Cushman Hawk Hard to Shift

Pondfisher · 07-10-2016, 10:33 PM

Hello - My brake problems are behind me now. Finished getting the parking brake working today... Now on to the next problem. Once my hawk is put in gear and working it can be difficult to shift. When you stop it will seem to be stuck in forward. Quickly revving the engine up helps and sometimes you need to do it more than once before it will shift into neutral / reverse. The same thing happens going from reverse to forward. I dropped the rpm's on idle today but that didn't seem to help much. Also tightened the bolt holding the cable at the rear differential. Neither seemed to help more than just a little.

CharleyL · 07-11-2016, 08:53 AM

From memory, ( I have only seen a Hawk, years ago) your shift linkage is a flex cable, much like a throttle cable on a lawn motor, and this flex cable is likely dry and rusty inside. A penetrating oil fed slowly in from each end should gradually work itself the full length. Do it frequently until it works easily again.

If the linkage is rods and levers like the Trucksters, which I doubt, you likely have dry pivot points in that linkage or shift lever that need lubrication.

Charley

Pondfisher · 07-11-2016, 09:08 AM

Yes it does have the cable not rods. I really don't think it is the cable but I will look at it again. It almost seems like something mechanical that should be disengaging and it is not "when you slow down and stop" "engine at idle" to allow it to shift and this is not happening. Could the belt still be engaged and cause this?

CharleyL · 07-12-2016, 08:57 PM

If the belt is too tight or if the engine is idling too fast you can have shifting problems because of the forces still being applied to the differential. Your clutch should be as open as it is with the engine stopped, when you are trying to shift.
If the engine is idling too fast the clutch may be closing against the belt and causing this too.

Charley

Pondfisher · 07-13-2016, 10:23 PM

Charlie, thank you!! I am going to try and adjust the engine idle down first to see what happens.. I appreciate the feedback!!!! :)

07-10-2016, 10:33 PM	#1
Pondfisher Not Yet Wild Join Date: Oct 2014 Posts: 42	Cushman Hawk Hard to Shift Hello - My brake problems are behind me now. Finished getting the parking brake working today... Now on to the next problem. Once my hawk is put in gear and working it can be difficult to shift. When you stop it will seem to be stuck in forward. Quickly revving the engine up helps and sometimes you need to do it more than once before it will shift into neutral / reverse. The same thing happens going from reverse to forward. I dropped the rpm's on idle today but that didn't seem to help much. Also tightened the bolt holding the cable at the rear differential. Neither seemed to help more than just a little.
Pondfisher Not Yet Wild Join Date: Oct 2014 Posts: 42

07-11-2016, 08:53 AM	#2
CharleyL Gone Wild Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Central North Carolina Posts: 526	Re: Cushman Hawk Hard to Shift From memory, ( I have only seen a Hawk, years ago) your shift linkage is a flex cable, much like a throttle cable on a lawn motor, and this flex cable is likely dry and rusty inside. A penetrating oil fed slowly in from each end should gradually work itself the full length. Do it frequently until it works easily again. If the linkage is rods and levers like the Trucksters, which I doubt, you likely have dry pivot points in that linkage or shift lever that need lubrication. Charley

07-11-2016, 09:08 AM	#3
Pondfisher Not Yet Wild Join Date: Oct 2014 Posts: 42	Re: Cushman Hawk Hard to Shift Yes it does have the cable not rods. I really don't think it is the cable but I will look at it again. It almost seems like something mechanical that should be disengaging and it is not "when you slow down and stop" "engine at idle" to allow it to shift and this is not happening. Could the belt still be engaged and cause this?
Pondfisher Not Yet Wild Join Date: Oct 2014 Posts: 42

07-12-2016, 08:57 PM	#4
CharleyL Gone Wild Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Central North Carolina Posts: 526	Re: Cushman Hawk Hard to Shift If the belt is too tight or if the engine is idling too fast you can have shifting problems because of the forces still being applied to the differential. Your clutch should be as open as it is with the engine stopped, when you are trying to shift. If the engine is idling too fast the clutch may be closing against the belt and causing this too. Charley

07-13-2016, 10:23 PM	#5
Pondfisher Not Yet Wild Join Date: Oct 2014 Posts: 42	Re: Cushman Hawk Hard to Shift Charlie, thank you!! I am going to try and adjust the engine idle down first to see what happens.. I appreciate the feedback!!!! :)
Pondfisher Not Yet Wild Join Date: Oct 2014 Posts: 42

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