Rear end locked on me today... xj1100 82

[James England]

Has anyone ever heard of this ACTUALLY happening? I can see an individual gear seizing, but a whole transmission? It would have to be running with no oil in the motor.. which would cause a piston seize before a transmission built up enough heat.

I've pulled motors apart that had some broken teeth on some of the gears and suppose it's not an impossibility to get something jammed in there, but I've sure never heard of an actual transmission seizing.

Sorry... I was being inexact... I should have said "a component of the transmission is seized".... ie gearbox, or middle gearbox etc. I meant, as opposed to the seized brake idea.
The transmission is everything from the crankshaft to the rear wheel.

It won't be the pic you posted. That's in the gearbox. People are referring to the middle gearbox, which has its own drain plug and filler, usually neglected. If not topped up they can seize. It does sound very much like that. But,technically it could be anything in the transmission.... ie gearbox, middle gearbox, UJ joint, rear gearbox etc.

1. Does the rear wheel spin when the bike is in neutral?
2. Can you engage all gears by rocking the bike forwards as you engage them?

[natemoen]

Here is what you are looking for.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1979-yamaha-xs1100-final-drive-gear-xs-1100-/250987458166?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3a7004ae76&vxp=mtr#ht_500wt_1202

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1981-YAMAHA-XS1100-XS-1100-SH-FINAL-DRIVE-GEAR-/350442312145?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item5197fd51d1&vxp=mtr#ht_2172wt_952

http://www.ebay.com/itm/79-80-YAMAHA-XS1100-MIDDLE-GEAR-CASE-ASSY-XS-1100-/260607798944?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3cad6f6ea0&vxp=mtr#ht_500wt_969

http://www.ebay.com/itm/80-Yamaha-XS1100-XS-1100-Middle-Gear-Case-Assembly-/250785187097?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3a63f64519&vxp=mtr#ht_1040wt_952

http://www.ebay.com/itm/OEM-Yamaha-Middle-Drive-Gear-Assy-XS1100-1980-1981-XS850-1981-2H9-17511-00-00-/230757859382?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item35ba3d8036&vxp=mtr#ht_582wt_952

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Yamaha-XS1100-Special-Used-Engine-Drive-Gear-Case-1980-/150645457502?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item23132b425e&vxp=mtr#ht_982wt_952

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SHAFT-GEAR-E...r#ht_975wt_952

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1978-YAMAHA-...r#ht_500wt_969

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1980-YAMAHA-...#ht_2135wt_952

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1979-yamaha-...#ht_1271wt_952

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1979-YAMAHA-...#ht_2850wt_952

http://www.ebay.com/itm/FINAL-DRIVE-...#ht_1824wt_952

http://www.ebay.com/itm/PRIMARY-OUTP...#ht_1651wt_952

http://www.ebay.com/itm/78-Yamaha-XS...#ht_797wt_1185

And this last link I just throw in for fun! $20 for a used drain plug!! HAHAHA

http://www.ebay.com/itm/FINAL-DRIVE-...#ht_1065wt_952

[motoman]

What could have happened in the transmission to cause it to seize like that?

Nothin'............bettin' a middle drive or final drive is your issue. Did U service either one prior to riding?.......

[James England]

And this last link I just throw in for fun! $20 for a used drain plug!! HAHAHA

http://www.ebay.com/itm/FINAL-DRIVE-...#ht_1065wt_952

It is free shipping though.....

[Elevener]

Not so fast, Mr Calm.
That is not the part that is toast, if it is indeed the middle drive that seized. The parts you see are INSIDE the case, and very rarely pose a problem. The part you will most likely need is,

CZ

And I bet andreas is a whole lot cheaper.

[BA80]

And I bet andreas is a whole lot cheaper.

+1.........or me

[WSL91]

Just restored a garaged XJ1100J, that has not been on the road since 1984~. Tags on the plate said 85'.

Spent a good 6 months reconditioning the tank, painting frame, rebuilding/rejetting carbs (indiv. air filters) and doing the 2nd gear dremel fix and washer swap.

9 days on the road in 17 or so years and I find myself nearly falling off, dragging my back tire for 40 or so feet through a busy intersection during 5pm traffic on a 6 lane road.

