Need tranny help....

[shadango]

If it wasnt for bad luck.......I'd have no luck at all. :furious3:

I have an 87 VT1100c

I am getting grinding noises in my tranny in 1st and 2nd gear....the bike is in gear just fine and all, but I get a grinding noise...sounds like something isn't where it is supposed to be inside or something isn't meshing right. It seems to happen the most when slowing down...also had some noise in 2nd when climbing a hill at a steady RPM........once or twice it has seemed like it wanted to jump out of second, but that could have been sloppy shifting on my part....

I had replaced the engine with a 95 engine a few years back because the 87 engine blew 2nd gear......

Now this crap.

At least with a HD I could yank the tranny and repair that......to do it on this bike I have to yank and split the engine.....something I am not up to.

<sigh>

Know any GOOD and CHEAP ( I know I know) Honda techs in the SW PA area?

[fegs]

process of elimintation is called for here. I assume the clutch is adjusted propertly and you have the correct amount/oil...... when was the last time you replaced the clutch? is it hard to shift or just noisey? if we take into consideration the rate of speed for the gears while over 2k rpms.... we realize how important meshing becomes....

[shadango]

There have been developments since I originally posted....

It now makes the sound if the bike is in neutral and on the sidestand.....especially when revved up.....pick the bike up and it pretty much stops....lean to left again and it comes back...you can hear "something" move and start to grind....if you just have the bike in neutral on the stand and pull the clutch in, the sound all but stops.....GOing to the right gets no sound at all.....I did a bunch of figure 8s in a lot and the left turns it would grind like mad.....to the right, nada.

The problem, while riding it, is seen the most when turning left or stopping hard......

I pulled the left sidecover hoping for an easy fix but nothing seemed out of the oridnary....I might pull the right cover, but the clutch requires a special socket for the nut which I dont have.....(they couldnt have used a plain nut I guess...)

When I start it up and let it grind while on teh stand, it sounds as thoguh it is in the stator area.....which is why I pulled the cover....but apparantly the sound is deeper and traveling. I doubt the right cover being pulled will help me much....

I am afraid this will be an internal issue tahtrequires splitting the case, which I am not up to do.

The clutch is hydraulic and seems to be working fine.....all the gears work OK, though to 1 to 2 change is a little sloppy....

[shadango]

Well, it has gotten worse.....3rd gear is gone.......If I try to gas it in 3rd, it bucks and jumps out of gear like crazy....the clutch lever jumps/pulsates as well.....Lots of noise in 1st and some in second.......4th is OK so far.....

I was considering ripping it apart myself, as I feel I am somewhat mechanically inclined, but this is probably over my head...determing what is wrong with the tranny may not be obvious, and then rebuilding the tranny AND engine to specs...well, that would be a HUGE learning curver for me.....

If anyone is from the Southwest PA area and knows of a good mechanic that wont fuck me over on the cost, please let me know....otherwise I guess the options are yet anotehr used engine or have the dealer rebuild this one.......at least with the second option I would know what I am getting....or, figure out a way to get into a newer bike....

[AirportFF]

Let me ask this. On your riding habits. When you are slowing down from a moderate to high rate of speed do you down shift to slow the bike, or just downshift all the way to first and continually hold the clutch in?

If you go all the way to first while holding the clutch you run the risk of breaking one of the "dogs" on a gear.

Think of it this way. Pulling the clutch in disconectes the trans from the engine. But the trans is still spinning at the speed indicated on the speedo. By downshifting all the way down to first while still travelling at say, 45mph, the lower gears must spin faster and faster as you down shift. The tranny is freewheeling. This commonly will cause a synchro "dog" to break because of overrevving the gearbox. It sound like that may be the case on your bike. Where one has broken and is floating around in there. (hence the grinding noise)

Unfortunatley (sp) there is no way to be sure until it's torn down.

[shadango]

No, I always downhift through the gears and use engine compression to help slow down to a stop..........I do catch myself occasionally revving between upshift shifts though......Not sure if that would cause an issue....? I ahve asked myself the same thing....how could I possibly have TWO Honda trannies go bad, given how everyone seems to think they are buletproof? I meanm, it took 3 years for the second one.....come to think of it, it I guess it was about 3 years after I bought the bike when the first ranny went....

Hmm.....did *I* kill my beloved Shadow? :xyxnervou

[Machinehead]

Hmm.....did *I* kill my beloved Shadow? :xyxnervou

I only post to add my empathy. I've been there - done that. I've a '94 1100 that had tranny probs. Whilst cruisin' at 90+ on the superslab (35K on the OD) I hit a major dip and became airborn. Once the rear wheel made contact shit happened. The machine lost 2nd and 3rd gear. I knew what was up immediately and rode back to the "Ranch" knowing my circumstance. When removing the gears the dogs had become mushroomed and the slots they fit into had become (shalll I say) anti-mushroomed. Kicked out of both gears back at the "Ranch". Replaced the damaged gears as well as the pistons, rings and timing chains and all has been golden.

