Hi Dana, No, you are not crazy. And neither problem is connected to the other.

First of all, shifting while stopped; Don't do it. It won't work that way very well at all. Its not like a car transmission; it needs to be down shifted while approaching a stop. Otherwise, it hangs up like you have discovered. There is nothing wrong with it other than the fact of that is how it works. Just be a little more conscience as to down shifting while you are still moving. You can usually easily shift from second to neutral to first while stopped, but from third will prove to be difficult. You don't have to let the clutch out in each gear while you are down shifting, but you need to go down shift into each gear one at a time for it to work smoothly.

As for the starting with the clutch in and in gear, you are supposed to be able to do that. Mine just stopped doing that last week and I haven't had time to try and figure out why it is doing that. I'm sure that it has something to do with the neutral safety switch or clutch switch, but I don't know off hand. If I find out before before someone else chimes in here, I'll let you know.

Gary

"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming: Wow!!! What A Ride!!!"
Edited 1 time by Guns90 Apr 27 10 3:30 PM.