K11 Owners Group

windcaper · Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2008 8:08 am Post subject: gear indicator

Yesterday I went for a long ride and for some strange reason my gear indicator stop working. it registers all kinds of whacky information, i.e. 5th gear is 1 4th gear is neutral etc. any ideas on what's wrong and how it can be fixed. The guy I bought the bike from years ago told me that from time to time if the bike was ridden in the rain it would happen and then mysteriously start working again.

Input would be appreicated.

Thanks
_________________
1996 K1100 RS SE

drmalacarne · Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2008 8:39 am Post subject:

Some time ago, when I washed my KLT, that gear indicators turns crazy too.
But now its all death, not work at all...
And I'm not go to fix it, because it will fail again soon.
Guilherme.
_________________
1994 K1100LT SE n° 0267
1998 HD Heritage Springer 95th anniversary
Yes, a Hog and a Beemer can live together!

Scott_Anderson · Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2008 10:27 am Post subject:

If you remove the swing arm (witch I didn't) to do a spine lube you could replace the gear indicator switch/sensor, as it sits behind the swing arm into the side of the tranny.
As long as you know where you are it in the gears, neutral, etc... It could wait until your 'in there' for something else to replace it.
But that's your call. I would wait.
_________________
Ride safe.

1995 K1100LT 0302044
2017 FLHTK Ultra Limited
Garmin StreetPilot 2820
Garmin Zumo 550
Garmin Zumo XT
"One who does not ask questions is ashamed to learn" Danish proverb
1997 K1100LT 0302488(R.I.P.)
1997 R1100RT ZC62149(sold)

duckbubbles · Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2008 11:24 am Post subject:

The last time mine went bad, I found I had new 8th and 9th gears.

Frank
_________________
85 K100/1100RS, 321,000 miles, 25 years
96 Ducati 900SS/SP, sold it
05 R1200ST, 35,000 miles, 5 years
400,000 BMW miles

Flying Duck · Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2008 12:12 pm Post subject:

See here: http://www.ibmwr.org/ktech/trans-switch.shtml

MY RS shows 9th gear when I rev it in 4th. Very Happy

_________________
93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
Buy parts HERE

mnb · Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2008 1:43 pm Post subject:

I took my LT in for a clutch job and a tuneup at CalMoto about 3 years ago. When I drove it away, I noticed it had suddenly acquired the problem you describe.

Seeing as I didn't drive it 50 feet before this was blatantly obvious and it worked perfectly fine when I drove it in, I asked them to fix it. They claimed there was no way their service could have caused a problem with this and offered to fix it for $400. It's funny how 99% of all 'coincidental' part failure occurs the moment you leave the dealer, but it's never their fault.

I reluctantly took the bike back there once for service, but circumstances more or less dictated it. They put three lovely gouges in my brand new gas tank that it took 5 months to get direct from Germany. No matter WHAT the circumstances, I will never go back there.

After a couple months, the indicator just started working and has been fine ever since. I'd never had a problem with the sensor before and so far, I haven't since.
_________________
M N B
1997 BMW K1100LT ABS Special Edition
2003 Husqvarna TE610e
2007 Harley Davidson Road King
2009 BMW F800GS
2011 Husqvarna TE310
2014 Ducati Multistrada Pikes Peak MNB Edition

Jim · Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2008 11:06 pm Post subject: gear indicator

I've had gear indicator issues on a few occasions - typically after riding in a heavy rain - but the problem usually cleared up in a few days. I've never seen anything higher than 8th gear - all I ever wanted was 6th.
_________________
Jim
1997 K1100LTSE 94,000 - still has gremlins!
1995 R100RT Classic 16,650 crashed - repaired!
1992 K75RTP 46,000

"We shall not all die, but we shall all be changed."

goldust · Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2008 8:42 am Post subject: gear indicator

I had the same thing happen to me. I then took the advice of several forums, and replaced the indicator sensor on the swingarm. Still had the same problem.
I the started fooling around with the connector on the back of the gauges, voila, my gear shift indicator started working.
Cleaning, and tightening the connector fixed the problem permanetly.

tmarshall57 · Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2008 9:03 am Post subject:

It is a common problem. Every time I washed the bike the gear indicator would play up for a few days. I did a spline lube over last winter and dismantled the gear indicator switch, cleaned it and covered it in slicone grease. It has been perfect since.

