Transmission / Clutch Problem? Advice Needed

My 1982 XC250 shifts through the gears fine. Problem is going from neutral to 1st or 2second gear. Regardless of the clutch lever position, it jolts into gear and stalls the engine, no slipping as if there is no clutch.

So yes I can give a little push get it into gear and all works fine after that. Seems to go back into neutral okay, but once there have to have a little push start to engage 1st or 2nd before the clutch will do its usual duty.

Any ideas as to the primary culprit?

Thanks,
Adam

When did this first start happening?
Can you sit still with the clutch in while in gear? Like waiting for a start.
Sounds like the clutch is not releasing for some reason.
Plates may be stuck together, if it was sitting for a long time.
Otherwise, plates are bad and the clutch is dragging.

I bought the bike nine months ago. Had been stored in doors and not ridden for most of the last ten years. I took it for a cursory spin back then and seemed to be ok. I really didn't check it over to carefully.

Anyway, put a new top end on it, fresh oil and had the shocks rebuilt and finally got around to starting it up for a quick spin around the neighborhood and thats when I encountered the problem.

Once it is in gear, I can stop and start no problem. The only problem seems to be shifting out of neutral.

Assuming the weather cooperates, going to head out tomorrow to a local riding area to really get it warmed up, do a little fine tuning of the carb and see how it goes with the shifting out of neutral problem.

Sounds like it needs a new clutch basket.
Have a look to see if there are groves in the clutch basket from the clutch plates.
if there is they are probable preventing the clutch from fully releasing as the plates get stuck in the grooves

Good point.
The grooves in the basket are generally the cause for a hard pulling lever
at the handlebar, but Paul's suggestion is also quite possible.

Well, I took out the bike today after some light rain last night. Unfamiliar riding area. New top end, was planning on some easy riding and tuning. Specifically told myself that I was going to take it easy and most definately stay out of the mud.

The good. Bike started up, adjusted the idle and let it sit running while I put on my boots and helmet. Just wearing jeans, after all wasn't going to be blasting around.

Gave it a push hopped on and put it in to gear and of I went, bike running very well. After about 10 minutes stopped, worked through the gears back and forth between neutral, no problem.

The bad. Was having way too much fun, yeah how can that be bad. Well, the place was a little wet and unfamiliar. Not going terribly fast but occasionsally gassing it to lift the front wheel across watery mud holes. Cruising down a multipurpose trail, came up on a trail wide water/mud hole about 15 feet long. Should of paused but didn't, shifted my weight back gassed it lofting the front wheel and the rear wheel sank deep front wheel came down way to quick and down I went. When I lifted the bike out of the water filled mud hole, shifter was pointing straight up. Luckily was in gear and was able to start and ride back to the car no problem other than I could no longer shift gears. So, needless to say will be doing some maintenance and inspecting the clutch while I have it apart.

The ugly. Well, about and hour before hitting the mud hole, was cruising along a narrow trail came around a corner and see a tree next to the trail and some gnarly roots crossing the trail. It's just the start of the down slope. Standing up getting closer to the tree in 2nd gear I notice that there must be a drop coming on the other side of the roots becasue I don't see the trail. Now a little too late to stop, on the other side of the roots, it drops off about 3+ feet. Gassed it to get the front wheel up, didn't get much traction and went over the edge, not good!!. Lost my right foot peg and flailing my leg came back to the foot peg shin high, about 2 inches above my boots. OOOUUUUUCHHHHH !!

Actually held on but damn, my leg was a bloody mess.

A few pictures.