Heavy gear selection on GS 1000

[John Kat]

I noticed that it requires a lot more pressure on the gear lever to shift gears on one of my GS 1000's.
Even without the motor running, I compared the effort required to move the gear lever up or down without actually engaging a gear with my other GSs and the difference is significant
What could the issue be?
The gearchange shaft doesn't seem bent and I don't believe it could be the gearchange shaft centraliser spring?
The gearbox does function correctly, it's only the shifting action that's unpleasant.
Any ideas or suggestions?

[Agemax]

is it like that through all the gears, upshift and down? if so it has to be something common to the shifter assembly, rather than a worn shift fork or drum or dogs on the gears.
i would guess you would have to pull it apart and have a looky to see if anything looks suspicious.......

[John Kat]

Yes, it's independent of the gear I'm in and it's as hard upshifing as downshifting
If it's only the shifter assy, does this mean I don't need to split the cases

[Agemax]

yep, just pull the clutch cover off and the clutch. you can then pull the shifter shaft out and get access to the shift mechanism on the end of the shifter drum.
if it is an obvious fault you may even see it with out popping the clutch off.

just a thought, take off the engine cover, over the front sprocket and see if that makes any difference. also while you are there, make sure the retainer is still on the shaft that prevents it moving laterally.....

[John Kat]

just a thought, take off the engine cover, over the front sprocket and see if that makes any difference. also while you are there, make sure the retainer is still on the shaft that prevents it moving laterally.....

OK, I did that and yes the action appears lighter...
The shaft doesn't seem bent as I action the gears and the retainer is in place.
I'll have to try on the road to confirm.
Many thanks!

[Agemax]

OK, I did that and yes the action appears lighter...
The shaft doesn't seem bent as I action the gears and the retainer is in place.
I'll have to try on the road to confirm.
Many thanks!

the hole in the cover that the shift shaft goes through may just have some crud in it. give it a good clean out and scrub the shaft clean, smear some light oil on the shaft to lube it up.

[uk gs nut]

Maybe the location dowel tubes are missing from the sprocket cover so the hole for the shift shaft is not inline correctly

[Agemax]

hey John, did you ever get to the bottom of this?