My K100LT 87 runs well...it did befire my fire but thats another post....but i'm a biot worried about the gearbox.

I have been told that BMW boxes are a bit rogh and now way as tight or smooth as jap boxes.

MY K100 has false neturals between 2-3 and 3-4.  I have to be very firm with the lever in moving it up or down...no gentle pushing as in a jap bike.

There is'nt any banign or bad noises from it but it has jumped out of 1st and into netural a couple of times...i put this down to not pushing it hard enough into 1st.

So is the above all normal or do i have a problem.

I'm asking this becasue i have the bike in bits and the moment and might as well get all the jobs done while i can.

Mike

pretty normal

don't pussy around with gear changes

make it purposfull not half the job

it aint hard ....there are thousands and thousands that have learned the method

cheers

charlie99 wrote:pretty normal

don't pussy around with gear changes

make it purposfull not half the job

it aint hard ....there are thousands and thousands that have learned the method

cheers

Cheers for the reply.  I only posted this thread as i read on a K100 rebuild site that the gear change should be smooth with no false neturals.

I shall change the oil and leave all alone..it's only done 35k miles

Mike

good idea mike

enjoy the ride

we have seem some issues with gearboxes ...primarily associated with slop of the gear lever (internal grub screw loosening up somehow )

but not by the description you mention
unless you have a cable length issue to the activation lever and the clutch is not disengaging fully

there are good recommendations for that setting throughout the forum

have fun ...!!!!

I have extra neutral between 4th and 5th gear. Checked the gearbox last winter as I had to change some seals. It looked OK.

charlie99 wrote:good idea mike

enjoy the ride

we have seem some issues with gearboxes ...primarily associated with slop of the gear lever (internal grub screw loosening up somehow )

but not by the description you mention
unless you have a cable length issue to the activation lever and the clutch is not disengaging fully

there are good recommendations for that setting throughout the forum

have fun ...!!!!

I do get one straneg thing with 1st gear.

Some times when i engage 1st from netural the lear goes all the way down and touches the exahaust cover.  But then other times it does not drop down as far and misses the exhaust by a good inch.

It's totally random and i can't find a pattern to it.  It does not cause me a problem but as i want to keep this bike for a long time i want to identify and fix all i can when i can.

Mike

That would be the grub screw on the gear selector shaft having backed off.  Take it from someone who said 'its ok, I can live with it for a while'.. Fix it NOW.  The damage caused to the titanium coating on the shift drum, from all those not-quite selections is not worth it - the shift drum is a $600 part, it's cheaper to replace the gearbox with a good 2nd hand one than to have to replace the drum

A new grub screw and some non-petroleum-soluble loctite will set you back ~10 bucks, and it's a 30 minute fix once you get the gearbox out, so it's SO worth it..

The K100 gearbox has always needed a sure foot (Steelcaps are a much better applicator than sneakers, say), but the 'false neutral' thing between gears is a classic indicator of that damned grub screw backing off.  once you replace the screw, you'll be amazed how smooth the box is

Rendrag wrote:That would be the grub screw on the gear selector shaft having backed off.  Take it from someone who said 'its ok, I can live with it for a while'.. Fix it NOW.  The damage caused to the titanium coating on the shift drum, from all those not-quite selections is not worth it - the shift drum is a $600 part, it's cheaper to replace the gearbox with a good 2nd hand one than to have to replace the drum

A new grub screw and some non-petroleum-soluble loctite will set you back ~10 bucks, and it's a 30 minute fix once you get the gearbox out, so it's SO worth it..

The K100 gearbox has always needed a sure foot (Steelcaps are a much better applicator than sneakers, say), but the 'false neutral' thing between gears is a classic indicator of that damned grub screw backing off.  once you replace the screw, you'll be amazed how smooth the box is

Is getting the gearbox off much of a job?..i guess it's engine out?

Mike

No Mike - it's not an engine out.
Have a look at this video - some good info. etc.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZJdZ1HszkA


 

ungaas wrote:No Mike - it's not an engine out.
Have a look at this video - some good info. etc.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZJdZ1HszkA


 

Cheers again for all the good info...i'm new to the K100 so i'll ask all sorts of daft questions in the next few months i'm sure.

Mike

The false neutrals can also be an indicator that the lube on the input shaft and clutch has dried out or gone and the clutch plate is binding on the shaft. this shows up more in down shifts than up shifting.
It seems that no matter what you are going to take the gearbox out as the only thing you can do to it while in the bike is change the oil.
Its no big deal and a very easy weekend job and take the oportunity to grease and clean all the bearings and splines as you go

RicK G wrote:The false neutrals can also be an indicator that the lube on the input shaft and clutch has dried out or gone and the clutch plate is binding on the shaft. this shows up more in down shifts than up shifting.
It seems that no matter what you are going to take the gearbox out as the only thing you can do to it while in the bike is change the oil.
Its no big deal and a very easy weekend job and take the oportunity to grease and clean all the bearings and splines as you go

To most what would be a weekend job is a month long job for me....i only ever get 2 hours in my garage to myself a weekend...demands from the Mrs...no not in a good way....and child care mean i can never finsh what i start.

It has taken me over a month to lift the tank and see the fire damge.

I'll just get on with it and it will take as long as it takes i guess.

Mike

This link could become helpful.

Inge K. wrote:This link could become helpful.

Great link..thanks.

Mike

And don't forget..unlike jap bikes.... Always use your clutch when changing gear

The Japaneese bikes dont tolerate clutchless shifting either, they just take a bit longer to crack up.
When I worked for Honda Australia we got quite a few bikes back, even under warranty for gearbox problems because of the owners being lazy.
Also used to happen on the Suzukis.