help!?

[simon]

hi my 1150 will not engage any gears - i noticed yesterday that the clutch lever felt overly light, after this when i stopped at a set of lights i couldnt engage first gear the bike just lurches forward and stalls. after pushing it up a hill and dropping it twice(..) i finally got it home and looked in the haynes manual decided to bleed the clutch and change fluid to no avail.....
any ideas would be really appreciated i have only had the bike for 6 weeks the guy who owned it before didnt use ity much and it wasnt regularly serviced it just done 12000 i have done the oil etc clutch/brake fluids was next on my list after tyres which were changed last week...

thank you

 

[Steptoe]

Most likely the clutch slave cylinder.

Fiddly job, you need to remove the rear shock, then you can get to the three bolts ( with a ball ended allen socket) and remove it. It's fiddly getting it out, but fairly straightforward. Replacement is the reversal of removing. Don't forget the slave cylinder gasket .

 

[simon]

thanks for reply rang bristol motorrad who were really helpful suggested the same thing used combination of haynes and manual from big bear? website have so far removed seat electric box rear wheel seat supports and rear shock, have undone bolts to free up slave but cannot undo pipe connected to top - have a horrible feeling im going to have to get past the frame tube thats obstructing access - any ideas? ordered new slave and gasket will cost 75 pounds am stopping now will attack fresh tomorrow i really hope i can put it back together again!!!! after a flat last week and this now am seriously considering some sort of breakdown cover does anyone have any recommendations? needless to say wife hates the bike now more than ever - i need

 

[Steptoe]

have so far removed seat electric box rear wheel seat supports and rear shock, have undone bolts to free up slave but cannot undo pipe connected to top - :

You've already removed more than you need to. You only needed to remove the rear wheel and shock absorber.

Pull the slack in the clutch pipe, and you'll have enough to pull the slave cylinder out through the gap.
You have wiggle it around, but it does come out, then undo the clutch fluid pipe.

 

[simon]

god i wished id talked to you before consulting the manual....... have wiggled the slave out - steptoe do you know why the thing would conk out am planning a ride into norway once i've conned someone else into coming with me, am a little worried about it going again, i know the bike wasnt very well maintained and it has been sitting around or a couple of years do you think this lack of use contributed to it or do you think, like the dealer man said, that it is more to do with abuse as if im riding around and need to stop i generally pull the clutch in and sit there until im gonna move and then bring it up to bite with the rear brake applied the dealer man suggested i get into the habit of sticking it in neutral - i dont know anyone who does this and it certainly wasnt how i was taught during the direct access.......

also may i take this oppurtunity in giving you a heartfelt thank you it gets pretty lonely in a dark mid winter garage with the bike in bits and your wife intermittantly dropping by to abuse you, and to have someone with your knowledge giving advice is invaluable. thank you

be the change that you want to see m gandhi

 

[(RIP) Proff]

Answering service

St eptoe is now on his way to Morocco
I think you will be alright till the 21st when St Eptoe returns to these Shores
Regarding your riding style, you will get loads and loads of advice from other TOSSERS on here
I do hope you have a thick Skin .


Remember the Value of this advice can rise or fall with market demands

 

[Colban]

god i wished id talked to you before consulting the manual....... have wiggled the slave out - steptoe do you know why the thing would conk out am planning a ride into norway once i've conned someone else into coming with me, am a little worried about it going again, i know the bike wasnt very well maintained and it has been sitting around or a couple of years do you think this lack of use contributed to it or do you think, like the dealer man said, that it is more to do with abuse as if im riding around and need to stop i generally pull the clutch in and sit there until im gonna move and then bring it up to bite with the rear brake applied the dealer man suggested i get into the habit of sticking it in neutral - i dont know anyone who does this and it certainly wasnt how i was taught during the direct access.......

also may i take this oppurtunity in giving you a heartfelt thank you it gets pretty lonely in a dark mid winter garage with the bike in bits and your wife intermittantly dropping by to abuse you, and to have someone with your knowledge giving advice is invaluable. thank you

be the change that you want to see m gandhi

Simon,from what you have said previously said about the clutch symptoms and your riding style i would say there is a fair chance that the clutch actuation assembly has been damaged (blown seals under prolonged pressure) or that the actuating rod has been worn down and that it can no longer push the clutch plate enough to disengage it.
Whether i am driving a car or riding a bike,i have always put it into neutral when stopping for an extended period;and so does everyone i know.
Direct Access have got you through the test.Now you have to learn how to ride properly.(gonna get some heat for that comment)

 

[Flipfly]

I personally think the 1150 clutch can be weak if stressed too much. I've had mine smoking when any jap bike would have laughed it off. I would do as the dealer suggested. I do and I don't have any problems. Change your style slightly and you'll probably find it's a one off. Don't let the trip bother you. If we did let worries bother us we'd never go anywhere!!!

