st haha, it's character

iloveics wrote: mine is a right pain to get in 1st haha, it's character

I love they way character=5hit!

I have trouble when it's cold getting into 1st gear. If it refuses bump into 2nd!

I had say problem thinking gear box was buggered but after finding out on here we are all in it together ha

wanderinstar wrote: Hope you are not pulling my leg about synthetic gear oils. If not do you have any makes?

No, if it is worse when cold the synthetics work a treat

You can try

Castrol Syntrax Universal Plus 75W-90
CASTROL SYNTRANS MULTIVEHICLE 75W-90 (as recommended at suzuki4u )

or the boys at Difflock do

Difflock Evolution 2 Fully Synthetic Gear Oil

Your local motor factor will no doubt have an equivalent fluid made by comma or someone.


Try googling
"difficulty engaging 1st gear"

around 85,000 hits.....


You (and the rest of us) may have wear in the gearbox or selectors, or even the linkage may be loose. Possibly worth messing if you know exactly what you are doing, I'd leave it alone if it isn't noisy.

I have a spare good linkage if you want to try that Ian.

My gear linkage used to freeze up. Could not move gearselector at all.
I removed gaiter and gear stick. Cleaned out- full of mud n water.
Packed with grease.
Works a treat now.
Does your gear stick move or is it more in box. Can u feel it if you dont press clutch.