Stuck in gear

[Kellopiper]

Hi,
I have a 2007 Moto Guzzi Breva 1100. Out yesterday on it and came across a junction/give way with a serious camber and a steep slope. Went to put my feet down ( I'm only about 5' 6") and found only fresh air. Bike went over as did I and after getting some help to pick it up (I'm 67) I've found it seems to be stuck in gear. It now wont start. Bike landed on gearshift side. I have engine protection bars and there appears to be little or no damage. On turning the key the instrument cluster lights all do their usual thing and the immobiliser works as normal. I can't get it out of gear using the gear lever. I'm assuming it wont start as it's in gear. I'm also aware that the bike is fitted with a fuel tilt sensor. As it was horizontal on the road I'm taking it that the sensor did it's job and cut off the fuel supply. Does this need to be reset somehow or does it sort itself out when bike is again vertical?
Anybody any ideas? Thanks in advance.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Bent the gear lever or gear lever shaft, I expect ?
Pull the clutch in and see if she will start. (Side stand raised)

 

[SBD]

That’s a pain. Hope you’re ok.

The Guzzi tilt sensor was/is a washer on a curved guide, once it’s upright, I believe it self-clears, though obviously you’d need to turn off and on again for the ecu to recognise that. I don’t think you’d need to disconnect & reconnect the battery, but it’s easy to do.

If the gear lever hit the ground, it might have done some internal damage, but it doesn’t seem likely, that said, I’ve never been inside a modern Guzzi. Perhaps @theoneandonly can advise?

Will the gear lever move at all? Can you get someone to move the bike whilst you try to flick the lever up or down? I’ve had bikes where finding neutral with the engine stopped is a serious hassle, and paddling the bike forwards and backwards helps.

 

[squibb34]

This isn't the MG forum unfortunately, so experiences will be more limited.

I'm wondering about gear linkage freedom of movement. Research suggests that the lever fixes to a splined spindle which in turn runs through a bush, which could be binding & in need of lubrication. This runs through the left footrest hanger plate to a link rod with a ball joint at both ends - these also need to be both connected & have full freedom of movement. I also think there could be the possibility for road debris to become somehow wedged in the mechanism behind the footplate.

Argh, the embarrassing stationary flop-over. We've all been there at some stage - hope you can get it fixed without undue expense.

 

[Number 6]

Is the bike still where it fell over? If not, how did you move it?

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Is the bike still where it fell over? If not, how did you move it?

Good point, well made

 

[Kellopiper]

Bent the gear lever or gear lever shaft, I expect ?
Pull the clutch in and see if she will start. (Side stand raised)

Hi, I've tried that and no joy. Thanks for your reply.

 

[Kellopiper]

Good point, well made

Hi, had to call my friend. We got it into his (large) van. Pushed it up a ramp with the clutch in. Big thanks to my friend Terry!

 

[Kellopiper]

That’s a pain. Hope you’re ok.

The Guzzi tilt sensor was/is a washer on a curved guide, once it’s upright, I believe it self-clears, though obviously you’d need to turn off and on again for the ecu to recognise that. I don’t think you’d need to disconnect & reconnect the battery, but it’s easy to do.

If the gear lever hit the ground, it might have done some internal damage, but it doesn’t seem likely, that said, I’ve never been inside a modern Guzzi. Perhaps @theoneandonly can advise?

Will the gear lever move at all? Can you get someone to move the bike whilst you try to flick the lever up or down? I’ve had bikes where finding neutral with the engine stopped is a serious hassle, and paddling the bike forwards and backwards helps.

Hi, thanks for your response. I can move the gear lever but only about two notches ( fully down and about two up). Can't find neutral though. On switching ignition the neutral light with all the other lights comes on briefly as is normal. Had to bring the bike home in a van last night so will get another look at things today.

 

[Kellopiper]

This isn't the MG forum unfortunately, so experiences will be more limited.

I'm wondering about gear linkage freedom of movement. Research suggests that the lever fixes to a splined spindle which in turn runs through a bush, which could be binding & in need of lubrication. This runs through the left footrest hanger plate to a link rod with a ball joint at both ends - these also need to be both connected & have full freedom of movement. I also think there could be the possibility for road debris to become somehow wedged in the mechanism behind the footplate.

Argh, the embarrassing stationary flop-over. We've all been there at some stage - hope you can get it fixed without undue expense.

Hi, thanks for your response. I got the bike home last night in my friends van so will investigate further today. The problem of a heavy bike with my little short legs! Where it happened the road has a fairly big camber and I found my left foot reaching out to nothing more than fresh air!

 

[Number 6]

Hi, thanks for your response. I can move the gear lever but only about two notches ( fully down and about two up). Can't find neutral though. On switching ignition the neutral light with all the other lights comes on briefly as is normal. Had to bring the bike home in a van last night so will get another look at things today.

Have you tried with the bike on the centre stand, assuming it has one? Rock the wheel back and forth as you move the gear lever. Is there any apparent damage to the gear lever or cut-out switches on the side stand or clutch lever? It should start in gear with the clutch pulled in and the side stand retracted.

 

[theoneandonly]

this ^^^^^
the tip over sensor resets after ign off then on .
s/stand switch is rotary , should be ok ( if in gear s/s up, clutch lever in , it should start)
clutch cutout switch should be ok , it's well protected .
is the gear lever still where it has always been ? not moved up or down ? sit on the bike and see.
i've only ever been inside 2 in 20 years .

just remembered , i had a punter who was rough with his , he broke the stop point off inside the box .
is the lever "floppy" ? ie has no self centering point ? you might have broken it off, it is part of the casing.
you will not be able to change gear if this has happened , as the return spring has nothing to push/pull against.
he broke his by stamping on the gear lever ...a drop may have done the same thing.

 

[Kellopiper]

this ^^^^^
the tip over sensor resets after ign off then on .
s/stand switch is rotary , should be ok ( if in gear s/s up, clutch lever in , it should start)
clutch cutout switch should be ok , it's well protected .
is the gear lever still where it has always been ? not moved up or down ? sit on the bike and see.
i've only ever been inside 2 in 20 years .

just remembered , i had a punter who was rough with his , he broke the stop point off inside the box .
is the lever "floppy" ? ie has no self centering point ? you might have broken it off, it is part of the casing.
you will not be able to change gear if this has happened , as the return spring has nothing to push/pull against.
he broke his by stamping on the gear lever ...a drop may have done the same thing.

Thanks to all who have responded to my problem. I now have the bike running. Today I noticed that the red triangle warning light was flashing on the instrument cluster. According to the handbook this has detected a failure in the fuel injection or immobiliser. Put the bike on the centre stand and worked the wheel back and forward with one hand while using the other to operate the gear lever. Eventually managed to find neutral. Neutral light now lit on the instrument cluster. Bike started first press of the button. I don't know why it was so hard to find neutral after the fall but it seems to be ok now. Maybe the fuel tilt sensor needed the bike to be completely upright to reset? Anyway, happy now it's sorted. Thanks again to all who took the time to respond.

 

[theoneandonly]

warning triangle ?
go into the dash via rubber button on the front of lhs switch , and mode button on the top , get into diagnostics , use rubber button to scroll

https://guzzitek.org/documents/injection/ServiceCodes_rev00.pdf

look a faults , Actual and Memory , erase all , you cannot erase a current fault

oil sensor is most common , get a long screwdriver and wiggle the connection on the top , and check dash again.