Transmission slippage
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- Posts: 49
- Joined: Tue Jul 03, 2012 9:09 am
- Location: Louisville, Ohio
- Motorcycle: 1994 Honda Aspencade Trike
Transmission slippage
Just got back from an hour ride on my 1994 Aspencade trike. About halfway through the ride, in 4 gear and it felt like it tried to slip out of gear. It did it again once I shifted into OD. Did that a total of 4 times during the ride. In looking back over the last year this has happened before. I just thought I didn’t quite get it into gear. Never has it been this regular. Clutch?
- thebruce
- Posts: 102
- Joined: Sat Jun 22, 2019 10:12 pm
- Location: Boundary Country, British Columbia, Canada
- Motorcycle: 1991 GL1500SE Anniversary Edition #54
Re: Transmission slippage
If it's a slip and not a grind, then it's the clutch.
Is there a possibility you changed the oil type before this started? Lots of oils will cause clutch slippage.
It probably happens in a high gear when the motor is pulling the hardest, right?
Short of something simple like oil type or a sticky clutch master/slave or collapsed clutch hose you are looking at a bit of surgery to correct this.
Maybe try bleeding the clutch system... can't hurt. I'm not sure just how tough the clutches are in these. Mine has 267k km on it and it grabs hard... not sure if original or not.
Is there a possibility you changed the oil type before this started? Lots of oils will cause clutch slippage.
It probably happens in a high gear when the motor is pulling the hardest, right?
Short of something simple like oil type or a sticky clutch master/slave or collapsed clutch hose you are looking at a bit of surgery to correct this.
Maybe try bleeding the clutch system... can't hurt. I'm not sure just how tough the clutches are in these. Mine has 267k km on it and it grabs hard... not sure if original or not.
It doesn't matter what you ride, as long as you have your knees to the breeze.
- AZgl1800
- Posts: 2932
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'02 GL1800 lives in Dawsonville, GA now.
My son is going to enjoy it for many years to come.
first,
let's assume that it is an oil issue, drain the oil and filter.
just for the sake of proving the oil was the issue, please get some Rotella T6 in 5w40 and run that for a 100 plus miles, more would be better.
that oil does not have any Friction Modifiers, and it has been very successful with solving some transmission issues,
for me, and several folks who have asked me, and used it, and commented back, that it solved their problem.
this is a cheap "fix" if it works. it sells for $18 to $20 at Walmart, that's for a 1 gallon jug.
I have owned two 1500s, a 94SE which had a 4th gear popping out problem.
on that one, I switched to Delo 400 in 15w40..... it stayed in gear better, IF,
I made a point of pressing to be sure it was in 4th gear, and then Backing OFF the throttle to ensure that it engaged solid. rode it a lot of miles w/o doing anything else.
that bike ended up smashed by a Semi truck about 15,000 miles later.
had a '98SE, don't recall the oil I used in it, but I had switched to Rotella by the time I bought that one.
It stayed in gear very well, and did not slip.
let's assume that it is an oil issue, drain the oil and filter.
just for the sake of proving the oil was the issue, please get some Rotella T6 in 5w40 and run that for a 100 plus miles, more would be better.
that oil does not have any Friction Modifiers, and it has been very successful with solving some transmission issues,
for me, and several folks who have asked me, and used it, and commented back, that it solved their problem.
this is a cheap "fix" if it works. it sells for $18 to $20 at Walmart, that's for a 1 gallon jug.
I have owned two 1500s, a 94SE which had a 4th gear popping out problem.
on that one, I switched to Delo 400 in 15w40..... it stayed in gear better, IF,
I made a point of pressing to be sure it was in 4th gear, and then Backing OFF the throttle to ensure that it engaged solid. rode it a lot of miles w/o doing anything else.
that bike ended up smashed by a Semi truck about 15,000 miles later.
had a '98SE, don't recall the oil I used in it, but I had switched to Rotella by the time I bought that one.
It stayed in gear very well, and did not slip.
