xj1100 trans or clutch?

[jmcmillan40]

i got a 82 xj1100 iam aware of the trans problems with them, i just got it running and in nutral it runs great, so i tried puting it in gear and it rattles, 1 1at or 2nd so i ajusted the clutch, and i got it to go into gear but then it rattles hard so i shut it off.

the bike did sit for a few years. i did notice that its hard to push in gear with the clutch in, like the pltates are sticking. i removed the drain plug and no oil came out? so i removed crank case cover, and tiped the bike sidways to remove oil.

also i noticed someone has been in there becuase the gasket is selfmade.
bike only has 16,000 on it. so i put cover back on and put fresh oil in, i did not change fliter or remove, it becuse i just wanted to see if the oil will break up some of the old.

I re-installed cover fired here up and same thing i did ajust the clutch from down below and up above and got it to go in to gear but it dies, like the clutch is not engaging all the way.

any ideas do you think its sticky plates or bad tranny? it will rattle when i try to put into 1st or 2nd and his hard to get in then if i get it in it rattles real bad, then acouple times i got it in gear and it acted like it wanted to go but i dint so it died.

help i have a bad feeling, why was there a new gasket, bike is real clean did the xj1100 have trans probs with low miles? also why dint the oil drain out drain?

[WMarshy]

Well it sounds like you have the infamous 1st/2nd gear probelm. It also sounds like the previous owner (PO) may have drained the engine oil to store it or it may have leaked out. That homemade gasket might be leaky... In either case, our friction plates in our clutch are of the wet type and yours may have dried up, which is bad for them if you try to use them and they havent seen oil in 10 year. You should search the sight for the proper clutch adjustment and give it a try. My guess is your clutch isnt diengaging and thats why its hard to put into gear and once it does go it wants to take off. Lucky for you in a sense, you have the first gear issue otherwise it would take off if it didnt stall first. Welcome to the sight, use the search tool and you will find answers about 1st/2nd gear fix, clutch adjustments and more!

[jmcmillan40]

xj1100

ok so are you saying that if its a dry clutch than i might not have 1,2 gear prob or and if its noy a dry clutch than i may have 1,2 gear prob?
also i paid 400 bucks and it only have 16,000 miles on it do you think its worth fixing trans?
also it had oil just wasnt coming out drain i had to tip bike and the oil came out the side.

ya tomarrow will try to ajust clutch again and if it goes into gear i will drive it around the culdisac and see if it will shift wile in motion

[WMarshy]

ok so are you saying that if its a dry clutch than i might not have 1,2 gear prob or and if its noy a dry clutch than i may have 1,2 gear prob?
also i paid 400 bucks and it only have 16,000 miles on it do you think its worth fixing trans?
also it had oil just wasnt coming out drain i had to tip bike and the oil came out the side.

ya tomarrow will try to ajust clutch again and if it goes into gear i will drive it around the culdisac and see if it will shift wile in motion

No, our clutches are a "wet type" clutch and the friction plates are made of a cork material. The cork material needs to remain "wet" with oil during operation otherwise they will be ruined really quick. When you replace them you have to soak them in oil before installing them. Some consider them to absorb some of the oil so b/c your bike sat so long with no/little oil you could cause damage to them if they dont get a proper bath in oil before use. Your clutch might be grabby because the friction plates haven seen oil in so long. In that case, the best thing to do might be to let the bike idle and pull the clutch handle in and out a few time to try and get oil on the frictions. There is other things that will improve your clutch without replacing any parts. Read here, and here. The sound you described is a good indication that you have the first and second gear problem. An easy fix for that can be found here. These issues are common on neglected XS's as well as well taken care of bikes. Read about what to look for on a neglected XS here. Most all your questions have been answered at one time so try to do a search and if you still have questions then ask. As to your "is it worth it" question, some will say yes and some will say no. The ones that say no are interested in buying it.

P.S. How much oil came out? If you pulled the plug from the pan and only got ~a quart then thats not very much as they take ~3 quarts IIRC. Make sure you change the filter too! Your going to want to catch any gunk that loosens up and starts to circulate.

[cywelchjr]

Yep, it's not worth fixing. Bring it over to my place and I'll make you a deal on it.

No, really, I will make you a deal. But then, it's really worth fixing the thing, and the grin on your face the first time you get it working right and twist that throttle hard in 1st gear will make it all worth it.

[jmcmillan40]

test ride today xj1100 clutch-gear problem

so i had a brain fart
i removed the ronge screw not the drain plug lol but the one on the back upperside dint see the one becuase its behind the oil filter, and i 4-1 exuahst.

well i fired her up in 1st gear and she ran so i backed her out and gave it a test run she ran in first then started to rattle, so hit 2nd and went a little and rattled so i hit 3 and 4 and was slugish but ran.

so i went home pulled into the garage, onre thing i tried to ajust the cluch down at the trans and i have to screw it in about 3/4 otherwise my cable is to loose and i have no clutch?

well i desided to remove cover again and drain all oil thats were iam at now./
also it has a hard time shifting into any gear when not running?
i guess the bike hasnt been fired in 10 years. so iam tring to figure out if what to do next?
i decided at least i would remove basket and mic the springs and plates and soak them in oil. here is were i am trying to decide if its just the cluch from sitting so longe? or the 1st 2nd deal also the tab for the basket bolt has been messed with and the fact the the bike has a home made gasket for the crankcase means someone has been in there to do what i dont no?

would you soak the parts mic the spings and disks repace with heavy duty springs then reinstall and see if it works or flip the bike and do the gear fix?

ps:the bike is hard to push with clutch in or out

[CatatonicBug]

I just got done working on another neglected XS. It had only been sitting for one year, but it hadn't had much done with it in years. It needed the 2nd gear fix, brakes flushed, new tires, all fluids replaced, a new fuse block, and a bunch of electrical corrosion removed. Take it slow, and read ALL the tech tips before you try to do ANYTHING to your new bike. Remember that most of the folks who frequent this site (including the ones who built it) came upon their bikes after the bikes had been sitting, neglected for quite some time. ANYTHING on these bikes can be fixed or replaced, and there are usually deals to be found on the replacement parts. It's ALWAYS worth it to fix it.

The plug you removed was probably the middle drive drain plug. If nothing came out, be sure to add 90w gear oil to the middle drive before trying to move the bike under its own power. While you're at it, drain and re-fill the final drive too. The bike may be hard to move because of a blocked spooge hole in one/both of the master cylinders. Once you take the clutch basket out, make sure the pieces are not stuck together, and just put it back in after doing the 2nd gear fix.

The 1st/2nd gear fix is not that hard, and was actually my initiation to the guts of my bike. Even if you were not having tranny issues, it would probably be a good idea to do this fix as a preventative measure. Download the manual(s) from the link in my signature, and use the tech tips to walk you through the process. I prefer to do the fix on the centerstand instead of trying to flip the bike over (as the tech tip advises). It's much easier that way, IMO.