If you put it in neutral if your lights are red, look to the ones that are green, when they change yours will probably change soon afterwards, this gives you plenty of time to engage first and pray it doesn't conk out on you!!!!!

 

[simon]

no more sitting at lights with rear brake applied and clutch at biting point! really feel like getting a back up honda for days like these... no transport is bad, though wife will never understand : "now you want four wheels!! why dont u add a roof and be done with it, you know you should never have bought that money pit etc etc!

oh well have new slave willl fit tomorrow and hope all else still works i have a recurrent nightmare that i wont be able to put her back together again......

will let u know how i get on cheers for now

be the change that you want to see m gandhi

 

[Den]

there is a good chance that it is the hydraulic line which is leaking and not the cylinder. Pull back the plastic tubing covering the joint between the hose and the banjo union (the round bit on the end with the bolt going though it) If its rusty and wet, I would change that as well.

 

[simon]

funny you mention that - the line from the lever had a connection which did uncrew with fingers but it was dry no rust will change it anyway i guess whilst i still have access - id be happy never to see the entire area again! - though i suppoe i have learnt a bit from the reading up i had to do and all the unnecessary bits i took off!

 

[simon]

have admitted defeat - put slave cylinder on and off twice tightened everything bled the clutch got pressure back into the system - no leaks had a bite to eat tested it and clutch fluid all over the floor..... worse still reconnected all electrics every time i try and start it the clock resets and the bike wont start, found one disconnected connection - has green and white wires in cannot see where it should go discovered leak of clutch fluid only once i had replaced suspension etc i now have a dead bike which im going to somehow have to recover back to bristol motarrad to rescue after their 4 week waiting time diminishes, and no doubt a hefty bill followed by swift divorce.......... anyone have any ideas about recovering a bike to a dealer as cheaply as possible? any advice and/or sympathy for a slaughtered innocent tosser would be warmly received

 

[Bigtwin]

Hire a van and brorrow a plank.

Hope it all pans out for you.

 

[simon]

tried to put bike back together now wont even start! to be recovered and fixed by bristolbmw will let u know bill!!!

 

[finglonga]

Regarding the starting have you checked the throttle cables........

 

[simon]

if i so much as look at the garage door where the bits of what was my bike are laid on the floor i think my wife might stab me in the face! ive had enough! i just want the dealer to sort it to be honest -i just want my bike back! i did check the throttle cable and its connected when i turn the key its slightly better than yesterday when it was dead - it now sounds like its dying

 

[Sergeant Pluck]

if i so much as look at the garage door where the bits of what was my bike are laid on the floor i think my wife might stab me in the face! ive had enough! i just want the dealer to sort it to be honest -i just want my bike back! i did check the throttle cable and its connected when i turn the key its slightly better than yesterday when it was dead - it now sounds like its dying

You poor fecker - I feel your pain!! I've had that sort of sh*te happen to me before (quite a few times actually!) - it's properly horrible when it happens. Still - at least you gave it your best shot, doesn't sound like it's going to be too big a job for the dealer so hopefully you'll be back up and running in no time

 

[simon]

You poor fecker - I feel your pain!! I've had that sort of sh*te happen to me before (quite a few times actually!) - it's properly horrible when it happens. Still - at least you gave it your best shot, doesn't sound like it's going to be too big a job for the dealer so hopefully you'll be back up and running in no time

thanks dude! - i thought i was the only one! i feel better as the time passes, i havent opened the garage door since sunday, and i dont intend to until they come to pick it up at which point il have to gather her up in various boxes and hand her over.
perversely i keep wanting to sabotage the bike further to make it harder for the dealer, im sure thats not normal!! maybe its just the bitterness ......