slipping in 4th gear

[sgwilly]

The other day I noticed the engine "slipped" while accelerating. Sounded like a chatter and I thought perhaps I have an issue with my clutch (which was rebuilt with heavy duty springs about 2 years ago). Then today, it really starting to do it - but only in 4th gear. All the other gears hold under hard acceleration, 4th hardly holds at all anymore. Just chatters. Kind of like a chain running over worn down teeth. I also noticed some new ticks and such while idling which makes me think I've got a lot of loose teeth floating around down there. I'm a-fearing I've run a bunch of metal through all my bearings.

Anyone else deal with this before? Am I looking at a replacement engine or will swapping in replacement gears from a different engine suffice?

[chewy999]

Could be a few things, but years ago I had a Suzuki GS750, and after I picked it up and rode home, I had the same problem, also only in one gear. Not sure what bike you have, and obviously the GS is a different engine, but I found that after taking the GS engine out and stripping it down, a spring had broken letting a retaining arm move and bend out of place making the gearshift drum move to much!

I know that's as clear as mud, but the similar items on the GL1100, are items nos. 5, 7 & 9 on this picture,

Drum shift..jpg (53.45 KiB) Viewed 266 times

Hope it's more simple than that, but if it's what I've said, it is repairable.

[Whiskerfish]

First thing I would do is drain the oil through some cheese cloth and see what is floating around in there.

[Old Fogey]

First thing I would do is drain the oil through some cheese cloth and see what is floating around in there.

Agreed, although I suspect you already know the answer.

[sgwilly]

Thanks. Will be straining the oil soon. If it comes out full of flakes, the gig is up. I'm hoping it's just a bent thingy. It'll be a deep dive to fix it but definitely worth it.

[Whiskerfish]

A worn shifter fork will produce a fair amount of chromium flakes but if she is popping in and out then the dogs of the gear are probably rounded. Usually this is a 1st or 2nd gear issue.

[chewy999]

Unless there is something obvious in the oil, I'm not sure you'll know what the problem is until you look inside. You'll need to do that anyway if you intend to fix it. Time consuming but not to hard to do, plus you will have plenty of help and support here.

[Old Fogey]

A worn shifter fork will produce a fair amount of chromium flakes but if she is popping in and out then the dogs of the gear are probably rounded. Usually this is a 1st or 2nd gear issue.

One of the 4th gear combo is also one of 1st gear combo. I don't have an open engine at the moment to check what else it could be.

[CYBORG]

If the fork is bent, not engaging the gear fully, could cause those symptoms

[Sagebrush]

Its like a horse just shoot it and put it out of its misery . Should you decide to do this, I'll fulfill RAT's role and guard the beer fridge and offer sage advise, just wait for the weather to cool off first

[Rat]

Hey .... just a minute .... eh? .... didja join my union ??

Gord

[Sagebrush]

North Carolina is a right to work state, don't have to join no union . You're welcome to come down and attempt to organize a union though.

[sgwilly]

Advice to shoot is also coming from several of my brothers (I have 5) and the original owner (my Dad). In fact, one of my brothers bought a Valk tourer yesterday off eBay (his 3rd Valk) for $3k and has informed me that is my next bike - period. I must admit, I'm wavering. Not sure if I can stand up to this massive frontal assault.

Not that I'm throwing in the towel on the 83. I'm starting to lay odds on the bent fork theory as I have a hard time believing it totally stripped out the gears in 30 miles of riding (from the first symptom to no traction in 4th). Still, it'll have to sit for a spell before I dig into it.

[Old Fogey]

This may sound stupid, but by any chance has your gear pedal moved? Move it down a spline and see if it makes a difference.

[Sagebrush]

Steve,

You going to be around the house this evening? I have a water pump gasket kit new in an unopened package that I can donate to the resurrection project.