- newday777
- Posts: 2313
- Joined: Tue Jan 11, 2011 5:21 pm
- Location: Milford NH summer/fall & Oceanside, CA winters(N San Diego) with lots of miles riden between
- Motorcycle: 2008 Cabernet Red. Level 4
1983 GL1100A Wineberry 36,000 miles
1975 CB750 K5 Planet Blue 7,800 miles
1976 CB750 K6 Anterris Red 25,000 miles
Past rides
1999A Restored from PO neglect & sold at 19,000 miles
1999SE Totaled by cager at 105,000 miles
Re: Transmission slippage
Did it pop out of 4th into false neutral or into 3rd gear? Same with 5th gear?tvanvran wrote: ↑Wed Sep 16, 2020 6:40 pm Just got back from an hour ride on my 1994 Aspencade trike. About halfway through the ride, in 4 gear and it felt like it tried to slip out of gear. It did it again once I shifted into OD. Did that a total of 4 times during the ride. In looking back over the last year this has happened before. I just thought I didn’t quite get it into gear. Never has it been this regular. Clutch?
Are you lifting you foot high enough to get the second snick into gear? Or are you lazy shifting?
Do you have the heel/toe shifter on the bike? If so are you leaving your foot on the shifter between gears?
Is there a box of rocks sounds coming from the motor while idling or sitting stopped in gear?
- newday777
- Posts: 2313
- Joined: Tue Jan 11, 2011 5:21 pm
- Location: Milford NH summer/fall & Oceanside, CA winters(N San Diego) with lots of miles riden between
- Motorcycle: 2008 Cabernet Red. Level 4
1983 GL1100A Wineberry 36,000 miles
1975 CB750 K5 Planet Blue 7,800 miles
1976 CB750 K6 Anterris Red 25,000 miles
Past rides
1999A Restored from PO neglect & sold at 19,000 miles
1999SE Totaled by cager at 105,000 miles
Re: Transmission slippage
You asked if it could be the clutch.
Have you kept the clutch fluid(Dot4) flushed and bled yearly(2 years max per service manual)?
Is the clutch master cylinder Dot4 fluid grey or red/brown colored? It should be clear to slight yellow tint.
If not kept flushed regularly the slave cylinder get crud in it and doesn't operate the clutch properly.
The clutch plates are very stout in these wings and generally never need replacement in 300,00-500,000 miles.....
Have you kept the clutch fluid(Dot4) flushed and bled yearly(2 years max per service manual)?
Is the clutch master cylinder Dot4 fluid grey or red/brown colored? It should be clear to slight yellow tint.
If not kept flushed regularly the slave cylinder get crud in it and doesn't operate the clutch properly.
The clutch plates are very stout in these wings and generally never need replacement in 300,00-500,000 miles.....
-
- Posts: 49
- Joined: Tue Jul 03, 2012 9:09 am
- Location: Louisville, Ohio
- Motorcycle: 1994 Honda Aspencade Trike
Re: Transmission slippage
The transmission will slip in the higher gears and the engine revs as though it slips out of gear. I back off the throttle and it goes back into that gear. No grinding or any other sounds. I have not changed and bled the transmission lines so that could be an issue. An I suppose to be using Rotella T6 5w40 diesel oil?
- newday777
- Posts: 2313
- Joined: Tue Jan 11, 2011 5:21 pm
- Location: Milford NH summer/fall & Oceanside, CA winters(N San Diego) with lots of miles riden between
- Motorcycle: 2008 Cabernet Red. Level 4
1983 GL1100A Wineberry 36,000 miles
1975 CB750 K5 Planet Blue 7,800 miles
1976 CB750 K6 Anterris Red 25,000 miles
Past rides
1999A Restored from PO neglect & sold at 19,000 miles
1999SE Totaled by cager at 105,000 miles
Re: Transmission slippage
Clutch slipping and popping out of gear are 2 separate things and needs to be determined what you have.tvanvran wrote: ↑Thu Sep 17, 2020 7:51 am The transmission will slip in the higher gears and the engine revs as though it slips out of gear. I back off the throttle and it goes back into that gear. No grinding or any other sounds. I have not changed and bled the transmission lines so that could be an issue. An I suppose to be using Rotella T6 5w40 diesel oil?
