New rider, having gear selector problems !!! HELP !!

[geotim]

Hi, I have just signed up to UKGSer ... not a moment too soon. I am having problems with my recently bought 2004 1200GS: After a few miles it stops letting me change down the gears. I get into 3rd or 4th, and when i want to shift down it just won't. The only solution seems to be to stop the bike and jump off and jiggle the gear selector. Very odd, and started after nearly 2,000 miles of happy riding (bought it second hand with 18,000 on the clock). Any ideas?

 

[(RIP) Proff]

I think this is a common problem caused by crap in the gear lever joints.
do a search and I think you will soon find it, or just hang on a bit till an Oilhead specialist pops along

O' and btw Welcome to UKGSER's you Tosser

 

[Dave56]

Hi there welcome along, hope that you get your selection problem sorted.......

 

[geotim]

Thanks, I wondered if it was a problem with the 'box or if it was an adjustment thing with the selector lever. Lots of info here, fixed my immobiliser battery problem last month with advice from the site ...

 

[cherokee]

If you search the threads im sure you'll find something on this,i remember reading about it a while back and i think it was a linkage problem,ie just needed taking to bits and cleaning.......

 

[Viking]

Had the problem on my previous 1150 which I thought was g/box problems, Turned out to be accumulation of winter crud on the spindle bearing which Vines put right in about 45 minutes... Phew.. and I thought I needed a new box!!!

 

[(RIP) Bin Ridin]

Check the feel of the lever movement with the bike on the mainstand, engine stopped, rotate wheel by hand to get it in and out of gears. It should be free and springy, spray wd40 on the joints or in a bad case, you may have to dismantle the joints to grease them.

 

[geotim]

Thanks guys, it's great to get some help on this. Looks like today will be WD40 day, and the weekend will be a grease fest !

 

[st247]

could well be either the ball joints or the shaft that runs through the frame (3) sticking in the bushes (8). Its easy to take out and give a proper clean. Just remove the gear lever (mark the position of the lever in relation to the shaft), take the ball joint of the back (small wire spring clip holds that on) then slide the shaft through the frame.

 

[geotim]

Gear selector - Fixed !

Thanks all, I have done a quick fix with the WD40 ... smooth selections all day on 120 mile ride. I will give it a full grease up this weekend, thanks for the diagram for pulling it down. Cheers, Geotim