Transmission problems

[Wingingit2]

I have a '76 GL1000. It runs great, handles well. The one problem is it kicks out of 1st gear every time. It has been sitting for awhile and I just got it going again. It seems to me that is was kicking out of all gears before.

Any Ideas? I was thinking the shifting linkage behind the front cover. I'll rebuild the water pump while in there.

Thanks for any help you guys can give.

[ritalz]

The thickness of the gasket for the transmission cover is very critical. Wrong one can cause these kind of problems. Best to use only oem gasket there.

[Whiskerfish]

Yes the front cover gasket thickness is critical and would be the first suspect but unfortunately kicking out of gear is often much deeper. You have several others right? With the bikes off and cold use your hand and drop it from neutral to first. Do they feel the same? Are the levers moving the same distance without any binding? If there is a feeling of binding then yes look at the gasket for the front cover. If not then I would suspect shift forks inside the gearbox. They were a weakness in the early 1000's. If a PO was a Clodfoot and hammered gears or repeated rested his foot there then it is likely damage was done. I forget exactly when but I think it was a mid year 77 upgrade to replace the forks with a beefier model.

[Wingingit2]

Yes, I have 6 of them, 2 run, 1 with head gasket problems, 1 is junk, another to replace the engine if I can't fix the trans, and a couple of stripped ones,

I will try the shifter movement on a few and see what happens.
Do you know the proper thickness of the gasket? I have usually bought K&L kits and never had a problem but this time I see I have a KP kit. Don't know why I switched.

[77Gowing]

Good info to know.
My problem shows up after the bike is up to temperature and the shifter seems to be hard to shift all the way down to first. Previously it happened a lot but I could clear it when coming to a complete stop. But it takes an extra second to do at a light and thus I fear of getting rear ended.
Thankfully, after several oil changes and more miles ridden my problem shows up quite rarely.
I feel your pain.

[robin1731]

Yes, I have 6 of them, 2 run, 1 with head gasket problems, 1 is junk, another to replace the engine if I can't fix the trans, and a couple of stripped ones,

I will try the shifter movement on a few and see what happens.
Do you know the proper thickness of the gasket? I have usually bought K&L kits and never had a problem but this time I see I have a KP kit. Don't know why I switched.

I've used the KP kits on my own bikes but won't on customer stuff. They seem to be hit and miss with this issue. I still use the KP kits but I don't use the gasket. I use OEM gaskets.



.

[Whiskerfish]

SNIP
Do you know the proper thickness of the gasket? I have usually bought K&L kits and never had a problem but this time I see I have a KP kit. Don't know why I switched.

No I do not. I know the issue with the front cover comes up once the gasket is compressed so I do not know if a before use measurement would provide any useful info?? Best bet is use OEM there and never reuse that gasket.

[Wingingit2]

I have an OM gasket on order. When I get a chance to do the work I'll post the trans results. Unfortunately my shop just got very busy, the rain stopped here in AZ, so I don't know when I'll get to it. keep the ideas coming.

[Wingingit2]

Yes the front cover gasket thickness is critical and would be the first suspect but unfortunately kicking out of gear is often much deeper. You have several others right? With the bikes off and cold use your hand and drop it from neutral to first. Do they feel the same? Are the levers moving the same distance without any binding? If there is a feeling of binding then yes look at the gasket for the front cover. If not then I would suspect shift forks inside the gearbox. They were a weakness in the early 1000's. If a PO was a Clodfoot and hammered gears or repeated rested his foot there then it is likely damage was done. I forget exactly when but I think it was a mid year 77 upgrade to replace the forks with a beefier model.

I checked the shifters on 3 bikes and they all felt the same. I will find out if the linkage is the problem.

[77Gowing]

The ...missing linkage, ain't that a myth?