K11 Owners Group

voodooskin

My '97 K11 commonly doesn't downshift easily. Going up through the gears is no problem. Blipping the throttle when downshifting seems to work, but I'd rather be able to downshift w/o having to do that, and I'm wondering if I'm letting a problem go un-dealt-with.

I had the local BMW shop crack this thing open and clean/grease the clutch spline about 3 months ago. I saw the bike when it was all apart and it looked like that was a job that was due (splines were pretty dry but otherwise in decent shape).

That seemed to fix the problem for about 4-6 weeks.

Before taking it back in, any likely candidates that would cause this and are any of them easily fixed Wink

Thanks for any hints!
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1997 K1100LT
49,000 miles

Jim · Posted: Sun Jun 13, 2010 2:19 am Post subject:

Do you preload the shifter? There's a write up on how to shift on the IBMWR K bike tech page.

Do you know what they lubed it with? Is the local BMW shop a BMW dealer? If they used the BMW spline lube, it's no good (according to my BMW guru - Anton Largiader - and a number of other people). Dealers probably still use it.

You at least want to lube it with Honda moly paste, or better yet, Guard Dog.
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Jim
1997 K1100LTSE 94,000 - still has gremlins!
1995 R100RT Classic 16,650 crashed - repaired!
1992 K75RTP 46,000

"We shall not all die, but we shall all be changed."

Shoganai · Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2010 12:56 am Post subject:

What you are describing is how my bike was shifting before the input shaft stripped in clutch plate.

I was told "they all do that" by none other than a BMW shop tech.
They said 'pre-load' the shifter. Rolling Eyes

That's BS and don't buy into it.

After replacing the input shaft and clutch plate the bike has been smoothe as a buttery scolded weasel.

You can keep the input shaft lubed, which is a PITA but doable, and it will help for a time, but it will not last.
_________________
1993 K1100RS aka The Shop Whore
1994 K1100RS aka Blue Streak

The long road is a rainbow and the pot of gold lies there.
So slip the chain and I'm off again,
You'll find me everywhere. I'm a Rover. - JT

Nana korobi ya oki

voodooskin · Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2010 1:38 am Post subject:

The spline lube was done with Guard Dog, I ordered that based on recommendations found on K11OG.

Thanks for the suggestions on probable cause. Might have a clutch in my future sounds like... Damn, I just had the thing cracked open Mad

_________________
1997 K1100LT
49,000 miles

Shoganai · Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2010 2:50 am Post subject:

voodooskin · Posted: Wed Jun 16, 2010 12:23 am Post subject:

Thanks. I'll just ride it this summer for sure, maybe get it dealt with next rainy/cold season Wink

_________________
1997 K1100LT
49,000 miles