Is this a symptom a clutch spline failure?

[Turk74]

This morning about 1/2 mile after getting on the interstate I was in 6th gear doing about 80 mph and all of a sudden it seemed like my bike popped out of gear! I lost all power to the drivetrain and the rpm's went surging. I pulled the clutch in and let it back out and it caught gear again. Does anyone think this is symptom of a clutch spline failure? I've also been experiencing a tough downshift from 3rd to 2nd randomly lately.

My '04 R1150RA has 24500 miles...

Thanks,
Dave

[boxermania]

I don't wish that, the clutch spline failure, to anyone, however, you depiction seems to be on the right path. Was this a one time event? Is the bike operational?

The model, age and miles are representative of the failed units. Best of luck.............

[MikeCam]

The 6th gear slip into neutral occurs when the shift lever does not fully seat the gear during a rapid upshift. Been discussed in years past and does not appear to be the same as clutch spline issue, which manifests often in a 3-2 downshift fault (among other symptoms).

[Turk74]

Yep, this was the first time it has happened and is still operational, however I am experiencing the hard down shifts from 3rd to 2nd randomly lately.

Instead of indications of a clutch spline failure could these be symptoms of a leaking clutch slave cylinder?

Dave

[OU812]

"I've also been experiencing a tough downshift from 3rd to 2nd randomly lately."
Same here. I have been downshifting and letting out the clutch between gears. Not the way I have been doing it for years but it seems to make the shifting positive as in no false neutral.

[johnnyjs1]

This is how it all started with mine. Would not go from 3rd to 2nd randomly. Hope its not the case for you though

[oiasghar]

That is exactly what mine was doing, hard shifting on the downshifts; mostly in the lower gears. I finally gave into the all the "hype and hysteria" on this forum (plus others) and split my bike in half at only 10,800 miles to take a look. Clutch splines were virtually toast but the input shaft showed almost no wear. The clutch may have lasted another 1,000 or so miles. I decided to put in a new clutch and call it good for now. So far 4,000 on the new clutch; no shifting issues. Bike is used mostly for commuting. One post clutch change trip to Florida in June (1,500 miles).

Please keep us posted if with what the final outcome is. May be its just a fluke

[GypsyRR]

My bike's warranty runs out in January '09. While in Colorado and Wyoming, this summer I noticed it getting harder to down shift, but didn't pay attention to which gears, as it only happened randomly. But, over the course of the summer, it began happening on every ride, but still randomly. I'm finally home now, and cleaned the bike up, checked all the fluids and wanted to see if it was still doing this at my own normal altitude and riding conditions. So today, I took the bike out for a run before a trip this weekend. The sticky downshift started again after about 20 minutes of riding. I could always tell when I was shifting from 3rd to 2nd because it was always more difficult - not hard, just different. Not smooth. Kind of a gritty, sticky feel to it. While in Colorado it would just not shift and I would have to push harder on the second try till it moved to second. I also noticed it hitting a false neutral between 5th and 6th while in the Rockies. I did not have that problem today, but I was only out for an hour.

So............. I think I'm going to start my paper trail of concern, complaining and whining now and hopefully have a potential problem avoided while still under warranty. I'd like to have my dealership break it down and look at it specifically for signs of imminent failure. Any tips on how to approach them on this. and what to expect?

Bike is still under warranty.
'05, 25,100 miles and beautiful.

How long does a repair take generally?

[johnnyjs1]

Gypsy..Hope to Dog yours fails before the warranty is up. From whay i've experienced/heard..anywhere from 2 weeks to 8 or more

[GypsyRR]

Gypsy..Hope to Dog yours fails before the warranty is up. From whay i've experienced/heard..anywhere from 2 weeks to 8 or more

Does it have to absolutely fail before they will repair it? If the mechanics/techs inspect it and see it is about to fail, wouldn't they replace/repair then?

[iowabeakster]

Yeah, they should repair it ,if it is problematic.

Schedule an appointment. I would just tell them what the problem is. Murphy's law says that the problem won't show up when they test the bike. Next time it does it (like the next day) call them up and schedule another appointment. Do this until they are so annoyed they pull the tranny off and check those splines.

