gears constantly engaged

[stephen.mangnall]

Just rebuilt my 75 GL1000 engine (every nut and bolt), put it in the frame, it starts up but i could not select any gears, took the front water pump cover off and i can now can select gears (Full gasket kit from Randakk's). Also the final drive hub is constantly engaged even when the bike is in neutral the final drive is spinning when the engine is running. I turn the engine off put the rear wheel on and it will not turn, looks like gears are always engaged..? dreading pulling the engine out and splitting again, although will be easier as everything is clean and lubricated.

Cheers from Australia.

[Sagebrush]

An aftermarket transmission cover gasket can be too thin. There is very little clearance in the front of the engine and if the gasket is too thin or is torqued down too tight it can affect the shifting of the engine. The clearance between the shifting mechanism and the back of the transmission cover is very tight. Given that you took the transmission cover off and the bike and then it shifts fine I would say the gasket it your problem.

[stephen.mangnall]

Thanks Sagebrush, just been playing in the garage, turned the engine via the kick started and changed gears, looks like the cover was preventing it from engaging neutral properly and not getting to first at all, now everything is working properly. Should i go with 2 gaskets or one gasket and some 3 bond gasket cement..?
P.S. cannot say how happy i am i don't have to split the cases again.....

[robin1731]

Get an OEM gasket. Use just one. Not sure if they are still available from Honda but you find them on ebay all the time.

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[stephen.mangnall]

Thanks Robin1731, i have ordered a new OEM gasket, i will work on the rest of the bike until it arrives.

[Boxer4]

That’s great news Stephen!!!

[Sagebrush]

Make sure to torque it to specs, do not over tighten.

[robin1731]

Make sure to torque it to specs, do not over tighten.

You have time to get one of these too. viewtopic.php?f=6&t=63837

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[rcmatt007]

Honda still makes the transmission cover gasket

[stephen.mangnall]

OK quick update... fitted the OEM gasket, put the front cover back on very loosely and everything works fine, when I start to tighten the screws slowly not much passed finger tight things start to change, the rear wheel, although in neutral get harder to spin (definitely some resistance) and changing gears gets more difficult.? any idea's gents?

[jdvorchak]

There are a couple of things to consider. It is normal for a shaft drive bike to slowly spin the rear wheel at idle on the center stand. But you should be able to hit the rear brake and the wheel will stop spinning with no change in engine RPM.

Now I have seen more than one bike, that has been sitting for a long time, where rust forms on the clutch friction plates and steels locking the whole clutch assembly together. That is pretty normal. If you can put the bike in gear and pull the clutch and still roll the bike (engine running or not) you are good. If pulling the clutch all the way to the grip doesn't seem to release the rear wheel it is most likely rusted a little. Not a big deal. Put the bike on the center stand, engine off and clutch lever tied to the grip. Pull the shift lever up a few times to get in 3rd or 4th or even 5th gear. Rock the rear wheel backwards and forwards until the clutch frees up and the wheel will turn without spinning the engine. Only thing left to do, at that point, is to ride it!

Good luck.

[robin1731]

snip...………. It is normal for a shaft drive bike to slowly spin the rear wheel at idle on the center stand. But you should be able to hit the rear brake and the wheel will stop spinning with no change in engine RPM.
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Chain drive bikes too.

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[Sagebrush]

Is your transmission cover dented or pushed in?

[Sidecar Bob]

Just rebuilt my 75 GL1000 engine (every nut and bolt), put it in the frame, it starts up but i could not select any gears, took the front water pump cover off and i can now can select gears (Full gasket kit from Randakk's).

An aftermarket transmission cover gasket can be too thin. There is very little clearance in the front of the engine and if the gasket is too thin or is torqued down too tight it can affect the shifting of the engine. The clearance between the shifting mechanism and the back of the transmission cover is very tight. Given that you took the transmission cover off and the bike and then it shifts fine I would say the gasket it your problem.

Just to clarify:
- The water pump cover is part #13 in this drawing.
- The transmission cover is part #1
Which one are we talking about here?

GL1000 TRANSMISSION COVER - WATER PUMP - OIL FILTER.gif (100.97 KiB) Viewed 223 times

OK quick update... fitted the OEM gasket, put the front cover back on very loosely and everything works fine, when I start to tighten the screws slowly not much passed finger tight things start to change, the rear wheel, although in neutral get harder to spin (definitely some resistance) and changing gears gets more difficult.? any idea's gents?

Now I have seen more than one bike, that has been sitting for a long time, where rust forms on the clutch friction plates and steels locking the whole clutch assembly together. That is pretty normal. If you can put the bike in gear and pull the clutch and still roll the bike (engine running or not) you are good. If pulling the clutch all the way to the grip doesn't seem to release the rear wheel it is most likely rusted a little.

If the clutch was stuck like that, how would tightening the cover screws make it engage?

[stephen.mangnall]

Thanks for all the replies guys, I am talking about part #1 Transmission cover, I can hold the rear tire and use the kick starter to turn the engine over, if I do not hold the rear tire it turns with the engine.