died at the stop sign!

[fergusxs11]

I was enjoying a sunny day on the road with no problems when all of a sudden when downshifting at a stop sign there was a loud bang(I have never had 1 problem with the bike,'78xs11s). The gears will still shift but when I let out the clutch the bike will not move and stall. It runs like a dream but won't move. I know nothing about shaft drive and could use some help.

[buffalo]

When you put it in neutral will it roll with the clutch out and engine off, or does it feel like it is still in gear? It almost sounds like a shifter fork broke and it won't come out of the gear it happens to be in now. When you put it in another gear it locks the trans in 2 gears at once. If you have neutral that is not the problem... just guessing.

[skids]

Is the transfer case locked-up? Is the middle gear oil empty?

[fergusxs11]

It doesn't matter what I do the back tire won't turn. Is a shifter fork a big job to do? thanks for your reply.

[bkr]

gear lock up

Shifter fork replacement is about the same as 2nd gear repair only easier. Check the site for info. Hope this helps. bkr

[mitch]

Final Drive

If even with the clutch pulled in it wont move i would guess that the trouble lies in the final drive just ahead if the drive shaft, or in the rear end . The clutch should let you at least move the bike even if the tranny is piled up i think. Final drive and rear end are eazier to work on than the tranny, maybe check them first. Un bolt the drive shaft the try turning the back wheel if it turns then remove the final drive and check it HTH......MITCH

[buffalo]

mitch is right, if it won't move w/ the clutch in the problem is back further. Drain the oil out of you trans and final drive and look for metal crumbs.
P.S. I have a spare '78 XS1100E final drive if you need it

[skids]

You might want to pull back the rubber boot at the front of the drive shaft and observe the u-joint while you attemp to roll the bike foreward and backwards. I think if there is any turning of the shaft, the problem is probably not at the final drive gears, but is at the middle gear transfer case or "upstream."

[skids]

I should clarify. By "any turning" I mean slight motion until it jams again. I think there might be enough gear lash (slop) that might allow this...

Originally posted by skids
I think if there is any turning of the shaft, the problem is probably not at the final drive gears, but is at the middle gear transfer case or "upstream."