NEED HELP NOW!!! 2012 Goldwing won't go into gear!!

[MarciaG]

HELP!! I went to start my brand new trike this morning. Wouldn't start! I leave it in gear with the wheels locked when I park. I put her into neutral and she started right up. Yay! Went to put her into reverse. Reverse light came on the dash but pushing the starter did nothing. Wouldn't go into reverse. Put her back into first and she dies instantly!!<br />
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Trying to put the trike into any gear and it dies!!!<br /><br />
<br /><br />
I am supposed to leave for South Carolina for a motorcycle convention at first light Friday morning.

Or course, this is the 4th of July. The bike shops are all closed. Plus, it would need towing on a special truck. The timing couldn't be worse. Please, tell me what to do!!!!!<br /><br />
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Thanks!!<br /><br />
<br /><br />
Marcia G. <img src="images/smilies/censored.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Censored" class="inlineimg" /><img src="images/smilies/mad.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Mad" class="inlineimg" /><img src="images/smilies/shrug.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Shrug" class="inlineimg" />

[rgw5944]

Marcia,
Easiest thing to try is adjusting your brake and clutch levers away from the grips. There are wheels with numbers where the levers pivot. Push the lever away from the grip and turn the wheel to a higher number. One is the closets and five is the farthest setting away from the grips. There are contact switches inside the the lever mechanism that will not allow the bike to start in gear if not making contact. This would also cause the reverse to not work.

There are other possibilities but this is the easiest to try first. If the bike will start in in neutral, there is a open micro switch somewhere that is causing the problem. At least that is what happened to me. I put on thicker grips and that kept the levers from coming in far enough to let the switches make contact.

Ron

[MarciaG]

Ron, I just checked. The numbers for both the clutch and brake are already on "5", the highest number.<br />
<br />
Marcia <img src="images/smilies/frown.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Frown" class="inlineimg" />

[MarciaG]

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<img src="images/misc/quote_icon.png" alt="Quote" /> Originally Posted by <strong>E.T.</strong>
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<div class="message">Make scure your reverse button is not pushed in when trying to put it in first gear.</div>

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</div>Thanks. It isn't.<br />
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MarciaG <img src="images/smilies/frown.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Frown" class="inlineimg" />

[Gold Rush]

It almost sound like the old side stand switch might have gotten into the down position. Depending on the installer there are a few places to look for the switch. Most obvious will be tied up behind the left engine cover. Check to see if it has come loose and moved.

[Papa Zook]

Try this:
With the bike turned OFF, put it in first gear, then rock it back and forth (forward and backward) briskly a few times to un-stick the reverse mechanism. Then, making sure it is on level ground, put it in neutral, crank it and try the reverse. Repeat if necessary.

[rgw5944]

Check these threads for any information that may help you.

Won't Start in Gear

Won't start in gear with clutch in

[MarciaG]

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<img src="images/misc/quote_icon.png" alt="Quote" /> Originally Posted by <strong>Gold Rush</strong><br />
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<div class="message">It almost sound like the old side stand switch might have gotten into the down position. Depending on the installer there are a few places to look for the switch. Most obvious will be tied up behind the left engine cover. Check to see if it has come loose and moved.</div><br />
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</div><br />
</div>You guys have all been WONDERFUL!! Thank you for helping us to find (and are now in the process), of fixing! See the attached photo:<br /><br />
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<img src="http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c57/margal1/SideStandSwitch.jpg" border="0" alt="" /><br /><br />
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In fact, we took the left engine cover off and found the wires leading to the side stand switch. It was just hanging there. See the tang on the switch? It moves quite freely. We were able to move it clockwise and got it to shift into first. The reverse also worked.<br />
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Move that little tang just a little bit and the engine cuts out!!

