Shift problem - '83 GL1100A

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Don't sound too good. If you are due for an oil change, use a lighter weight oil.

Unfortunately the only part that's easy to get to is the shifter lever and the seal. Everything else is buried inside the motor.

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Do you by chance have floor boards with a heel toe shifter. If you do shifter could be hitting the floor board. Just hoping for the best, I guess.



Yes great minds do think alike:cheeky1:

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I do have floor boards and heel/toe shifter. I don't think it is hitting anything, but I'll check better in the daylight tomorrow.
I jus put it up on the jack stand, I can shift thru the gears if I raise up on the shifter then push it down, using my hands. Is there maybe a spring on the inside that could be broken.??

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Does the shifter have its normall springy feel ? I am thinking possibly the return spring has broken or come off . This will let it shift those gears but not higer because the shifter doesnt recenter after each shift . This prevents it from rolling the shift drum around for the next gear.

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OnaWingandaPrayer wrote:

Does the shifter have its normall springy feel ? I am thinking possibly the return spring has broken or come off . This will let it shift those gears but not higer because the shifter doesnt recenter after each shift . This prevents it from rolling the shift drum around for the next gear.

Click to expand...

+1

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It is not springy, I think OnaWingandaPrayer is on to something. Is the return spring on the inside or the outside?

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You understand how they are normally springy...if you push down it comes back up ,pull up and springs back down .Sadly its inside , remove the front cover to get to it . Do you need a water pump ? Its in there too.

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I hope not, the water temp. is running fine according to the gauge. That does remind me of a question to ask. The radiator fan starts running as soon as I turn the key on, ie it supposed to do that. Better than not running at all.

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Is this bike a recently purchased bike to you ? No the fan should not turn on when the key is first turned or engine is cold . IT should be connected to a thermostat . Sometimes folks will bypass them and add a switch . IF you see some type of add on switch that may be for the fan.The thermostat could be bad as well .

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Yes, the bike is new to me, bought it about 2 months ago. It has been sitting a long time, only has 33,000 miles on it. I've been getting the lights working right and reworking the brakes, changing fluids, etc. The owner used to have lights all over it, he took them off and I had wiring going everywhere. Had to rewire the rear lights, replace the flasher, put on a new starter, it didn't want to turn over when it was hot. This forum has been a big help.

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I hope you can find something outside keeping it from shifting . It'll be a lot simpler that way. Have you found the Reference and FAQ forum ?

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This has been a very interesting thread. Please keep us updated. Hope all works out OK.

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there is a small spring and a big shifter spring under the water pump cover. the spring over on the right side puts a tad of pressure on the ratching mechanism for the gear detents to ratchet into the next gear. If the main spring over on the left side sitting on the bike<that looks like a clothespin for better words>that should be centered on the holding pin. If that spring is broken the cases will have to be separated to replace it. Id pull the water pump cover and see how things look. jb

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Try to shift without the heel/toe lever. Then you'll know about that.

My heel/toe shifts crappy from 1 to 2. 3,4,5 is fine. That is what is wierd about this post to me. I wonder if something inside the motor is jamming movement?

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Hey guys, I got it fixed, thanks for all the replys. This morning I remembered, yesterday morning the toe shifter had come out of the heel shifter fork, the bolt on the heel shifter had lossened. I removed it, put the toe shifter back in the fork and tightened up the bolt that hold the heel shifter. I loosened that bolt this morning and it started shfting fine, it's springyness had returned. I assummed the bolt had a shoulder on it so as not to get too tight. Upon examination the shoulder was just a hair too short. So I ground down the brass bushing a little, now I can tighten the bolt and the shifter is free.

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I also get a clanky clunk when shifting from 1st to 2nd, it sounds like that is a common complaint. I have a feeling it is because you are going thru two gears when coming from first. 1st thru nuetral into 2nd, you don't go thru neutral to get to the other gears. I may be full of it, but that is my reasoning.

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Glad to hear it wasnt anything major just a senior momentJB