Popping out of gear and back in will have a slight jerk feeling going into gear.
Answer all the questions above.....
- AZgl1800
- Posts: 2932
- Joined: Thu Oct 30, 2008 2:46 pm
- Location: Lake Oologah Indian Territory USA
- Motorcycle: 2009 Piaggio MP3 250cc https://imgur.com/foGDjgv
'02 GL1800 lives in Dawsonville, GA now.
My son is going to enjoy it for many years to come.
Re: Transmission slippage
the Rotella T6 will help flush out the clutch plates, so yes, it will help if you use it at least once or twice.tvanvran wrote: ↑Thu Sep 17, 2020 7:51 am The transmission will slip in the higher gears and the engine revs as though it slips out of gear. I back off the throttle and it goes back into that gear. No grinding or any other sounds. I have not changed and bled the transmission lines so that could be an issue. An I suppose to be using Rotella T6 5w40 diesel oil?
I use it all the time, with excellent results.
- bellboy40
- Posts: 988
- Joined: Fri Nov 27, 2009 1:13 pm
- Location: Brewton, AL
- Motorcycle: 2000 GL1500SE Candy Spectra Red
Re: Transmission slippage
I think you need to take the cover off the clutch master cylinder and check for a clogged return port. Down at the bottom of the master cylinder is a small cover over the return hole. Just pop that cover off and take a small wire, single wire from a wire brush or a guitar string, and poke it down in there to clear the port.
If that return is clogged up, it would cause your clutch to slip.
If that return is clogged up, it would cause your clutch to slip.
- newday777
- Posts: 2313
- Joined: Tue Jan 11, 2011 5:21 pm
- Location: Milford NH summer/fall & Oceanside, CA winters(N San Diego) with lots of miles riden between
- Motorcycle: 2008 Cabernet Red. Level 4
1983 GL1100A Wineberry 36,000 miles
1975 CB750 K5 Planet Blue 7,800 miles
1976 CB750 K6 Anterris Red 25,000 miles
Past rides
1999A Restored from PO neglect & sold at 19,000 miles
1999SE Totaled by cager at 105,000 miles
Re: Transmission slippage
Yes, that is true. The return ports get clogged with hardened gunk from lack of proper, regular(24,000 miles max) flush and bleeds.bellboy40 wrote: ↑Sat Sep 19, 2020 8:41 am I think you need to take the cover off the clutch master cylinder and check for a clogged return port. Down at the bottom of the master cylinder is a small cover over the return hole. Just pop that cover off and take a small wire, single wire from a wire brush or a guitar string, and poke it down in there to clear the port.
If that return is clogged up, it would cause your clutch to slip.
-
- Posts: 49
- Joined: Tue Jul 03, 2012 9:09 am
- Location: Louisville, Ohio
- Motorcycle: 1994 Honda Aspencade Trike
Re: Transmission slippage
As of right now I drained the oil and replaced with Rotella. The reservoir was down a bit so I filled with fresh and have been running with no slippages. I will bleed the lines this winter. Thanks to everyone who helped.
- newday777
- Posts: 2313
- Joined: Tue Jan 11, 2011 5:21 pm
- Location: Milford NH summer/fall & Oceanside, CA winters(N San Diego) with lots of miles riden between
- Motorcycle: 2008 Cabernet Red. Level 4
1983 GL1100A Wineberry 36,000 miles
1975 CB750 K5 Planet Blue 7,800 miles
1976 CB750 K6 Anterris Red 25,000 miles
Past rides
1999A Restored from PO neglect & sold at 19,000 miles
1999SE Totaled by cager at 105,000 miles
Re: Transmission slippage
So what was actually happening??? Slipping clutch or popping out of gear?
What oil did you have in it before??