R1150GS downward gear selection problems

[Tallmarkb59]

Having just spent a small fortune fixing the front brakes on recently purchased 1150GS, I'm beginning to think that I was sold a pup. Test ride was fine, but about 600 miles later I am having problems changing down from 5 to 4, 4 to 3 etc. E to 5 is fine, but I have had to deliberately stall in 4th or 3rd several times because I cannot get a lower gear.
If I do stall the engine, I can then move the gear lever by hand to select up or down through the box. I have also found that if I cannot select a lower gear by foot, putting a tiny amount of upward pressure on the lever before trying again works.
Local independents asked whether the gearbox oil had been serviced, so I drained it as soon as I got home from a (fraught) seventy mile run this morning. Oil was clear and yellow, and there was plenty of it. Going to replace and see if it makes any difference, although logic tells me that it will not.
Local independents estimating a day's labour to fit an exchange box. From what I have heard, this may be more effective than trying to remove the box and diagnose myself as I am no expert and do not have many tools.
Any opinions ? (MOTs back up the odometer reading of only 37,000 miles, so I don't want to give up too easily)

 

[NeilDD]

Mark,
It will be a sticking gear lever
On the inside face of the LH foot rest bracket will be an M8 countersunk screw, remove this and re grease the pivot bush that the gear lever pivots on, and all will be well.

HTH
Neil

 

[oblertone]

What he said; gear lever pivots full of crap, remove and grease. BE AWARE, the little spring clips that hold the ball joints together are not called Pingfuckits for nothing.

 

[Tallmarkb59]

Thanks for that. I'll give it a go. Sounds a lot cheaper.

 

[dave perry]

Even the Missus laughed out loud !!

<< are not called Pingfuckits for nothing >>

 

[markkfletcher]

Yep. Been here. Replace gear lever bush.

 

[Hay Ewe]

whilst you ar there doing that and have the linkage dissassembled, get a bicycle inner tubr (from a raod bike is best) cut a short length and after reassembly, slide the section of inner tube over the whole linkage.
Either lock wire or zip tie the ends closed.
Prevents sand / dust / crap / dirt / leprechorns getting in there

 

[Tallmarkb59]

Just had a quick look at the footrest hanger. Haynes manual is particularly vague, trying to cover more than one model. Looks as though the hanger actually supports the back end from the engine/gearbox combo, unless I'm mistaken. Does the gearbox need to be supported by a jack etc before trying to remove the hanger?
Does the exhaust silencer need removing as well?
Thanks

 

[otruk]

Foot rest hangers are bolted to the gearbox. They can be removed.

 

[Packer]

Foot rest hangers are bolted to the gearbox. They can be removed.

But don't need to be to remove the gear lever pivot. In the unlikely event that it has never been off it is IIRC installed with blue lock thread. A heat gun is your friend.

 

[davegs]

Gear box

Certainly will be the lever well known prob, the pivot is locktited and will require a hot air gun to loosen same get it good and hot and all will come out with no trouble.

 

[Tinytim]

As they say. Suuffered exact same symptoms . Managed to get a good 2nd hand lever cheap rather than replace expensive BMW bloody bush(es). Sorted problem .
There is/are thread/s already in this Section re this problem..

 

[Steptoe]

Undo ball joints and see of the gearlever flops down or stays in the same position.... it should be loose enough to be able to flick it back and forward as it hangs down...

The bush is pressed into the gearlever and a lot of people with the same problem have missed it in the past (do a search and see ), if seized it will be stuck fast and give the impression of being part of the gearlever. It may need pressing out in a vice with a socket.

Once out clean with wet and dry and a quick "go-around" with a file, also clean out the lever where the bush locates. Then plenty of grease when you fit it back in.

The bush can be seen at the bottom of the page HERE .

 

[King Rat]

Crikey - another thing that has never gone wrong with mine. Over 200,000 miles of GSes and not had this problem ever. How does one get these problems because I am feeling left out.

 

[Tallmarkb59]

Thank you everybody, especially for the link to Motorwerks for a replacement bush. Thus will give me something to do over the Christmas break.

 

[(RIP) trickytree]

Thank you everybody, especially for the link to Motorwerks for a replacement bush. Thus will give me something to do over the Christmas break.

You'll get out into the garage and do it now man, 11** owners up and down the country are holding candle lit vigils for the bike to pull through

 

[Tallmarkb59]

That made I laaarf !

 

[Steptoe]

Thank you everybody, especially for the link to Motorwerks for a replacement bush. Thus will give me something to do over the Christmas break.

You do not need a replacement bush . Just some wet & dry and a fine flat file

 

[davegs]

You need bigger, heavier boots!.

 

[Tallmarkb59]

For all of those who have been edge of their seats, waiting for the next thrilling instalment......Delayed by Christmas Faye and visitors, I got to work on the gear lever today. The footrest mounting plate came off far too easily. The pingfuckit didn't "ping", and with application of the advised heat, the gear lever bolt was removed. Unbelievably, the bush then gave up its hold using only a socket gently tapped by a ball pein hammer. All far too easy, and there has to be a catch. I didn't have any wet & dry to hand, AND had to wait in for Amazon, so the next stage will have to wait for the hardware shop to open, but I'm optimistic to say the least.