Neutral selection problems GSX1100EX / Oil choice

[bummers]

When I first bought my GSX it had 180,000 kms (or 280,000?) on the clock. It was difficult to select neutral, especially when stopped (engine running). I was running Penzoil 10W40 oil, tried Penzoil 20W50 & Shell Advance 15W50 - It made no difference.

At 200,000kms I replaced the clutch plates with new Suzuki steels & Barnett fibres - seemed to make netral selection a lot better.

Recently, at about 225,000 kms, I was told that Shell had bought out Pennzoil & you couldn't rely on the Pennzoil being Pennzoil or some Shell variety. I was talked into trying Conoco 10W40. 2x Conoco oil changes later, I've realised the neutral selection problem was back. It dawned on me yesterday that maybe the change of oil was the cause.

Anybody had any similar problems?

Bernie

[Anonymous]

Bernie
lots of us have shifting problems with our bikes. I was fortunate to find that using oil with a lower viscosity than 20w something did the trick. I still can have days wehen neutral is tricky to find when stopped. I always go to neutral before i stop any how. I am very fussy with the ckutch adjustment also. i actually run it tighter than recomended .

[Anonymous]

Oil choice

I guess you guys are in a colder climate??? I find I only get neutral problems when the engine is cold. I am actually thinking of going to a heavier oil as temps here are about 40C & I think a heavier oil would be ok & keep a better viscosity. Incidently, what is the recommended weight of oil for the GS 1100? I use only Penrite oil in all my vehicles. Just a personal preference. I also find that owning T500R's I have a habit of engaging neutral before coming to a stop, as I use 90 weight oil in those & neutral can be VERY hard to find at a standstill!!! Cheers, Paul

[bummers]

Re: Oil choice

I guess you guys are in a colder climate??? I find I only get neutral problems when the engine is cold. I am actually thinking of going to a heavier oil as temps here are about 40C & I think a heavier oil would be ok & keep a better viscosity. Incidently, what is the recommended weight of oil for the GS 1100? I use only Penrite oil in all my vehicles. Just a personal preference. I also find that owning T500R's I have a habit of engaging neutral before coming to a stop, as I use 90 weight oil in those & neutral can be VERY hard to find at a standstill!!! Cheers, Paul

Recommended weight is 10W40 (for GSX1100 in Australia). Temperatures here, in Brisbane are fairly warm in summer 28 to 35 C. I have to try to engage neutral, now, before stopping but even then it is currenty hard to get in.

Bernie

[Anonymous]

do you guys also have a slight pull on the bike with the engine running and in gear?(at standstill)

[Anonymous]

neutral

I have three GS1100E two 82's and an 83, all of them pull in neutral until the engine warms up the oil

[AOD]

I was told that Shell had bought out Pennzoil & you couldn't rely on the Pennzoil being Pennzoil or some Shell variety.

i'm pretty sure that's not entirely true. I ran pennzoil in my 550 until i switched to synthetic...it worked fine. my car as well has seen pennzoil for the last 6 years, until i switched it too synthetic too.

have you verified your clutch adjustment, and made sure the clutch is releasing all the way? any clutch drag is really going to make finding neutral tough.

~Adam

[WifeofDink]

I have the same problem with my 250, it's running Mobil 4T (at least that is what Dink said it is running ) Dink is running Castrol in the Katana Advance 4T with no problem and the Tractor is running Valvoline XLD with no problems so it seems

Try checking the drive chain tension and also your clutch adjustment as this can cause the problem as well.

[earlfor]

Re: neutral

All bikes will to some extent, "pull" in neutral because of the laws of fluid dynamics. It is unavoidable, although at the right temperature and with the most appropriate oil, can be barely noticable.

Earl

I have three GS1100E two 82's and an 83, all of them pull in neutral until the engine warms up the oil

[earlfor]

Re: Neutral selection problems GSX1100EX / Oil choice

I had the same problem with my 1150. Installing a new clutch helped alleviate the problem about 50%. I had always used Castrol 20w50 oil and had no complaints about it. (still dont really) Anyway, even with new clutch plates and the clutch adjusted properly, neutral was difficult to find. the problem seemed to be that even with the clutch in, engagement was so stiff that the amount of pressure required to "bump" from 1st to neutral resulted in my going into 2nd and unable to feel the neutral indent. I changed oil to Mobil 1 15W50 and the problem has been gone for the 6 months I have used that oil. On the 1150, it is always easier to find neutral from 2nd than it is 1st.

Earl

quote="bummers"]
I was talked into trying Conoco 10W40. 2x Conoco oil changes later, I've realised the neutral selection problem was back. It dawned on me yesterday that maybe the change of oil was the cause.

Anybody had any similar problems?

Bernie[/quote]

[bummers]

Thanks Guys,
I've just taken a bit of free play out of the clutch cable & I'll give it a go.
(Should have tried it before this, I guess.)
There wasn't a lot of free play but a bit.
It'll be a couple of days before I have a ride but will check it out & report back.

Bernie

[Anonymous]

Now that I've replaced the clutch, cable, and lever my clutch only drags ever so slightly when its cold (10/40 Castrol). Once it warms up a bit its fine. My main prob was a too long cable for my bars and the lever and bolt were worn pretty bad so I wouldn't get a full pull on it. Maybe check your lever for egg shaped wear.

[bummers]

Well ... I took out a couple of mm from the cable & it inproved things a fair bit. Not much free play left tho only about 1 mm at the lever.
It's not slipping tho, so that has solved that problem.

Many thanks,
Bernie

[Anonymous]

i was running 10-40 Motul, with very little problem, i have a small leak i finally fixed, but before i did i was 1/2 quart low and filled it up with half quart of synthetic and it shifted perfect, now i'm rumming Maxiam? 10-40 and shifting sucks...i have an 82 GS11E, i'm thinking of going ALL Synthetic? or back to Motul

[Motorcyclemodeller]

This neutral problem is common with the GS's, it seems that these symptoms are most obvious when the motor is cold. At work I start my bike then I drive it out of a gate and have to lock the gate. I have resolved to shutting off the bike reselecting neutral then restarting. When driving I find the easiest way to get it in neutral is: while slowing down, gear down to second, then without pulling in the clutch apply pressure to the shifter and it will just pop into neutral without jumping into first.

Oil, new clutch, free play.............maybe.............mine has always done this when it is cold, and I have had it for 20 years, with various oils, clutchs and freeplays.

GS Quirk! The quirks are worth it for all the other pleasures.

Dr. Dre