Transmission getting stiff/locked

Discussion specific to the 1989 - 1994 (E Series) KDX200 model sold in the USA
Post Reply
Kdxkid05
Member
Posts: 7
Joined: 07:33 pm Aug 31 2025
Country: Usa

Transmission getting stiff/locked

Post by Kdxkid05 »

[url]So I put back my cases together and whenever I try shifting. Well it’s a little odd, when I shift up or down it gets super stiff or locked up, and it’s a little difficult to get it unstuck and go into another gear . I could shift all the way up to 6th and then whenever I try shifting down it gets stiff/locked, or sometimes I can’t even get past 3rd gear without getting the same issue, it’s all random whenever it wants to do this i believe .

I can’t post videos here so I’ll link a Reddit post with some videos
https://www.reddit.com/r/Dirtbikes/s/9dHQLUYBX2
User avatar
Chuck78
Gold Member
Gold Member
Posts: 1247
Joined: 06:20 pm Nov 30 2016
Country: USA
Location: Columbus, OH
Has thanked: 15 times
Been thanked: 19 times

Re: Transmission getting stiff/locked

Post by Chuck78 »

The engine needs opened up no matter what, bottom line. That may just mean the clutch case housing needs removed, and perhaps you could determine what's worn or incorrectly installed, but there's a chance the cases need split as well.

This is a difficult thing to diagnose over the forum, as it needs a deeper in-person inspection (opened up).
'97 KDX220R - purple/green! - KLX forks, Lectron, FMF, Tubliss
'99 KDX220R project - '98/'01 RM125 suspension, Titanium hardware, Lectron Billetron Pro, Tubliss
'77 Suzuki PE250 & '83 Suzuki PE175 Full Floater - restomod projects
'77 Suzuki GS750-844cc, '77 GS400/489cc & '77 GS550/740cc projects
'62 GMC 1000 Panel Truck
'88 Suzuki Samurai TDI/Toyota swaps
'88 Toyota 4x4 pickup
User avatar
bufftester
Platinum Member
Platinum Member
Posts: 3552
Joined: 06:03 pm Oct 31 2012
Country: USA
Location: University Place, WA
Been thanked: 7 times
Contact:

Re: Transmission getting stiff/locked

Post by bufftester »

Absolutely sounds like a reassembly issue. There are a few thrust washers and spacers that are critical to the shift mechanism working correctly. I assume you inspected the shift forks, all the gears and their associated dogs, shift drum...
As Chuck said, going to have to split it to fix it.
Post Reply