The New And Improved Unofficial R65 Forum V2

General Category => Chit-Chat => Topic started by: Rob Valdez 79 R65 on August 30, 2010, 11:35:12 AM

Title: Fried My Transmission
Post by: Rob Valdez 79 R65 on August 30, 2010, 11:35:12 AM
I am looking for a '78-'80 transmission that works with the older style clutch & flywheel.

I totally trashed mine Saturday.  It appears the drain plug fell out on me on the road.

Thanks.
Title: Re: WTB - A Transmission
Post by: dav on August 31, 2010, 06:59:34 AM
Sorry mate cant help with the transmission but i have to ask, what the hell happened?



Title: Re: WTB - A Transmission
Post by: msbuck on August 31, 2010, 11:30:47 AM
 :o  Yikes!   :'( Sorry, Rob...  :-[

(I think if you didn't have bad luck, you wouldn't have any luck at all.)   ::)
Title: Re: WTB - A Transmission
Post by: Bengt_Phorqs on August 31, 2010, 01:38:38 PM
Rob, there was an R65 tranny posted on the IBMWR marketplace a few days ago.  Sorry to hear about your luck.
Title: Re: WTB - A Transmission
Post by: Rob Valdez 79 R65 on August 31, 2010, 03:49:54 PM
Well, I don't know what exactly happened, but in lieu of the fact the the bottom of the transmission and mufflers are clean, I must not have put any oil in it.  I may have had the drain plug in loosely, and it fell out.

This all would have taken place last March.
Saturday, I went to ride across town to see my sister.  I got on the belt-way just a few miles from my house, and put it in 5th, where it stayed for some 20+ miles at @65mph.  When I got off the highway, I immediately knew something was wrong.  I was hearing strange noises that varied with road speed, and the clutch lever wasn't really doing it's thing, and it was REALLY hard upshifting and down.

I thought it was the clutch, because that was the last thing I was working on.  So I thought I could limp to my sisters house where I could leave it.

LOL!  That box must have been red-hot!  I got within 5 blocks of her street when the rear wheel locked up at about 30mph.  I had already prepared to turn on my 4-ways, and I have my nice flashing red LED's on my brake light, so I wasn't rear-ended!  

I was right next to a church parking lot entrance (on the other side of the street, though), and I could not find a shift-spot that would allow the bike to be pushed.  It was connected to the engine, and you had to overcome compression to push it!
Finally a fellow in the line of cars behind me got out and helped me get it out of the way.
I parked it on it's sidestand while I called my sister.  Then I started looking for something to put under the stand on this hot, sunny day on this fresh new asphalt.
Well, behind their activity building was a nice big old slab of brand new concrete!  And the bike wouldn't be seen from the street!  So I went back, and discovered that it could be pushed easily, but only while pulling in the clutch.  I guess the clutch got a little warm, too.

My GPS says I went a total of 30.3 miles.

I was REAL damn lucky it didn't lock up on me at speed on the highway amongst all the other fast moving traffic.  I'd probably be dead right now.
Title: Re: WTB - A Transmission
Post by: Rob Valdez 79 R65 on August 31, 2010, 03:54:08 PM
Oh, and I've been trying the IBMWR website for about an hour now, and it seems to be down!
(but I checked it last night, and did not see a R65 tranny).
Title: Re: WTB - A Transmission
Post by: nhmaf on August 31, 2010, 08:16:07 PM
My GOD, Rob !

That was a close call.   I hate to say it, but it does sound like the transmission was dry for that ride - amazing that it held up for as long as it did and didn't pitch you out on the interstate!

I'll keep my eyes open for transmissions - but pleeeez, be CAREFUL out there, and do follow the old "measure twice, cut once" philosophy!
Title: Re: WTB - A Transmission
Post by: Rob Valdez 79 R65 on August 31, 2010, 08:37:54 PM
Blue tape on everything important, from now on.  Notes to myself.

Welcome to post-50 life!
Title: Re: WTB - A Transmission
Post by: Bob_Roller on August 31, 2010, 09:06:23 PM
I make a checklist before starting anything major anymore .

I did something similar about 16 years ago, got interupted while changing the fork oil .

Got a call from a friend that needed a ride to the hospital emergency room .

Got one fork filled, put the cap back on the other fork and tightened it up, didn't get back to working on the bike for about a week, I assumed that I had put oil in both forks .

About a year later when I went to drain the oil out of that fork, nothing came out .

Never noticed any handling problems with the bike .
Title: Re: WTB - A Transmission
Post by: Rob Valdez 79 R65 on August 31, 2010, 10:46:16 PM
I called Mikey at Airhead Salvage. He has a '77 5-speed that just came off a buddies bike. $400.00 There was nothing wrong with it, the friend just wanted a kick-start box. We had a nice conversation. He seems to be an O.K. guy.
So I sent him a deposit until payday. He was amazed when I offered it!

It will be interesting to see how/if this affects my lever clearance issue.

I will be pulling the transmission soon, to see what the poor clutch looks like. My throwout bearing assy is probably toast.
Title: Re: Fried My Transmission
Post by: Ed Miller on September 01, 2010, 11:00:43 AM
That sounds like a good deal.  

Hey, I want a kick start box too.

Title: Re: Fried My Transmission
Post by: Lucky_Lou on September 01, 2010, 01:58:07 PM
Sounds like a "great escape" i changed the gearbox on my Ford Transit Van as i was having trouble with 2nd and reverse first time out went to a customer about 40 miles away started to get a strange whine as i came off the motorway, i pulled into the first service station and had a look underneath.... no sign of trouble and the gearbox didnt feel too hot so i continued with my journey, I got about 300 yards when an almighty bang and ground to a halt with a hole in the transmission you could put your fist in. God know what would have happened if i was still on the motorway.Happy ending though the gearbox firm arranged recovery and fitted a new one overnight no problems since.
Hope your back on the road again soon.
Lou
Title: Re: Fried My Transmission
Post by: scottyintex on September 03, 2010, 06:13:25 PM
There is a R65 transmission for sale on e bay
Title: Re: Fried My Transmission
Post by: Melena on September 03, 2010, 07:38:26 PM
 :o  ROB!  OMG!!!

Whoa, you are lucky Rob.  Things do work out.  Just shows ya that it's good to check everything after the bike sits for awhile.  Even if it sits for a little while.  And especially if you've done any work on it.  

So glad you're okay.   And that you seem to have found a good replacement tranny.  That's just money.