Engine won't engage

[kerrfunk]

Hi

Motorcycle noob here. Riding GSes for two years now, about 11,000 miles under my belt, very little experience under the hood (as it were).

Two problems with my bike. The second is why I'm posting here, but the first at least indirectly led to the second.

First problem: I think I need a new battery. I've been putting the bike on a battery tender overnight every few days so I can start the bike... sometimes I need to bump start it if I haven't charged it in a bit.

So I ride on an errand this evening, and when I get back to the bike to come home, it's not starting. Lights are fine, it turns over, so I start the downhill roll to bump start it. Put it in second and pop the clutch and nothin happens... starts making a new strange noise, and not starting. Doesn't bumpstart in first, either.

I stop the bike and flag down a passer-by who kindly jump starts me. I put the seat back on, put my helmet back on, clutch in, first gear, let out the clutch and roll the throttle on and all I get is rev. I can go up to fifth gear without the clutch and rev and the engine is just not engaging the drive.

I figure that means there's something wrong with the clutch, but that's just my noob guess.

I call a buddy with a pickup truck and a ramp, and he gets me back to my garage.


So. You've made it this far. What do you think?
1) Need a new battery?
2) Clutch?

[Nessism]

Almost a 1000 posts and you don't know about the soft splines yet? How many of that 1000 are in Off Topic?

[kerrfunk]

Almost a 1000 posts and you don't know about the soft splines yet? How many of that 1000 are in Off Topic?

I've heard of the splines, yeah. And a lot of those nearly 1000 posts are OT. How about a little encouragement here?

[Nessism]

I've heard of the splines, yeah. And a lot of those nearly 1000 posts are OT. How about a little encouragement here?

Hey funk-man,

Just teasing. Your 1100 is a beaut! (for an L that is)

Keep up the good work and go find an early wheel and get yourself a new/used spline.

[rustybronco]

I've heard of the splines, yeah.

How about a little encouragement here?

Okay... You can do it, You can do it...
now get to pulling that rear wheel off.

[tom203]

Florida ebay item #360255912926- Is this same? 81 gs1000- looks pretty

[kerrfunk]

Florida ebay item #360255912926- Is this same? 81 gs1000- looks pretty

Would that fit an 82 1100 gL ?

[Nessism]

Florida ebay item #360255912926- Is this same? 81 gs1000- looks pretty

This seems to be the final drive unit, not the driven spline hub that bolts to the rear wheel (which is what is almost certainly needed).

The very first 850 splines were bad, which forced a recall/redesign from Suzuki. The subsequent splines are the desirable ones - black in color and fit to most '79, all '80, and some '81 shaft drive bikes. Suzuki made a running change in the '81 model year which was not for the better - gold in color, and easily stripped. At some point Suzuki fixed the problem and offered improved service parts that are silver in color. You need either an early black, or later silver spline, if you want the good stuff.

[chuck hahn]

look for the black spline...NOT the gold one!! Let us know if your was the gold one......

[kerrfunk]

silver good, gold bad. Got it.

My plan is to remove the rear wheel (thanks, Basscliff, for the pictorial tutorial) and find a rotten gold spline. Is there a way before doing that to assure me that it's not the clutch?

[seuadr]

someone on this forum at some point i am almost 100% positive told me that you can still get the spline as it was used on the GSX1100G and the Boulevard.

[almarconi]

Since you bought the bike from ddaniels, I would ask him if the clutch was ever serviced. You may want to remove the clutch cover and have a look inside. Check for anything that could be broken or loose.

How old is the battery? Did you go through the stator papers yet to see if the bike is charging?

[ddaniels]

Man that sucks Kerry! Definitely check the spline. I need to do that on mine too. No problem yet and I'm hoping I find a black one.

[ddaniels]

Not sure what's going on with the battery since that was a new one I put in just before you picked up the bike. Go through the charging system per bascliff's site and the stator papers and see if it's charging correctly.

[kerrfunk]

Not sure what's going on with the battery since that was a new one I put in just before you picked up the bike.

Well now I know how old the battery is

Go through the charging system per bascliff's site and the stator papers and see if it's charging correctly.

Electricity makes me shudder. Guess I have to learn sometime.