I found it very difficult to remove the switch without removing the ABSII on my bike (which sits above the gear indicator switch cable - I ended up dismantling the switch and cleaning part of it in-situ

Be very careful though if you go down this route - there are some very tiny springs and switch contacts to ping around the garage!!

Tony
_________________
K1100RS Special Edition 1997
Arctic Silver/Black

windcaper · Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2008 12:28 pm Post subject:

Thanks for all your help, it seems that time has fixed the problem just got in from a few hundred mile run and it works perfect.........go figure!!!!
_________________
1996 K1100 RS SE

K11Martin · Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2008 8:10 pm Post subject:

Time has only fixed the problem 'cos the TGPI switch has dried out.

It's a circular turret-shaped assembly on the right-hand side of the gearbox housing, and is only accessible by removing the swingarm. It's retained by two small screws but there's not a lot of spare wire on it to remove it from the bike. If you follow the wires up through the housing you will find a plug/socket where the switch can be disconnected and removed.

Keeping the switch firmly on a bench, and with it's cover upward, prise off the cover and expose the circular printed circuit board.

As has been said, be careful as there's a small ball bearing and a spring, but they will normally remain in the cover at this stage. Clean the PCB (and ball) with isopropyl alchohol administered with a Q-tip/cotton bud, then lightly smear the PCB with petroleum jelly. When reassembling, tightly wind some insulating tape around the unit to prevent further water ingress.

It only goes back together one way and the shaft (where it fits onto the bike) has a flat on it, for correct realignment. I've done this on two bikes now, and it has cured the fault permanently (so far) each time.
_________________

Currently riding a '93 K1100LT (ABS1) decked out with lights and aerials (Ex 70's Vespa rider)

Why not join the UK owners club at http://forum.bmw-club.org.uk/

owrstrich · Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2009 4:20 pm Post subject:

washed the bug last night at the coin car wash...

i know... i know... i know... use the dry cleaner stupid... but i didnt use the high pressure and i didnt get the low pressure too close to f anything up...

except... now i gotts the funky gear indicator...

n is n... 1st is 1... 2nd is n... 3rd is 1... 4th is n... 5th is 1... 6th is n...

guess i gotts to wait till the switch dries out...

the clean bugeye motobrick... washed and waxed...

more later...

j o
_________________
yeeeeeehaaaaaaa...

mnb · Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2009 5:49 pm Post subject:

No wonder I've only had the problem once. I almost never wash the bike. Laughing

Either the rain does it for me or once in a while I hand wash the plastics and stuff. But I haven't used an actual hose on it in years.

This strategy has several benefits:

1 - less effort
2 - gear indicator works
3 - shiny bikes are more likely to be stolen
4 - it annoys the hell out of obsessive compulsive neat freaks
_________________
M N B
1997 BMW K1100LT ABS Special Edition
2003 Husqvarna TE610e
2007 Harley Davidson Road King
2009 BMW F800GS
2011 Husqvarna TE310
2014 Ducati Multistrada Pikes Peak MNB Edition

owrstrich · Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2009 2:35 pm Post subject:

i like your strategy there mnb...

it took a week but i got the gear indicator back... all is working well except 6th still shows 5th...

j o
_________________
yeeeeeehaaaaaaa...

Flying Duck · Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2009 3:09 pm Post subject:

I don't wash my bikes. I just give them a once over with either Maquier's or Mothers cleaner wax and a microfiber cloth. Cleans and waxes in one pass.

The only thing I usee a hose on is the wheels. Spray wheel cleaner on the wheels, give them the once over with a sponge and hose them off.
_________________
93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
Buy parts HERE

RobWheatley · Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2009 6:35 pm Post subject: