NEED HELP: /5 Stuck 4th! Stranded in Tallahasse!!!

[godzilla]

Anyone out there that can shoot me some advice ASAP? My son is stranded in Tallahasse, Florida with his 71 /75 stuck in 4th gear. Need advice ASAP on anything he can do!!!

[godzilla]

Crises over. He got it back into 1st. He thinks it was stuck in 3rd and that 3rd gear is screwed up. He heard a high-pitched noise when it was in 3rd before she got stuck.

Any thoughts/suggestions?

Anyone around Tallahasse that can help the kid fix it?

[PGlaves]

Internal transmission damage which can only be repaired by removing, opening, and fixing the transmission. Depending on what is worn/broke - there may or may not be bits and shavings floating around.

In my book it's trailer time.

[godzilla]

Thanks, Paul.

Well I guess anyway!!

Main Son is starting to settle down. He was pretty frustrated when he called. He was having seconds thoughts about buying such an old bike. Hopefully he'll calm down soon!!!

[R100RS]

I gave up working on transmission internals. I can certainly help him yank the transmission and ship it off, but I've got some personal stuff going on so probably won't be able to help right away. Unfortunately, my treller is still filled up with debris from Fay, so I can't even offer transportation for the bike.

First thing I'd do is to drain the transmission and see what the oil looks like (does it look like oil or coffee with creamer?) and how much and what kind of metal is on the magnet (soft and fluffly or sharp metal flakes?).

Does he have some place to lay it up while the transmission is being worked on (if it comes to that)?

[crazydrummerdude]

He was having seconds thoughts about buying such an old bike. Hopefully he'll calm down soon!!!

Remind him that any and every bike could have problems. Luckily, he has one that's easy to work on.

[godzilla]

I gave up working on transmission internals. I can certainly help him yank the transmission and ship it off, but I've got some personal stuff going on so probably won't be able to help right away. Unfortunately, my treller is still filled up with debris from Fay, so I can't even offer transportation for the bike.

First thing I'd do is to drain the transmission and see what the oil looks like (does it look like oil or coffee with creamer?) and how much and what kind of metal is on the magnet (soft and fluffly or sharp metal flakes?).

Does he have some place to lay it up while the transmission is being worked on (if it comes to that)?

I'll pass this on to him. He got the bike back to his house by staying in 1st and 2nd. He has a carport where he can leave the bike if need be. I told him to call the BMW shop in Tallahassee to see what they say. I know they work on Airheads; I asked when I visited in August. I fialed to mention that he lives in Tallahasee and was stranded away from his house, not like he was hundreds/thousands of mile from home. Sorry about that!!

[Polarbear]

Theres a spring in the tranny that keeps the shifter mechanism working properly and its a cheap fix, if one can do the labor:). Its probably broken and a common problem with less than well maintained trannies. Even some others did this too, with good owners. Your son has a great bike and should not feel bad buying the old bike, because its a real runner and will probably outlast him, with care. I had one in 1972 and its a fine, fine bike. If he takes it all apart himself, be careful with the output shaft, AS they are 170' lbs of torque on that nut and its a tough one to get off. Make a tool if need be, I did. The tranny cover is another careful arrangement, to not loose track of the COVER SHIMS on the bearings, as the cover is removed!!! These will need to go back exactly as they come out. He may wish to do a complete bearing job, while in this far, but his call based on the bearing "feel" and oil coming out. Setting bearing end play is important, cover going back on, so do the homework on this!!!Original bearings, same shims, no brainer. New bearings, be careful for end play on each bearing in tranny and cover:)....Most probably, the same shims in "order" they came out, will do fine with new bearings, but checking is an essential tranny rebuild job. I do the bearings, once this far and maybe even some gears too, if they show any wear(pitting) on the teeth faces. It can get expensive, BUT another option is find a used tranny, from a respectable source, if possible and go there and swap the trannies outright. Keep the original one. You can even go 5 speed here:). The original 4 speed is fine however and many do not switch, for traditional reasons. Good:). PS; Special BMW tools are used for many of these jobs, BUT you can do it another way, using the original cover and setting the bearings individually, per shaft in the tranny, one at a time. Its more time consuming but gets it done. I've done many without BMW tools, but made some of my own, too. Happy Trails, Randy:thumb :usa

[godzilla]

PolarBear,

Thanks for a good technical write up. I don't think my boy will attempt that himself though. He hasn't dabbled in things mechanical in his life, and although maybe someday he would tackle something like that, I don't think he is ready to undertake a project of that magnitude. I am sure he was just frustrated that day. The battery went dead on him earlier last week (he now has a trickle charger to keep it up to snuff) and he put the wrong oil (too light) in the engine a couple days before THAT, so he had to drain it out and replace it. He is worried that the bike will nickle and dime him to death. Hopefully he has calmed down a little.

I reminded him that the bike sat unridden since 1991 at least and that we just took a long ride from Indiana to Florida to get the /5 to his home after he bought her. She gave us no problems whatsoever the whole 3-day trip. There aren't too many bikes of that vintage that could have done the same thing without a major rebuild before AND after such a journey. He is going to have to learn the joys of owning a motorcycle sooner or later!

[Polarbear]

We own old bikes and new bikes, all of us, one time or another. I'm not sure which is best anymore. ALL of them need something occasionally, new and old. I have a passion for the old ones of the 70's vintage and still have some of them, riding them frequently. My new GSA1200 is another animal entirely and its always fascinating to me to go from one to the other. So many differences, BUT still so many smiles from both old and new rides!
Glad to hear another story of a young man and his newly aquired /5 and his trials and tribulations. The trip south sounds like the bike still has somehting to give and did, for you guys:). Now, a learning curve begins for your son and he will be better for it, in the end. The old /5 is a treat and I hope he hangs in there with it, as it can give many miles of m/c bliss, with care and knowledge, of which plenty exists here in BMW land:). Happy Trails, Randy"Polarbear":thumb :usa