It doesn't matter if the machine has a seperate tranny....if it fails it fails. Honda (Shadow) makes a good machine and you do not treat it as a cruiser you will pay$.
There're NO aftermarket HiPo parts that would suggest otherwise.

BTW...check out the V-Rod drivetrain....as you'll notice it's similar.

I suggest....If you like to hammer the machine get one that was designed for it...(IE.....V-Max or the V-65) ....if you're just cruisin'.......cruise.


Once again....my empathy........but (not the SRN preacher) lay off the throttle muthafugger :)

[shadango]

Hey Machine head.....

Thanks for the post....

I guess, though, thats my poimt..I DONT beat the bike. It is mostly comuting to and from work.....I may hit 65 for about a mile...thats it....the rest is 35-45 mph......

Lots of potholes, etc here in Pittsburgh, so the drivetrain may take some abuse from that, but......

I have never seen anyone else ever post a problem with the tranny, so glad that you did....How many miles were on your bike when that happened? What did the parts run you? And were experienced with this kind of work prior to tearing it down?

I am looking at a used 95 VT1100c, but not sure if I want to go that road again...and I am also lookingat the VTX1300r.....

[AirportFF]

I am also lookingat the VTX1300r.....

If you go VTX do yourself a favor and get the 1800

[shadango]

If you go VTX do yourself a favor and get the 1800

I have had a couple folks tell me that,b ut also a couple tell me that the 1300 is plenty wicked.....

To be honest, I am struggling to find a way to swing a 1300......an 1800 retails for 5k more.....no way no how right now.......

I sure as shit wish that money wasnt always the issue.....

That aside...I did find out that there is no difference in insurance costs between the two for me...I would have thought that an 1800 would have a huge surcharge....I have Geico insurance.

[Mr.Sinister]

Why the 1800 over the 1300 ? Becides the hp . 60hp stock is pretty good for a cruizer that size . The 1800's 100hp is only good after 80mph . The 1300 keeps up pretty well until then . The 1800 is almost 800lbs . Get some oil on the bottom of your boots in a parking lot and try to save that beast from tipping . :no: The director of my dept has one and offerd to sell it to me for 8k just before I bought my Spirit . I have never regreted turning him down . I do not ride the hyway much and when I do I rarely hit 80+mph . I am a around town , to work and back , over to my friends house rider . I ride every day just not long distances . My father in law has the 1300 . I would not mind having one of those for longer trips . :happy:

[shadango]

I cruise on the highway at about 70-75 and hit 90 sometimes no problem......this weekend I was cruising at 80 mph for awhile.....my 1100 does just fine. I can see that the 1800 would have more aceleration though, which would be nice.

The dealer told me the 1300 has 75 hp ?? That seems like plenty......

I can get into a used 03 for around 5k accoridng to KBB.....(finding one might be another stroy).....I cant afford the 8k(used) to 14k (new of an 1800....Plus, I think the 1300 sounds better.....

I can dream about the 1800, but for the money I think the 1300 is the one I want....
Right now, its on hold......my wife's car needs replaced as of Saturday (got home and it has a recurring issue) so we are moving up that purchase by 10 months and looking to buy this week...so I will ridet he Sahdow until it gets worse I guess.....

[shadango]

Well, I brought home my shiny new Silver 05 VTX1300 (fresh out of the crate) last night! I love her! Already have 100 miles on her... :)

ALready transferred my Cruisliner nags and some misc. stuf over to her.....Hopefully it will be a long love affair... :)

I am sad to see my Shadow go....hoping to find a good home for her.....SHe was my first and will always be the bike I remember as such.....

Ok....waxing sentimental now.....jeezuz h criste.

Anyways, I'm happier than a pig in shit right now folks. Taking her out tomorrow to the dealer since they forgot to put on the inspection tag....(duh)......

[AirportFF]

Congrats and good luck with her... :happy:

[RustyJake]

I'm sure it won't be long before the new bike makes you forget about the problems with the old one. Enjoy!!

[shadango]

Thanks! Yeah the VTX is sweet alright....

Still sad for my Shadow though...I spent last night removing the Cobra Fat fenders and some other stuf to sell......putting her back to stock.....I had a LOT of great rides on her.....and you never forget your first!

If anyone is looking for a solid project bike and can do the tranny repair, my Shadow would be a great start....I really want to see her live on, even if not in my hands....