Mechanic needed in Northeast Georgia

[stovall]

I'm looking for a good mechanic in the Northeast Georgia area willing to do the 4th gear shifter repair on a 1990 GL1500SE.

[bstig60]

Look for an independent shop that will work on older bikes in your area. My opinion? Stay clear of dealers shops....

[stovall]

Yeah, most dealers either want an arm and a leg along with your 1st born, or they won't touch a bike that old!

[bstig60]

That's why I suggested finding an independent shop. They are not so expensive and also not so picky about what they work on. Exactly what is your bike doing?

[stovall]

From all the research & troubleshooting I have done it is the dreaded fourth gear shift Fork worn out problem. It sounds like it wants to jump into gear when idling, especially when you have it on the center stand & rock it forward.

[bstig60]

That sounds more like something loose. If its the shift fork it shouldn't make any difference if its on the center stand or not.

[WingAdmin]

That sounds more like something loose. If its the shift fork it shouldn't make any difference if its on the center stand or not.

Actually, that's not right. When the fourth gear issue is present, you will hear the noise from the transmission when the bike is pointed downhill (or on the center stand with the front wheel on the ground) but not when it is pointed uphill.

That said, having this problem fixed is very expensive - around $600 in parts, and (from others' experience) around $2,500 or so in labor. Being that you can buy a used GL1500 engine (1997 and newer - they have the fixed Valkyrie transmission) for between $700 and $1,000, it's kind of silly to pay $3,000 to have one thing fixed on your existing engine.

[stovall]

Right WingAdmin, I have thoroughly researched the issue & decided to go the way of buying a used 1999 engine. The noise was most prevalent on the center-stand when I rocked the bike forward, then it would sound as if were about to jump into gear with or without my wanting it to. I had an engine fall into my hands, it is a 1999, & seems to be in very good shape. I went ahead & built the clutch, slave cylinder, & replaced the timing belts to help minimize any future problems. My son & I have pulled the old engine, & got the new one in the frame, but had to pull it back out due to our forgetting a couple of those pesky vacuum lines, but we're learning! (to make a long story short-I took the bike to a local mechanic & he got started tearing it down, but then lost his shop & never got back around to putting things back together!!!) Part of our issues are that we didn't tear most of the parts off the bike, so we're not sure how some of the parts go back! One of the other issues we are having is the differences in the year models. Going from a 1990 to a 1999 there have been several changes. Most perplexing are the "Air Solenoid valves", the 90 had 4 of them, but the 1999 seems to only have 3 & they are all different part numbers according to "Parts Fish". Are the ones form the 90 even compatible with the 99? If anyone could share some insight I sure would appreciate it, or better yet, if anyone has a 99 that they could snap a few pictures & send me of the routing & locations I would be forever indebted to you!!!! Would it work better if I tried to swap out the entire intake system from the old to the new & would it even fit if I tried? I'm a regular DIY'er or shadetree mechanic with an ample supply of tools & gadgets, but I'm really out of my comfort zone on this & would appreciate any help that anyone could give me.

WingAdmin would this thread be better served over in one of the repair forums now? I don't know how to move the thread, so if you think it best would you please do so for me? Thanks!!!!

That sounds more like something loose. If its the shift fork it shouldn't make any difference if its on the center stand or not.

Actually, that's not right. When the fourth gear issue is present, you will hear the noise from the transmission when the bike is pointed downhill (or on the center stand with the front wheel on the ground) but not when it is pointed uphill.

That said, having this problem fixed is very expensive - around $600 in parts, and (from others' experience) around $2,500 or so in labor. Being that you can buy a used GL1500 engine (1997 and newer - they have the fixed Valkyrie transmission) for between $700 and $1,000, it's kind of silly to pay $3,000 to have one thing fixed on your existing engine.