[johnnyjs1]

Yeah, they should repair it ,if it is problematic.

Schedule an appointment. I would just tell them what the problem is. Murphy's law says that the problem won't show up when they test the bike. Next time it does it (like the next day) call them up and schedule another appointment. Do this until they are so annoyed they pull the tranny off and check those splines.

+1,000,000. Tell them you are having a really hard time shifting from 3rd to 2nd. And that you have read that this is a major symptom of a future failure. Bug them until they give in and check it out. If that doesnt work. Ride it often and hard, put lots of miles on it. If it fails before your warranty is up, great!! If it doesnt fail by then, hopefully you have nothing to worry about, since you put a lot of miles and rode it hard and no failure....you will probably be ok.

[GypsyRR]

generally, how long between symptoms and actual failure? Is there a reference for that?

[OU812]

generally, how long between symptoms and actual failure? Is there a reference for that?

I am going on 1500 miles but I believe it is a trans problem. 3 trans oil changes and looking better every time. Went with dino the first(I think this was the 1st ever as it looked really bad). 2nd one at 250 miles and looked better but not good(went with Redline shockproof). 3rd time Mobil 1(looked just like I poured it in). Shifting better each change but not purrrfect.

[johnnyjs1]

generally, how long between symptoms and actual failure? Is there a reference for that?

Not sure there is any specific timeline. But if I recall correctly, from the first time I noticed the shifting problem to complete failure was around 1200 miles . Mind you, that is the first notice of difficult shifting. After it got a bit more common, I'd say 400 miles

[Boxer]

The following posters owe money to the "collective"...For this thread.
So far...

oiasghar-$1
turk74-$2
boxermania-$1
camfarm-$1
OU812-$2
Johnyjs1-$4
GypsyRR-$3
Iowabeakster-$1

Every time someone posts in a spline thread, that person owes $1. Then when they get enough money they will buy the person who deposited the most, a new clutch spline.

We should have enough for at least 5 or 6 clutches by next month.

[GypsyRR]

The following posters owe money to the "collective"...For this thread.
So far...

oiasghar-$1
turk74-$2
boxermania-$1
camfarm-$1
OU812-$2
Johnyjs1-$4
GypsyRR-$3
Iowabeakster-$1

Every time someone posts in a spline thread, that person owes $1. Then when they get enough money they will buy the person who deposited the most, a new clutch spline.

We should have enough for at least 5 or 6 clutches by next month.

Add your name, Phil at $1. hahaha

I thought the charge was only if you posted in the Sticky thread on clutch splines which was reserved for actual failures and analysis only.

I'm up to $4.00 in one day already!! It might be cheaper in the end for me to just pay for the repairs!!

[johnnyjs1]

The following posters owe money to the "collective"...For this thread.
So far...

oiasghar-$1
turk74-$2
boxermania-$1
camfarm-$1
OU812-$2
Johnyjs1-$4
GypsyRR-$3
Iowabeakster-$1

Every time someone posts in a spline thread, that person owes $1. Then when they get enough money they will buy the person who deposited the most, a new clutch spline.

Will food stamps and government cheese be accepted as payment? Thats about all I'll be able to afford after I pay for my repairs

We should have enough for at least 5 or 6 clutches by next month.

[MikeCam]

Phil, dearest, I think you might need new reading glasses.

"I Propose a Posting Fee...
by MikeCam on Sat Aug 23, 2008 11:16 am
... for splines.
Except for Johnny and Carol reporting a result, or someone new posting a failure that happened to them, or Boxermania and Lobo posting a finding of merit. (Suitable exceptions for other appropriate content.)
$1.00 per post to discuss splines. Payable in advance to Doug via Paypal."

Operative date: Aug 23....
Topic: spline comments without appropriate content.

So every body before Aug 23 11:15 am gets a pass. MY comment was about slipping into neutral from 6th with an incidental "appropriate comment" about the hard shifting 3-2 down. Others may qualify as well! looks like gypsyrr was the first violator (thanks for the cash girl!) and the non-content posts are about 5:1.

[iowabeakster]

Mike owes 2$ now!

Johnny, haven't you paid enough?

damn, I lost another buck.