Now, we're probably going to tape the heck out of it so it doesn't move!!! I'm sure there's probably a better way but it's really amazing how something like that can keep a bike from going anywhere!! <br /><br />
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So far, all of the problems I have had are not with the bike or trike, but they have been installer errors!! Cracked aux fuel tank. Subsequently, after the tank was replaced, the grommet going between the tanks got "buggered" causing a worse gasoline leak than with the cracked tank. Next, we lost our foot brake on a road trip due to improper bleeding of the brakes.<br /><br />
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So if anyone is planning on getting a trike kit installed, do your homework!! I'm finding out now...the hard way.<br /><br />
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Love you all!!!<br /><br />
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MarciaG <img src="images/smilies/grin.gif" border="0" alt="" title="big grin" class="inlineimg" /> <img src="images/smilies/thumbup.gif" border="0" alt="" title="<img src="images/smilies/thumbup.gif" border="0" alt="" title="" class="inlineimg" />" class="inlineimg" />

[Lunchbox1983]

That little switch was to keep you from riding around on two wheels with your kickstand down and possibly killing yourself. A very good feature on a bike, usless on a trike.

[Gold Rush]

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<img src="images/misc/quote_icon.png" alt="Quote" /> Originally Posted by <strong>Lunchbox1983</strong>
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<div class="message">That little switch was to keep you from riding around on two wheels with your kickstand down and possibly killing yourself. A very good feature on a bike, usless on a trike.</div>

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</div>Actually not totally useless. I wired mine into a hidden switch that is a pretty good anti theft device. If someone managed to jimmie the ignition switch and get the engine to start it will kill every time the trike is shifted into gear..... <br />
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Marcia, I'm gald you got the problem located and hopefully fixed.. Have a fun and safe trip!

[cmore]

It almost sound like the old side stand switch might have gotten into the down position. Depending on the installer there are a few places to look for the switch. Most obvious will be tied up behind the left engine cover. Check to see if it has come loose and moved.

That happened to me right after I got mine triked. The cable tie wasn't tight and let the inter switch rotate a little.

[MarciaG]

That happened to me right after I got mine triked. The cable tie wasn't tight and let the inter switch rotate a little.

I see you live in Tennessee. Did you purchase your trike in Chattanooga, by any chance?

MarciaG

[cmore]

No, it was from the other end of the state.

[Patches]

Are you going to Greenville to Women On Wheels® or Motor Maids? I will be in Greenville on the 9th for our WOW ride-in. Maybe I will see you! I'll look for your trike!!

[Lunchbox1983]

Actually not totally useless. I wired mine into a hidden switch that is a pretty good anti theft device. If someone managed to jimmie the ignition switch and get the engine to start it will kill every time the trike is shifted into gear.....

Marcia, I'm gald you got the problem located and hopefully fixed.. Have a fun and safe trip!

Great idea, I am gonna try that

[MarciaG]

Are you going to Greenville to Women On Wheels® or Motor Maids? I will be in Greenville on the 9th for our WOW ride-in. Maybe I will see you! I'll look for your trike!!

I'm a Motor Maid so we'll be in Spartanburg. There's gonna be an invasion of female riders in the Greenville/Spartanburg area, huh?! LOL

I'm seriously thinking of delaying our trip a few days due to excessive heat all along our route (100 degrees or more plus high heat indices!) Last week I rode in 110 degrees with the heat index figured in. I didn't ride very far but I felt like I was in a roaster/broiler. I wear all the gear, etc......

MarciaG

[Konrad]

[QUOTE=Gold Rush;114974]Actually not totally useless. I wired mine into a hidden switch that is a pretty good anti theft device. If someone managed to jimmie the ignition switch and get the engine to start it will kill every time the trike is shifted into gear.....
QUOTE]

What a super idea that is! How about starting a new "This-is-how-I-did-it" thread? I'd like to hear more.

[Bobbi]

My trike (2008 GL1800) came with the sidestand in place and in the way. I removed the sidestand and placed a short wire in the sidestand switch (G/W and G) to 'tell' the system that the sidestand is in the retracted position permanently.

[Gold Rush]

OK.... I'll look up the wire colors and switch info then do a thread....