Bike won't go in gear when engine cold

[Hillier69]

I biught my 1983 Xj1100 maxim in november. It has been put away for the winter, but I noticed it won,t go in gear untill the engine is completly warmed up. Do anyone know anything about this?

[ccogswel]

There will be a few GURU'S that know more about this then I but I have to ask. Have you tried to get it into gear when it's not running. It may be something as simple as cable adjustment. Or a clutch not working. A stuck shift fork. I know one of the GURU'S will chime in.

It would also help if you could explain more of what you are doing when you are trying to put it in gear. Like does the shifter feels like it is trying to move, or it goes into gear but not able to pull in gear like your still holding the clutch. Can you put it in second but not first. Just stuff like that. The more info the better.

Good Luck!

[Hillier69]

Thanks. The bike runs fine, goes in gear when not running fine, the clutch feels fine when you are riding the bike. When I start it up, I let it run for a couple minutes (it was only 7 degrees c), when I pull in the clutch and put it in first, the bike cuts out. Do you think the clutch is the problem?

[red bandit]

when I pull in the clutch and put it in first, the bike cuts out.

Are you saying the bike dies when you put it in gear? Put the side stand up. If it is up it sounds like the side stand safety switch is stuck or bad. Disconect the two wires on the side stand and try that, if that doesn't do it, cross the two wires together and try that. If either of these fixes it, clean side stand switch and make sure the button works as suppossed to.

[blue giant]

I say side stand switch as well. The '83's have a 3 wire switch that indicates a warning on the display screen that the side stand is down when you are warming the bike up in neutral or cuts the engine when you put the bike in gear if the side stand is still down. Remove the seat and locate the connector for the switch and jump two wires together (key on- bike not running) and through trial and error you will see which two need to be jumped. This worked for me until I cold locate a replacement switch!

Let us know if this works!

Paul

P.S. I believe the black wire is the common and the blue/yellow is the side stand relay . Jump these two and you should have a bike that runs in gear.

[ccogswel]

I'm Bad. I didn't pay attention that you have a xj. Sorry for that. I would agree with red bandit and blue giant. Sounds like the side stand switch.