Gear change problems when warm

[Sgt Bilco]

As has been said, make sure the linkage is free. I had a similar issue on my 06GSA a few years ago where the gears wouldn't engage properly sometimes and it all felt weird. It's a fairly easy thing to do and I stripped the linkage down and the ball joints were full of junk. Cleaned them up, plenty of copper grease and bingo. It should be done regularly.

I have f*cked a gearbox and believe me, it just goes bang

 

[Bendy toy]

When a selector fork fails it's usually because a piece breaks off but 99/100 that gets mashed in the gears. The first you'll know is a big bang. But then again did a broken gear break the selector? It will be such a mess you'll never know the original cause.
If the box is rattling in neutral and then the clutch starts to slip (oil seal failed) you should be able to have the box rebuilt with new bearings. It's rarely a low mileage problem.
If it's simply not selecting gears properly, just do the easy stuff - clean shift linkage bushes and maybe bleed the clutch. Also look for clutch fluid leaking onto the rear swing arm. Toilet paper will show it up.

 

[hl1]

I've just had a go at disassembling the gear selector linkage (finally - took me a little while to get the right tools). With the linkage undone, the lever definitely did not hang loose!
The shaft was fairly stiff in the 2 bushes.
What's the trick to get the shaft out of the second bush? The first one was difficult but achievable - no chance at the second.

I attempted to widen the outer bush using some fine grain sandpaper and have put it back together with a little grease. It feels a little more free now. I'll try to find out tomorrow if its made any difference...

 

[autogs]

the shaft slides out towards the middle of the bike,dont widen the bushes you will just introduce slop,its just dirt and muck stopping the shaft turning freely just clean and lube.

 

[Bendy toy]

If the bushes get damaged new ones are only a few pounds from BMW. But as @autogs said clean them properly and it's good to go. They are self lubricating.

 

[hl1]

Just gone for a quick lunch time test ride and it is looking positive (for now...). It's amazing that what felt like a nightmarish problem was solved by a little cleaning and grease!
Thanks all!

 

[TLSgazza]

Just gone for a quick lunch time test ride and it is looking positive (for now...). It's amazing that what felt like a nightmarish problem was solved by a little cleaning and grease!
Thanks all!

I had a similar problem years ago on my TL1000s, thought my gearbox was fooked because it wouldn't change gear, I rode 30 miles home in 3rd gear
Got home and found the gear lever was seized to the footrest hanger, removed it, cleaned it, greased it, no more problems

 

[Bendy toy]

Bike gears have no synchromesh so the shifting sweet spot is very narrow. Whack it through too quickly and it clunks or too slowly (as with a stiff linkage) and it will struggle to shift at all.

 

[Sgt Bilco]

When a selector fork fails it's usually because a piece breaks off but 99/100 that gets mashed in the gears. The first you'll know is a big bang. But then again did a broken gear break the selector? It will be such a mess you'll never know the original cause.

What actually happens is you go from 5th to 6th at 80mph to be greeted by some horrible grinding noises. First thought is get it back into 5th sharpish as it may not really be a big problem. Engaging 5th results in more horrific grinding which continues whilst you get the fuck off the motorway onto the hard shoulder quickly. Phone call to get rescued followed by a 10 minutes head in the hands situation whilst you work out how the hell you are going to solve this knowing you are shipping the bike to the US in a couple of weeks.

Second hand box from sherlocks and the healing hands of Jonno at ABW do the job

 

[Sgt Bilco]

Just gone for a quick lunch time test ride and it is looking positive (for now...). It's amazing that what felt like a nightmarish problem was solved by a little cleaning and grease!
Thanks all!

Good work

 

[Bendy toy]

What actually happens is you go from 5th to 6th at 80mph to be greeted by some horrible grinding noises. First thought is get it back into 5th sharpish as it may not really be a big problem. Engaging 5th results in more horrific grinding which continues whilst you get the fuck off the motorway onto the hard shoulder quickly. Phone call to get rescued followed by a 10 minutes head in the hands situation whilst you work out how the hell you are going to solve this knowing you are shipping the bike to the US in a couple of weeks.

I had an Austin Metro gearbox fail (early model so not as bad as some). I noticed a slight oily smell, stopped the car but could see nothing - no drips on the road and no exhaust smoke. Part way around a fairly tight left-hand bend at 2nd gear speed, there was a tremendous BANG and the car rolled to a stop with no drive. The noise was enough to have people come out of their houses to see what had happened. The diff had come apart and punched out the back of the gearbox leaving a trail of oil and gearbox bits down the road.

At least I had some hands to help me push the wreck off the road.

 

[Delboy777]

wreck being the operative word when talking about any Metro lol

 

[Bendy toy]

It was the early model (1981) 1275cc and did a good mileage with not too bad corrosion for its era. Later cars were as crap as crap could be.

 

[Doon]

What actually happens is you go from 5th to 6th at 80mph to be greeted by some horrible grinding noises. First thought is get it back into 5th sharpish as it may not really be a big problem. Engaging 5th results in more horrific grinding which continues whilst you get the fuck off the motorway onto the hard shoulder quickly. Phone call to get rescued followed by a 10 minutes head in the hands situation whilst you work out how the hell you are going to solve this knowing you are shipping the bike to the US in a couple of weeks.

Second hand box from sherlocks and the healing hands of Jonno at ABW do the job

exactly what happened to me on Tuesday (apart from the shipping bit - and maybe the head in hands; I was just pleased that it hadn't spat me off), My insurance covers recovery to nearest BMW garage, so now waiting on a prognosis from BMW Brighton. I fear vast expense...........

 

[Sgt Bilco]

exactly what happened to me on Tuesday (apart from the shipping bit - and maybe the head in hands; I was just pleased that it hadn't spat me off), My insurance covers recovery to nearest BMW garage, so now waiting on a prognosis from BMW Brighton. I fear vast expense...........

My selector fork sheared with the inevitable total destruction of the gearbox. No warranty on mine so I paid about £750 for a box from sherlocks and we were good to go. If I recall, a new box was about £3k from BMW but they did say they would fit it FOC