K11 Owners Group

Milton · Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2008 5:24 pm Post subject: Transmission worry.

I've had my 1992 K100RS for just over a year now and have put on aprox. 16K miles (43250 miles right now). Right out of the box it started missing shifts from 1st to 2nd, and these shifts are cyclic. Sometimes I will go several weeks without a missed shift and sometimes it will miss almost every shift for several days. On rare occasion it will also miss 3rd to 4th and more often 4th to 5th. It has never missed 2nd to 3rd.

Today my son rode his bicycle up Lookout Mtn. outside of Golden, Colorado and wanted me to ride my bike to the top to meet him and then ride down to Golden for lunch. Anyway I left early and met him about 2/3 of the way up the hill. There was not much traffic so I was able to ride along side of him at about 8mph in 1st gear. 2 times my transmission popped out of 1st gear into neutral. This has never hap happened before.

I have changed the fluid in the transmission and replenished with Mobil 1 about 2K miles ago. There was absolutely no metal shavings I could see either on the drain plug or in the fluid. Fluid looked as though I had just put it in.

I know that these transmissions can be finicky and I try to shift it positively and do the preload shifter technique. My worry is is this normal or am I losing my transmission?

Thanks,

Milton S.
_________________
Jethro Tull: Thick as a Brick!

1992 K100RS 48K. Dead for now.
1998 Triumph Tiger 43K->56K. Doin it in the dirt.
1978 Honda CB400T 32.5K. For my boys.

BMGraeme · Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2008 6:22 pm Post subject:

I find it's a very slight nudge to put the bike into neutral from first and I normally don't preload the gearshift for that reason. Are you sure your not just putting enough pressure on the shift to put it into neutral?
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1980 CB900FA
1994 K1100RS
2008 R1200GSA

duckbubbles · Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2008 11:37 pm Post subject:

The troubles I've seen with the K transmissions (twice on mine) is the shift drum getting worn and not engaging second gear completely, ultimately to the point that it jumps out of and into gear with moderate throttle.

What you are experiencing may be a technique problem. These trannies are pretty lousy shifters, with a neutral between each gear at no extra charge. Look at your clutch adjustment for proper freeplay. Notice if the boots/shoes you are wearing may cause a problem. I need to lower my shifter a little to make it work for me, I suppose I have a lazy ankle. I don't preload the shifter like some suggest, I think that would prematurely wear the shifting components.

Are you using synthetic gear oil in it? That can work wonders for the way it works. I've been using Amsoil 75W90 Synthetic for a long time.

Frank
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85 K100/1100RS, 321,000 miles, 25 years
96 Ducati 900SS/SP, sold it
05 R1200ST, 35,000 miles, 5 years
400,000 BMW miles

CheapJapCopy · Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2008 1:03 pm Post subject:

Right on - there's false neutrals aplenty in all these boxes. Sometimes I think my box is knackered until I remember I'm wearing trainers!
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1992 K1100RS - Red and gold.

Milton · Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2008 5:37 pm Post subject:

Off the grid · Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2008 6:17 pm Post subject:

Mine does the same exact thing, but sometimes jumps out of 1st gear as well.

It's rare, like once every 2-3 weeks or so.

If it breaks, I'll fix it.
_________________
Bane of your existence since July 2006
2007 Triumph Tiger ABS. "Sabertooth"
2009 Husqvarna TE610. "The dirty Italian mistress"

duckbubbles · Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2008 8:07 pm Post subject:

I don't think you really have a problem. I go through spasms of crappy shifting with all mine every so often. I blame it mostly on myself.

These transmissions are strong enough that you will get plenty of warning if something is going wrong. Be aware of it popping out of and back into second gear. That is a sign of wearing shift drum, forks. It has taken mine well over 100,000 miles to get to that point, more than once.

Frank
_________________
85 K100/1100RS, 321,000 miles, 25 years
96 Ducati 900SS/SP, sold it
05 R1200ST, 35,000 miles, 5 years
400,000 BMW miles

Scott_Anderson · Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2008 11:05 pm Post subject:

I have occasionally had mine drop from 2nd to Neutral if I would drop the throttle closed too fast. Most likely an indication of a week shift in my case, but still happend nontheless. Mine is just over 45000, and running Mobil 1 Syn.
_________________
Ride safe.

1995 K1100LT 0302044
2017 FLHTK Ultra Limited
Garmin StreetPilot 2820
Garmin Zumo 550
Garmin Zumo XT
"One who does not ask questions is ashamed to learn" Danish proverb
1997 K1100LT 0302488(R.I.P.)
1997 R1100RT ZC62149(sold)

lrome48 · Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2008 3:16 pm Post subject:

duckbubbles · Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2008 5:54 pm Post subject: