Wondered if anybody here knew of common gearbox problems on early R1s? Was having major problems getting clean gear selection right throught the box, so greased the shift linkage etc and adjusted chain tension.
It helped a bit but I still have very poor feel and it keeps dropping out of gear right after the shift - as though its not selecting properly.
From first to second is worst, you have to get straight back on the power to get it to stay in gear, though once in, no amount of snappy throttle abuse in any gear will make it jump out again.
Anybody come across this before? Am hoping I’m not looking at a new gear box, has only done 10k miles…
The clutch is actually slipping as well, moreso when its cold and yes it always had a fair old clunk into first gear (but then I’ve only had it a few months), prior to this problem there was a fair clunk into second as well - is that a worn clutch symptom?
As to whether its dragging, there’s nothing to suggest it is as far as I can make out - but then it could be another symptom of it being quite worn?
Will do that paddock stand trick - clutchless?
yep when I’m getting on I am usually making clutchless changes, but equally am reasonably deft with them and mechanicially sympathetic - this nonetheless may have added to the problem?
What are the potential implications of bent selector forks (feels like that), or worn dogs? Sounds expensive…
Yep I’ve seen the rumours of these boxes being weak, but none really substantiated, until now…! Thanks for your help here much appreciated.
It’s usual to get a “Clonky” first gear on start up, this is because you have cold sticky oil between the clutch plates. Subsequent engagements into 1st should be a lot smoother than the initial one. If it doesn’t improve it could be clutch drag.
Have you changed the oil recently? This can have a good effect sometimes.
Failing that the first thing (easiest) thing I’d check would be the steel clutch plates for blueing and warping. put them on a flat surface (glass or mirror) and see if there is any rocking.
So you think the problem is potentially more a worn clutch than a knackered gear box? The clutch is getting fixed shortly anyway to get rid of the slipping, maybe that will fix it.
I’ve no idea when the gearbox oil was last changed, but the thing’s been serviced every year / 1200 miles since it was new extraordinarily enough, prob worth doing the oil anyway though I guess.
I don’t really have the facilities (or I suspect the skill), to tear the clutch apart and then put it back together, so will prob leave it to the garage…
In case anybody else comes across this, it turned out to be a tiny spring that had failed, where the selector rod thing goes into the gearbox off the linkage. Not uncommon apparently, the spring is 50p with about an hour to fit.
