Won't go into first (after long ride)

[SA14]

Ok so yesterday I went for a great ride up into the Adelaide hills. About 150km round trip. Not a thrash, just a gentle ride while I practice everything and get used to how it handles. Lots of twisties. [mmm twisties]. Bike was fine, changing up and down gears hundreds of times but on the way home in traffic I found I couldn't select first gear no matter how hard I tapped down on the gear shifter...cars at the lights were waiting for me to take off and I'm dancing on the gear lever. I eventually engaged neutral, let the clutch out then back in again and it clunked into first. It got worse as I got closer to home and in the end it refused (without engaging neutral).

Happy to receive all suggestions:

1) Clutch adjustment?
2) Wrong oil?
3) Gearbox?

Clues:

• The bike has been sitting for 5 years before I bought it.
• Oil was changed about 500km ago (new filter).
• Up until yesterday the 1st gear clunk was sizeable but I figured that was normal for a bike with an elephant motor.
• Had no problems selecting first (or any) gear until now.
• Only ridden 500km so far. Oil is bang on at the correct level.

[VladTepes]

the 1st gear clunk was sizeable but I figured that was normal for a bike with an elephant motor.

Pretty normal for one of these bikes at any rate, in my experience.

Not sure on your first gear issue - but the gearbox problems with 1400s are usually 2nd gear so at least you are different!

This thread indicates that a 1st gear whine is not at all unusual https://gsx1400owners.org/forum/index.php?topic=1215.0
but of course FAILURE is a whole other thing.

[SA14]

the 1st gear clunk was sizeable but I figured that was normal for a bike with an elephant motor.

Pretty normal for one of these bikes at any rate, in my experience.

Not sure on your first gear issue - but the gearbox problems with 1400s are usually 2nd gear so at least you are different!

This thread indicates that a 1st gear whine is not at all unusual https://gsx1400owners.org/forum/index.php?topic=1215.0
but of course FAILURE is a whole other thing.

Yeah, I read about the second gear issue so I always use the clutch to smoothly change gears. New mechanic says "might be oil" that one is full mineral with maybe a drop of synth so they can call it "semi-synthetic". Been looking in the manual to find if it says "always use full synthetic oil" but haven't found it yet. I don't mind dropping the oil again (after only 500kms) because I wanted to cycle a few sumps worth of oil anyway to freshen it up. Searched through the forum but can't find anyone mentioning that they can't select first. I'll keep trying to find an answer online but just thought I'd ask you guys too in case anyone has any theories or solutions or things I could try.

[KiwiCol]

It's possible the linkage might have slipped & be out of adjustment.  Check it's all tight n looks in the right place. 

The oil is right, 10/40 semi syn.  That stuff is expensive though (here anyway) & a lot of us south of the equator have found Gulf Western 3000 a damn good oil & made in Aussie, Grog put us onto that one.

It's possible somehow the shift mechanism inside is worn / bent (because of someone dancing on it ) but that'd have to ba a long shot.   

I'd also check the clutch is working correctly & is pushing the rod into the casing to disengage the clutch.  Maybe air in there or old fluid?  Give it a bleed & clean up whilst you're in there & bung the busa seal on the slave at the same time, cheap & stops crap getting in there.  90% chance it's the clutch not releasing correctly IMO.

[SA14]

It's possible the linkage might have slipped & be out of adjustment.  Check it's all tight n looks in the right place. 

The oil is right, 10/40 semi syn.  That stuff is expensive though (here anyway) & a lot of us south of the equator have found Gulf Western 3000 a damn good oil & made in Aussie, Grog put us onto that one.

It's possible somehow the shift mechanism inside is worn / bent (because of someone dancing on it ) but that'd have to ba a long shot.   

I'd also check the clutch is working correctly & is pushing the rod into the casing to disengage the clutch.  Maybe air in there or old fluid?  Give it a bleed & clean up whilst you're in there & bung the busa seal on the slave at the same time, cheap & stops crap getting in there.  90% chance it's the clutch not releasing correctly IMO.

Excellent, thanks. I'll check all that stuff. I wasn't slamming it down that hard really (I exaggerated a bit). Time to bleed and flush I think. Just bought this for $100 (retail over $240) from Gumtree. Time to flush and bleed everything I think. Will also check the manual on how to adjust the linkage but will have to look up the busa seal thing and how to check the clutch rod. Links and tips fully appreciated. 

[KiwiCol]

Here ya go

https://gsx1400owners.org/forum/index.php?topic=259.0

[GSXKING]

This saga of a bike must of been cheap I assume 

[KiwiCol]

This saga of a bike must of been cheap I assume 

Yes, but not as cheap as the page 3 girl from Essex . . .

[GSXKING]

This saga of a bike must of been cheap I assume 

Yes, but not as cheap as the page 3 girl from Essex . . .

Col there is a difference between "cheap" and EASY LMAO 

[KiwiCol]

yeah, about $1.50

[steve porter]

as it`s been sitting so long it could have nasties on the surface of the clutch plates, when you are riding it next pull the clutch a little and accelerate to make it slip a few times, and blip and drop it into first while you are still moving until it frees up

[Kiwifruit]

Like Col says Grog put us onto Gulf Western Syn-X 3000. Have used some very expensive Motul 300V also tried Motul 5100..... don't bother.
Lots to clean, adjust and flush before you really need to worry.
Worth taking your front sprocket cover off and having a good clean in behind there.
Hope you get a result 

[SA14]

This saga of a bike must of been cheap I assume 

2008
40,000km (sold to me as a 70k bike)
heavily corroded ally everything
Good mechanically but needs (needed) a light cosmetic resto. Mechanically seems fine, pulls like a planet. 
$4k plus transport = $4,500 in my driveway

[Irish in Oz]

Sounds hydraulic to me.

[Hooli]

Strip & clean the slave clyinder & then bleed it up with fresh fluid. The heat of the engine kills clutch fluid even when they've not been stood for yonks.