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    Engine won't engage

    Hi

    Motorcycle noob here. Riding GSes for two years now, about 11,000 miles under my belt, very little experience under the hood (as it were).

    Two problems with my bike. The second is why I'm posting here, but the first at least indirectly led to the second.

    First problem: I think I need a new battery. I've been putting the bike on a battery tender overnight every few days so I can start the bike... sometimes I need to bump start it if I haven't charged it in a bit.

    So I ride on an errand this evening, and when I get back to the bike to come home, it's not starting. Lights are fine, it turns over, so I start the downhill roll to bump start it. Put it in second and pop the clutch and nothin happens... starts making a new strange noise, and not starting. Doesn't bumpstart in first, either.

    I stop the bike and flag down a passer-by who kindly jump starts me. I put the seat back on, put my helmet back on, clutch in, first gear, let out the clutch and roll the throttle on and all I get is rev. I can go up to fifth gear without the clutch and rev and the engine is just not engaging the drive.

    I figure that means there's something wrong with the clutch, but that's just my noob guess.

    I call a buddy with a pickup truck and a ramp, and he gets me back to my garage.


    So. You've made it this far. What do you think?
    1) Need a new battery?
    2) Clutch?
    "I have come to believe that all life is precious." -- Eastman, TWD6.4

    1999 Triumph Legend 900 TT




    https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51693054986_036c0d6951_m.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51693282393_74ae51fbf9_m.jpg https://flic.kr/p/2mKXzTx]

    #2
    Almost a 1000 posts and you don't know about the soft splines yet? How many of that 1000 are in Off Topic?
    Ed

    To measure is to know.

    Mikuni O-ring Kits For Sale...https://www.thegsresources.com/_foru...ts#post1703182

    Top Newbie Mistakes thread...http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...d.php?t=171846

    Carb rebuild tutorial...https://gsarchive.bwringer.com/mtsac...d_Tutorial.pdf

    KZ750E Rebuild Thread...http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...0-Resurrection

    Comment


      #3
      Originally posted by Nessism View Post
      Almost a 1000 posts and you don't know about the soft splines yet? How many of that 1000 are in Off Topic?
      I've heard of the splines, yeah. And a lot of those nearly 1000 posts are OT. How about a little encouragement here?
      "I have come to believe that all life is precious." -- Eastman, TWD6.4

      1999 Triumph Legend 900 TT




      https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51693054986_036c0d6951_m.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51693282393_74ae51fbf9_m.jpg https://flic.kr/p/2mKXzTx]

      Comment


        #4
        Originally posted by kerrfunk View Post
        I've heard of the splines, yeah. And a lot of those nearly 1000 posts are OT. How about a little encouragement here?
        Hey funk-man,

        Just teasing. Your 1100 is a beaut! (for an L that is)

        Keep up the good work and go find an early wheel and get yourself a new/used spline.
        Ed

        To measure is to know.

        Mikuni O-ring Kits For Sale...https://www.thegsresources.com/_foru...ts#post1703182

        Top Newbie Mistakes thread...http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...d.php?t=171846

        Carb rebuild tutorial...https://gsarchive.bwringer.com/mtsac...d_Tutorial.pdf

        KZ750E Rebuild Thread...http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...0-Resurrection

        Comment


          #5
          Originally posted by kerrfunk View Post
          I've heard of the splines, yeah.

          How about a little encouragement here?
          Okay... You can do it, You can do it...
          now get to pulling that rear wheel off.
          De-stinking Penelope http://thegsresources.com/_forum/sho...d.php?t=179245

          http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...35#post1625535

          Comment


            #6
            Florida ebay item #360255912926- Is this same? 81 gs1000- looks pretty
            1981 gs650L

            "We are all born ignorant, but you have to work hard to stay stupid" Ben Franklin

            Comment


              #7
              Originally posted by tom203 View Post
              Florida ebay item #360255912926- Is this same? 81 gs1000- looks pretty
              Would that fit an 82 1100 gL ?
              "I have come to believe that all life is precious." -- Eastman, TWD6.4

              1999 Triumph Legend 900 TT




              https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51693054986_036c0d6951_m.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51693282393_74ae51fbf9_m.jpg https://flic.kr/p/2mKXzTx]

              Comment


                #8
                Originally posted by tom203 View Post
                Florida ebay item #360255912926- Is this same? 81 gs1000- looks pretty
                This seems to be the final drive unit, not the driven spline hub that bolts to the rear wheel (which is what is almost certainly needed).