Im not sure how I managed to keep the bike upright through that tore up street, down hill, through an intersection while surrounded by cars on all sides. I landed in the far left lane against the center divider just close enough to not be able to put my kickstand down.

I stood stuck there for 40 minutes waiting for a tow truck looking like a damned idiot!

I had exactly 0 cars and 3 motorcyclist stop to offer help, all in vain as with the rear tire locked up and the bike being some 700 odd pounds with a full tank of gas nothing short of a steel cabled winch was gonna move it.

And thats what happened. Dropped it off at home. Gonna crack open the shaft drive tomorrow and hope its something there and not the transmission that seized.

Anyone care for a wager on what happened?

I'll bet that made you pucker!

[planedick]

Loose bolt

After having the tranny apart, I bet there is a bolt came loose and fell out. A little bump mikes it jump up and get in the gears and it will lock 'em up. Once one of the bolts that hold the u-joint came loose on mine, got caught the u-joint and slid for a little ways then broke the bolt off and messed up the threads etc. Pull the rubber boot back and look there...

[Wouldstalk]

After having the tranny apart, I bet there is a bolt came loose and fell out. A little bump mikes it jump up and get in the gears and it will lock 'em up. Once one of the bolts that hold the u-joint came loose on mine, got caught the u-joint and slid for a little ways then broke the bolt off and messed up the threads etc. Pull the rubber boot back and look there...

Nah bolts look good, everythings there.

I talked to PO and asked him about middle gear servicing. Had no idea what i was talking about besided the final gear drive. The final drive has oil in it.

I took off the middle gear just now, its bone dry inside save for maybe 1/2oz of light brown mud in the bottom of the case. I cant get the gearing to move at all off the bike which im assuming means its seized.

This was a case of ignorance on my part about shaft driven bikes.

Thank you to natemoen for the links, ill check them all out and buy one later this week.

Thanks everyone else for directing and helping!

[WMarshy]

Nah bolts look good, everythings there.

I talked to PO and asked him about middle gear servicing. Had no idea what i was talking about besided the final gear drive. The final drive has oil in it.

I took off the middle gear just now, its bone dry inside save for maybe 1/2oz of light brown mud in the bottom of the case. I cant get the gearing to move at all off the bike which im assuming means its seized.

This was a case of ignorance on my part about shaft driven bikes.

Thank you to natemoen for the links, ill check them all out and buy one later this week.

Thanks everyone else for directing and helping!

Dont be too hard on yourself, if the PO had no idea about the middle drive then it's likely it was running on borrowed time anyways. Good to hear you didnt hurt yourself or the bike...too bad.

[CaptonZap]

Thanks Greg, for posting that link in a usable fashion. Someday I may learn how to use a computer. CZ

[CaptonZap]

Sorry... I was being inexact... I should have said "a component of the transmission is seized".... ie gearbox, or middle gearbox etc. I meant, as opposed to the seized brake idea.
The transmission is everything from the crankshaft to the rear wheel.

James, James, James,
It really is a shame that you, living in the land that fostered our common language, haven't been able to keep up with it's evolution, brought about by the industrial revolution, aided and abetted by some of your esteemed countrymen.
But then, what can we expect from a country that foists Lucas Electrical parts, and MG autos that use them, off on an unsuspecting world market. Obviously, they quit talking to the rest of the world. Around 1930 or so.
The parts, (plural), you are referring to are known as the drive train, while transmission refers to the portion of the drive train that transmits power from the input shaft, through a series of gears or pulleys, thereby exchanging speed for torque, out through the output shaft to any ancillary means of conveying the power to the wheels. (Overdrives, power takeoff drives, middle drives, differentials, etc.)
Now, if you would like to kick me in the head for calling this to your attention, you can refer to that as a boot in the bonnet, unless that is confusing to a true Englishman. CZ

[BA80]

I think you may have just kicked James in the gearbox CZ.

[XJfan1]

when i was servicing my xj i found a bunch of shavings inside my middle drive. i swapped mine out even though the bike seemed to work fine. thanks to ba80. still working good

[XJkid]

Wouldstalk, I have a middle drive with only 15k on it I will sell for $75 and I am in Elk Grove. I want to buy some things for my XJ and this is the only way she will let me.
Guy Lytle
916-662-6221