Transmission Woes

[Toddo]

Hello everyone,

It's been awhile since I posted on here, we've got a little boy now just about 2 yrs old and my voyager has been running smooth.

I was 80 miles from home last weekend and as I was getting ready to head home it didn't want to go into 2nd gear. After the bike was rolling it took a heavy foot to get it into 2nd gear and then everything seemed normal.(no grinding or strange noises) I was careful to not go into 1st gear at stop lights starting in 2nd with a little clutch slippage. To get home I had to stop before the bay bridge to pay the toll so neutral was a must. This time it went into 2nd gear much easier, I continued home and upon arrival it was the same story. When it is in neutral running or engine off the bike refuses to go into 2nd, it feels like your at the end of the gear shift travel, as if your in 5th gear and trying to find a non-existent 6th gear.

I took it to the local shop where it has been serviced before and had a service done hoping(dreaming) that there would be some good news. As you can imagine it was anything but good news. The shop is not a Kawi shop so they have no experience with tranny's on a voyager, the guys estimate with no knowledge would be the motor has to come out to access the transmission etc, etc. Total rough estimate $2k-$3k. I wanted to cry.

Does anyone have any knowledge/ experience with this situation? The bike in question is a '01 with 20,286 miles.

I have spoken with Carl Leo in the past with some questions and as everyone has said before he knew his stuff. However, the phone # I tried was disconnected. Much more important than my bike I hope all is well with Carl, does anyone know a new # or if he is doing alright?

Sorry for the long winded story but any info anyone can share would be greatly appreciated. I only have one small request...please go easy on me with the heavy news about transmissions, I don't know how many more tears I can shed without becoming dehydrated and permanently streaking my cheeks.

I hope that I won't be parting out my voyager in the near future, I spent a bundle just over a year ago putting new rubber/rotors and lots of other small stuff all adding up to just over $2k.

Thanks in advance for any info good or bad,
Todd

[lockwoodjohn]

Hi Toddo,
I hope you get your transmission problem worked out!
Sorry, I can not offer any advice. Someone here might be able to
Help you out. Good Luck!!
Lockwoodjohn
À
.,

[grumpin]

Mine does that once in awhile, seems to do it after it hasn't been ridden. I go back into first and run it in first longer, more RPM's. Then it seems to be fine. Try winding her up in first more and see what happens.

[VoyKimmer]

Toddo,
Sounds like nothing is wrong with your transmission. The voyager is designed with a positive neutral so as not to go into second at a stop. Also on all voyagers until the engine is warmed up good you have to be up to almost 3000 rpm to get it in 2nd when cold. I know Carl and others have a better explanation but it sounds to me like your voyager is operating normal. Let it warm up good then see how it goes thru the gears. If you have trouble getting it into 2nd try revving in 1st up to 3000 rpm before trying to go to 2nd. If that works you have no problems.

[Steve do]

Kim did a good job explaining, mine does the same thing, when I leave the house and the bike is cold I have to wind it up more that normal to make it shift to 2nd, after warming up everything is fine.

[grumpin]

There you go! Thanks Kim and Steve. Now I know it's temperature related.

[Lucasind]

I've had my XII for a year and a half now.Glad to hear mine is'nt the only one to do this. like already stated, only when cold. and only occasionally, after warmed up, never has happened.Was wondering if anyone with a '86 XII has ever had this issue, so some line of commonality from 86 thru 03, could be established. If you have a 86' drop a post .. thank you...........................tony

[sheiserman]

Mine is an '89, and did it a couple times last year. I don't remember the circumstances (engine temp., rpm's).

I pretended it didn't happen, and have been fine since.

Never could hit 6th gear either, and it wasn't for lack of trying.

[Mr Jensee]

I suggest cleaning and reinstalling the clutch fluid. If dirt has mucked up the return in the master cylinder, the fluid won't return to the reservoir and your clutch won't fully disengage. Try that before you tear down the transmission. IF you are experiencing slippage while the bike is hot It could be what I just described as the remedy. IF you are trying to shift into 2nd gear while the engine is cold it will NOT do it until either the engine is HOT or you run 1st gear past the 3000 rpm mark. THIS IS THE NATURE OF THE BIKE, NOT A DEFECT.

[cushman eagle]

Since I got my '99 four years ago, when it is cold ,I have to get it up over 2500, and keep it there for a couple seconds to let it get into second.

[mountainman]

As stated before that's what is called a positive neutral. When oil it cold or cooler it does not want to shift to second. It is I think run by centrifugal force balls in which by rpms these balls are thrown outward to release the shift to second. when cold, oil does let them go easy. all XII's have this system. I miss this on my GL1800 sometimes I have to hunt for neutral. Both my XII's would shift at 2500 when cold but some might have to go 3000 rpm.

[feenixx613]

This just happened to me! I warmed the hell out of the bike and nothing!Cant get second on up! Its like it only has first and neutral!It was shifting fine until I changed the oil "rotella T6" 3quarts and 22oz now this Im actually waiting for the shop to pick it up to diagnose it.If they say 2 to 3 grand look for my parts on ebay my xii is pristine hate to part it out but we will see! Good luck Rob

[feenixx613]

Shop owner just left with the bike in his trailer he said he would research before he starts taking things apart and I would research as well.Im not happy if its $$$$$ it wil be parted out but heh without used parts where would xii be ? Cause parts are hard to find and unabtainable in many cases, so if she has to be sacrificed so a few may live on I guess it wont be such a sad thing! So If anyone can chime in more it would be appreciated thanks.

[Mr Jensee]

SEE MY ABOVE POST BEFORE YOU SPEND THE MONEY TO HAVE A SHOP TEAR INTO IT.

[feenixx613]

Got a call yesterday from the mechanic! The bike is ok! Before he started taking it apart he road tested and acted normal ran it through the gears and all was ell he confirmed that maybe I hadn't had it high enough in the rev range for it to engage! Sounds like it was all me ...it never happened before ! I kinda feel embarrassed but relieved! I need to trust what I read here owners know more about their bikes than anyone!Thanks guys!

[Mr Jensee]

"I need to trust what I read here owners know more about their bikes than anyone!Thanks guys!"

Of THAT I have no doubts!