Hung in Reverse

[Darryl]

Just purchased a used 1999 GL1500 SE. Runs good, but tried to put into reverse and nothing happened. Rear wheel locked and would not move. Tried backing up with the reverse/start button (with and without engine running) but nothing happened. Forced revserse lever back down to normal position (found out later you need to pull lever out slightly before pushing forward). Got rear wheel unlocked and bike will roll. But, now the egine will not start. Turn on & off the key several times and the "R" reverse light is "On" in the dash - but no "N" netural light and the start button will not crank the engine. After trying moving the reverse lever a few times, now the "R" reverse light is out on the dash - but cannot get the "N" netural light to come on so I cannot start the engine. What is the proper procedure to engage and dis-engage "reverse" on a Gl1500SE/1. Any help welcome. Thanks, Darryl. :(

[Wing84]

By the sound of what you are saying it's look like you will have to get to the source! the mechanisim is propably bent a little or the ajustment is out and keep hanging! you will have to open it up and see what is wrong.

[Dougal]

Firstly to get the reverse to work on a 1500 the engine must be running, with the gearbox in neutral.
The symtoms you are expreiencing is more than llikely the micro switch that is operated by the reverse lever. It is not unknown for this to fail.
To replace this switch you need to remove the following:
Left hand lower fairing
saddle
both fairing pockets
strereo
Reverse lever (remove this by undoing and removing the allen haeded bolt in its centre)
left hand dummy tank panel.

Sometimes the switch can be replaced without removing the lower fairing and fluxing the LH dummy tank pael, but there is a risk that it may break.
The switch can then be replaced and the panels etc re installed.

Dougal

[Darryl]

Wing84 and Dougal, Thanks for the info. Sounds like I need to check out all linkage, alignment, and Micro switches under the panels. Thanks for the help. Darryl

[ran429]

I went thru this awhile back when I had my 78, I put the Crash bars back on and didnt have them shimmed out far enough from the shift lever.