                The very first 850 splines were bad, which forced a recall/redesign from Suzuki. The subsequent splines are the desirable ones - black in color and fit to most '79, all '80, and some '81 shaft drive bikes. Suzuki made a running change in the '81 model year which was not for the better - gold in color, and easily stripped. At some point Suzuki fixed the problem and offered improved service parts that are silver in color. You need either an early black, or later silver spline, if you want the good stuff.
                Ed

                To measure is to know.

                Mikuni O-ring Kits For Sale...https://www.thegsresources.com/_foru...ts#post1703182

                Top Newbie Mistakes thread...http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...d.php?t=171846

                Carb rebuild tutorial...https://gsarchive.bwringer.com/mtsac...d_Tutorial.pdf

                KZ750E Rebuild Thread...http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...0-Resurrection

                Comment


                  #9
                  look for the black spline...NOT the gold one!! Let us know if your was the gold one......
                  MY BIKES..1977 GS 750 B, 1978 GS 1000 C (X2)
                  1978 GS 1000 E, 1979 GS 1000 S, 1973 Yamaha TX 750, 1977 Kawasaki KZ 650B1, 1975 Honda GL1000 Goldwing, 1983 CB 650SC Nighthawk, 1972 Honda CB 350K4, 74 Honda CB550

                  NEVER SNEAK UP ON A SLEEPING DOG..NOT EVEN YOUR OWN.


                  I would rather trust my bike to a "QUACK" that KNOWS how to fix it rather than a book worm that THINKS HE KNOWS how to fix it.

                  Comment


                    #10
                    silver good, gold bad. Got it.

                    My plan is to remove the rear wheel (thanks, Basscliff, for the pictorial tutorial) and find a rotten gold spline. Is there a way before doing that to assure me that it's not the clutch?
                    "I have come to believe that all life is precious." -- Eastman, TWD6.4

                    1999 Triumph Legend 900 TT




                    https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51693054986_036c0d6951_m.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51693282393_74ae51fbf9_m.jpg https://flic.kr/p/2mKXzTx]

                    Comment


                      #11
                      someone on this forum at some point i am almost 100% positive told me that you can still get the spline as it was used on the GSX1100G and the Boulevard.

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Since you bought the bike from ddaniels, I would ask him if the clutch was ever serviced. You may want to remove the clutch cover and have a look inside. Check for anything that could be broken or loose.

                        How old is the battery? Did you go through the stator papers yet to see if the bike is charging?

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Man that sucks Kerry! Definitely check the spline. I need to do that on mine too. No problem yet and I'm hoping I find a black one.
                          Current Bikes:
                          2001 Yamaha FZ1 (bought same one back)

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Not sure what's going on with the battery since that was a new one I put in just before you picked up the bike. Go through the charging system per bascliff's site and the stator papers and see if it's charging correctly.
                            Current Bikes:
                            2001 Yamaha FZ1 (bought same one back)

                            Comment


                              #15
                              Originally posted by ddaniels View Post
                              Not sure what's going on with the battery since that was a new one I put in just before you picked up the bike.
                              Well now I know how old the battery is

                              Originally posted by ddaniels View Post
                              Go through the charging system per bascliff's site and the stator papers and see if it's charging correctly.
                              Electricity makes me shudder. Guess I have to learn sometime.
                              "I have come to believe that all life is precious." -- Eastman, TWD6.4

                              1999 Triumph Legend 900 TT




                              https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51693054986_036c0d6951_m.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51693282393_74ae51fbf9_m.jpg https://flic.kr/p/2mKXzTx]

                              Comment

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