1993 Goldwing stuck in reverse

2339 Views 43 Replies 12 Participants Last post by DaveO430, 27 d ago

Tabookie

Discussion Starter · 7 mo ago

I bought a broken Goldwing and now would love advice on how to fix it. It is stuck in reverse. Seems mechanical rather than electrical as I have removed the starter and it will still not release. This made it a booger to move to my home as the back wheel is locked up. Or rather moves back and forth like it is in gear. I have also removed the lever to no avail. I examined the cables under the right cover and it looks like someone has been hammering down on the lever in an attempt to disengage reverse. Has anyone run into this problem? Worst case I have a lot of shiny plastic and a sweet 1500 cc motor. I may have the most bad a$$ lawnmower on the block

More info, Bench test on the starter...it wherrrrs nicely. Green neutral light is on. Would anything electrical make it impossible to disengage? Has anyone done a transmission swap? I built and raced dirt mods for 15 years so wrenches and grease don’t t scare me but I prefer motors with one wire.

1 - 20 of 44 Posts

AZgl1800

· #2 · 7 mo ago

hope you had one of the cheap Harbor Freight small furniture dollys to rest that back tire on?

we have several of them here, we store cartons of water bottles on them, easy to push out of the way...

oh, welcome to the forum...

DaveO430

· #3 · 7 mo ago

The reverse is mechanical & inside the rear transmission cover. Was the lever stuck in the up position?

gumbyredd

· #4 · 7 mo ago

I wonder if you could lay down beside the bike with bike on center stand, and move wheel forward and back, while someone else tries to put reverse lever in down position. If reverse lever is already in down position, and nuetral light is on, I might be looking for another 1500 engine, '97 or newer.

Tabookie

Discussion Starter · #5 · 7 mo ago

AZgl1800 said:
hope you had one of the cheap Harbor Freight small furniture dollys to rest that back tire on?

we have several of them here, we store cartons of water bottles on them, easy to push out of the way...

oh, welcome to the forum...

Nope.

. Getting one tonight.

Tabookie

Discussion Starter · #6 · 7 mo ago

gumbyredd said:
I wonder if you could lay down beside the bike with bike on center stand, and move wheel forward and back, while someone else tries to put reverse lever in down position. If reverse lever is already in down position, and nuetral light is on, I might be looking for another 1500 engine, '97 or newer.

I can actually sit on it and rock it back and forth. Didn’t work. Thank you for the response

trike lady

· #7 · 7 mo ago

Did you check the reverse cable adjustment on the right side of the bike?
This will tell you how to adjust the cables: Reverse • GL1500 Information & Questions • goldwingdocs.com

Reactions: 1

OnaWingAndaPrayer

· #8 · 7 mo ago

I think you will need to remove the rear case and find the problem internally . Somthing is keeping the shifter or gear from disengaging .
Also when installing the starter motor , care must be taken so as not to break the gear in the case.
You might be able to look in thru the case with starter removed and see the problem.

Bike...and Dennis

· #9 · 7 mo ago

Welcome to the forum.

Tabookie

Discussion Starter · #10 · 7 mo ago

trike lady said:
Did you check the reverse cable adjustment on the right side of the bike?
This will tell you how to adjust the cables: Reverse • GL1500 Information & Questions • goldwingdocs.com

Yeppers. Looks like the previous owner was using a hammer to attempt to get it out of half reverse. Tonight I was thinking about removing the cable in the hopes that it is frozen from thirty years of being a cable. 😃

Tabookie

Discussion Starter · #11 · 7 mo ago

Bike...and Dennis said:
Welcome to the forum.

Thank you 😊

OnaWingAndaPrayer said:
I think you will need to remove the rear case and find the problem internally . Somthing is keeping the shifter or gear from disengaging .
Also when installing the starter motor , care must be taken so as not to break the gear in the case.
You might be able to look in thru the case with starter removed and see the problem.

Nice. Great suggestion. I even have a camera on a stick to explore further. Usually just use it to look in my ears. 🤪

SMEDEN(=the blacksmith)

· #12 · 7 mo ago (Edited)

Tabookie said:
Yeppers. Looks like the previous owner was using a hammer to attempt to get it out of half reverse. Tonight I was thinking about removing the cable in the hopes that it is frozen from thirty years of being a cable. 😃

As you say , remove both cables and try to turn the "shift drum" for reverse by hand , - but when something is wrong inside and somebody has hammered on the mechanism the could have broken something inside !
What happens when you turn the engine with a wrench on the crankshaft , - there is an bolt behind the belt covers for the timing belts , - does the engine turn freely and does the rear wheel turn ?

DenverWinger

· #13 · 7 mo ago

If stuck in reverse the transmission should be in neutral. Engine should turn but wheel won't move....

Bryanlj

· #14 · 7 mo ago

Sounds a lot to me like somebody has pulled the starter in with the bolts instead of seating it first which has broken a gear inside and the broken piece has jammed the geartrain, but then i always see the black side

Reactions: 2

gumbyredd

· #15 · 7 mo ago

If someone replaced the starter, and was not caareful about putting starter in correctly, before putting the bolts to it, it would all make perfect sense now why things are locked up.

DaveO430

· #16 · 7 mo ago

Bryanlj said:
Sounds a lot to me like somebody has pulled the starter in with the bolts instead of seating it first which has broken a gear inside and the broken piece has jammed the geartrain, but then i always see the black side

gumbyredd said:
If someone replaced the starter, and was not caareful about putting starter in correctly, before putting the bolts to it, it would all make perfect sense now why things are locked up.

But would not that break the starter gear in which case it wouldn't start? I'm assuming it does start.

gumbyredd

· #17 · 7 mo ago (Edited)

Delete.

Tabookie

Discussion Starter · #18 · 7 mo ago

Sorry back again. Will not start. All accessories work and neutral light is on. I push the starter button and the lights go out. I pulled the reverse adjustment cables tonight and they are free. Sad face. The lever on the right side moves freely, well it is spring loaded so sort of freely. Back to work Friday night so I will remove the cam cover and see if the motor will turn over with the bolt??? Thank god for youtube and GoldWing Facts.com

Reactions: 1

Tabookie

Discussion Starter · #19 · 7 mo ago

Tabookie said:
Thank you 😊

Nice. Great suggestion. I even have a camera on a stick to explore further. Usually just use it to look in my ears. 🤪

The two tiny gears behind the starter look good.

Tabookie

Discussion Starter · #20 · 7 mo ago

AZgl1800 said:
hope you had one of the cheap Harbor Freight small furniture dollys to rest that back tire on?

we have several of them here, we store cartons of water bottles on them, easy to push out of the way...

oh, welcome to the forum...

Thank you. Great info.

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