Advice most welcome!

[Grim Rider]

Bike is 2001 1150GS, done 88k without a problem, until now!

Rode the GS for the first time in a few months last weekend since replacing final drive oil seal and bearing, replacing battery and taking starter motor apart (there was nothing wrong with it). Started off fine but after a mile or so would not change gear, except between 3rd and 4th. Got to where I was going and let it cool down - later had all gears to start off but then stuck in 5th for most of the way home.

I thought it must be something loose in the gearchange so checked, cleaned and tightened everything up. Also took tank off to check all connections. Took bike out this afternoon and gear problem is much as before - could change up and down but got more difficult as bike warmed up and could not get into neutral at all. In addition bike now running like a pig (I stopped straight away to check the throttle cable had not come out!) so I have obviously done something wrong in addition to the gear issue.

Any advice most welcome, especially as booked in for MOT on Tuesday and if I don't get it sorted will have to go down to Somerset for South West Peninsula Rally next weekend on an unfaired Bonneville!
Thanks in advance

 

[davegs]

Gear

What you MUST do is take off the pivot for the gear change from the foot rest, this is secured by an allen bolt from the engine side of thr pivot. This will need to be heated with a hot air gun as it's put in with locktight. Pull out the pivot bolt, clean it all up and grease it then re-assemble all your probs will be over. Do a search as this has been covered many times and has happend to a lot of us and is not as frightening as it seems.
Dave GS

 

[Scuba-Sparky]

+1 To that.

Just done mine, was amazing how much dirt and 'STUFF' was in there.
Now its as free as a sock on a chickens lip!

 

[ChrisH Kerry]

Yeah had to do that to mine - wouldn't change down once warmed up ... though that doesn't explain the 'bike now running like a pig' in your case

 

[Grim Rider]

Many thanks for your concerted opinion - tried to get pivot off tonight (I could turn the gearlever on the pivot but it was pretty stiff) but despite much warming with hot air gun, allen bolt just rounded off so taken footrest hanger off to get at it properly tomorrow.

Get round to looking into the poor running after I get the gears sorted.

 

[rudiemoto]

Also check the ball joints
On rod ,gt85 works well