2000 1150GS - stiff gear changes

[metropolis2k]

For the last month or so I've noticed my bike has started to occasionally put up a real fight about changing down gears (usually 2nd to 3rd). It only started happening about a month ago but has been fairly consistently there.

It's on around 45,000 miles, has had the gearbox input shaft replaced and was serviced by Steptoe in February (major service). It's probably done 2-3,000 miles since then.

I've already read up about the need to keep the gear level mechanism clean so I will do that at the weekend and see if it makes a difference, I'm just worried this is something more sinister. When it happens I can let the clutch out again and next time I try it seems to go easier but I don't know if that is a coincidence or not.

Any other ideas?

 

[MattW]

Almost guaranteed to be the gear lever / linkage being crudded up.

Strip it all down, clean and lube it - make sure you remove and clean the gearlever pivot bush, not just the bolt.

 

[Wegby]

Yep - I've has a couple of 1150s and eventually, both had the gear lever stiffen through build up of grime, etc. The other thing to look out for (although not quite the same), is I've occasionally founf the gearbox a bit notchy when the oil level's nearing the bottom of the inspection window and coming up for a service...

 

[metropolis2k]

Cheers guys, much as I suspected

Yep - I've has a couple of 1150s and eventually, both had the gear lever stiffen through build up of grime, etc. The other thing to look out for (although not quite the same), is I've occasionally founf the gearbox a bit notchy when the oil level's nearing the bottom of the inspection window and coming up for a service...

Thanks, oil was the first thing I checked and topped up (I'd just got back from 2,000 miles around France) but a service was only fairly recent which had me slightly worried.

Will report back after the weekend

 

[dizzyrascal]

WD 40

I find that spraying the gear linkages with WD40 relivies the problem, make this regular routine after you have washed the bike.

 

[MattW]

Yep - I've has a couple of 1150s and eventually, both had the gear lever stiffen through build up of grime, etc. The other thing to look out for (although not quite the same), is I've occasionally founf the gearbox a bit notchy when the oil level's nearing the bottom of the inspection window and coming up for a service...

You do know that the engine oil you see in the sight glass is completely separate from the gearbox oil? Our engines gearboxes have more in common with cars - separate lubrication unlike conventional wet clutch bikes.

 

[Kruz99]

Perhaps adding metal conditioner might help?
I added some & it does reduce the stiffness when doing gear change. Moreover it gives a protective layer over the gears.

 

[metropolis2k]

Took the gear lever and linkage apart and gave it a good clean. Smoother shifting now but I still have the same odd problem shifting down from 3rd to 2nd or 4th to 3rd where it feels like it just won't go. It doesn't happen all the time, just sometimes (I have a feeling it's if I've been one gear for a while). Will check the gearbox oil next.

 

[Uncle Crumpet]

are you sure your not preloading the lever with your boot prior to shifting?

 

[metropolis2k]

are you sure your not preloading the lever with your boot prior to shifting?

Pretty sure yes but I'll consciously check next time I'm out.

This has only started happening in the last month or so and is intermittent so I can't see it being 'technique' related as I won't have changed anything.

 

[John Armstrong]

Pretty sure yes but I'll consciously check next time I'm out.

This has only started happening in the last month or so and is intermittent so I can't see it being 'technique' related as I won't have changed anything.

New boots?

BTW I was advised that any gear change problems then the dealer would change the oil to see if it made it any better. Usually did in my case, so I asked for it to be changed at the same time as the engine oil ie every 6k miles rather than 12k miles

 

[metropolis2k]

New boots?

Nope, that was covered under my 'I haven't changed anything' statement. Same old HG Rallye GTX boots!

BTW I was advised that any gear change problems then the dealer would change the oil to see if it made it any better. Usually did in my case, so I asked for it to be changed at the same time as the engine oil ie every 6k miles rather than 12k miles

Yeah I think that's the route I'm going to have to go down, I'm just surprised as I only had it serviced (major service) 3k miles ago.

 

[Irishdude]

Hello there
I had the same problem, I was on the motor way in 6th couldn't change down the gears, came here and they told me to give the gear lever a good clean and grease it up, now that was it, now it changes smoother than ever before and all it took was 20 mins to take the lever things apart and put it back together all greased up.

 

[The Sea Dog]

Yep - I've has a couple of 1150s and eventually, both had the gear lever stiffen through build up of grime, etc. The other thing to look out for (although not quite the same), is I've occasionally founf the gearbox a bit notchy when the oil level's nearing the bottom of the inspection window and coming up for a service...

'S fook all to do with the oil in that window, that';s engine oil nothing to do with the gearbox the GS has a dry clutch

 

[davegs]

Gears

The linkage is only a minor prob the problem is in the actual pedal where it pivots on the foot rest. You will need to take this apart reomve the pvot bolt from the footrest and clean it up and grease it. The allen bolt here will be very tight as it's put on with locktite so heat it up with an air gun first,
clean and gease and all will be well. Put it back with locktite save loosing
the gear lever hammering down the motorway!.
dave GS. (oil levels have NOTHING to do with it.)