No First Gear after unloading from the trailer - what do I check and how do I fix it?

[Richard T.]

Was taking my Spyder off the trailer when my shift control module cover got hooked on the trailer.
After releasing it and getting it off, I only have reverse and it won't shift into First. What do I check and how
do I fix it? How would I straighten the protection box? Doesn't look bent or anything. Just a little mark where it
got hooked on the trailer. Thanks for any help!

 

[Mikey]

If you hooked it as bad as you say, I would say there is something bent down there somewhere! It's too bad you didn't have another bike to compare it to and see if the angle of the dangle is the same! Make sure the actuator arm is not bent in any way, maybe have someone get on the bike and work the shifter while you get down and see what it's doing down there! Possibly unhook the top of the unit, hold it out of the way, and work it to see if the piston fully strokes in both directions, making sure the collar on the shifting shaft is not stripped! It's hard to be a Monday morning quarterback from this far away and not have eyes on the prize! Good luck, and let us know what you find!

 

[Snowbelt Spyder]

Was taking my Spyder off the trailer when my shift control module cover got hooked on the trailer.
After releasing it and getting it off, I only have reverse and it won't shift into First. What do I check and how
do I fix it? How would I straighten the protection box? Doesn't look bent or anything. Just a little mark where it
got hooked on the trailer. Thanks for any help!

Richard, shift control module cover, and protection box, are both terminologies that aren’t standard. Plus, what year and model. I’m going to take a wild ass guess here, and assume you’re talking about the “reverse actuator” that hangs down under the bike on the left side. That’s what typically gets snagged when you are backing off of a trailer. And yes, if it’s been bent downward, just a bit too far, it will mechanically prevent you from being able to shift into first. If I’m on the right track, then you’ll just need to get under there, inspect it, and try to straighten it up by hand. Once I get back to my computer, I can attach a picture.

Edit: OK Richard. If this is the component in question, this is your Reverse Actuator. When you push the R button, and shift to reverse, the solenoid pulls in, pulling on that little piece of cable, and pulling that lever back to the rear. Mechanically, inside the gearbox, that allows the gearbox to go into reverse. If you snag that and bend it down, it pulls back the lever and keeps it there. It doesn’t take much. That mechanically prevents the gearbox from shifting into first gear. Just inspect it and straighten it out. If I’m way off base here, you’ll need to provide more information on year, model, and what component is in question here.