Hard shifting in/out of first when engine is hot

Thank you Larry for the info, I've done all you've mentioned and that small boot you mention was split but all the other items were okay.
When I emptied out the reservoir I did notice some black muck exiting the small hole in the base so I recon poo caused the piston to jam.
All cleaned / lubricated and re-assembled last night, vacuum bled and working fine now.
I'll still fit the new kit when it arrives just to reassure myself but now I need to do a 100 mile test ride, any excuse to hear her singing - completed a precise Injector sync so also need to check mpg.

Note for 2004ret; I'm sure you've noticed already but the line on the Reservoir is the LOWER fluid level.
 
Okay, so I've put 2 gallons in and returned from a 120 mile round trip via a mix of normal 2 lane highway, towns, villages and some motorway.
Got home and while opening the garage, the fan came on twice so this engine is at proper running temp ~ 3 bars.
Pulled into garage, stopped while still in 1st gear, flicked the gear lever up and smooth as silk into neutral!
Lets hope she behaves now with all this love & attention. :inlove:

Not hit reserve yet so we're on 60+ mpg = Bike & me both happy.
 
Love my ST13. Never knew how much it fit till I tried 2015 BMW GTL 1600 exclusive over the w/e. The BMW is bigger, more "stuff", fancier etc. Price was right. It was a beautiful bike. All the bells and whistles with only 40,00KMS. Wrote the guy a cheque and then asked if he would mind if I took it for a quick test ride to ensure it "fit' me. The guy hesitated, but allowed the test ride. He placed the BMW in comfort mode and suggested I may not be used to all the power and torque, be careful..... To may surprise the giant bike was too small for both me and wife on back. Foot pegs were too high. Handle bars too far back, seating position was just not right for me. Wife could not touch rear foot rests, her calfs were resting on rear crash bars, and she was leaning back way too far. I brought the bike back and asked for the cheque back. Told the seller that it just didn't fit me. Rode my fast blue ST later in the day with wife on back. I was smittened again. My ST just fits. I thought I wanted more size, and gadgets. Maybe I don't need it as I have my baby arranged to "fit me".
Anyone else with similar issues? Do I need to test ride a Gold wing or similar?
 
Happy Rob said:
Do I need to test ride a Gold wing or similar?
Click to expand...

Only if you have money burning a hole.
There are lots of nice bikes, and certainly plenty of ways to spend money, but as you have recently learned... you may wanna keep that ST, in any case.
I'm STILL liking my GSA, a lot, but I'm also glad I have an ST1300 too.
 
Mr.E said:
Okay, so I've put 2 gallons in and returned from a 120 mile round trip via a mix of normal 2 lane highway, towns, villages and some motorway.
Got home and while opening the garage, the fan came on twice so this engine is at proper running temp ~ 3 bars.
Pulled into garage, stopped while still in 1st gear, flicked the gear lever up and smooth as silk into neutral!
Lets hope she behaves now with all this love & attention. :inlove:

Not hit reserve yet so we're on 60+ mpg = Bike & me both happy.
Click to expand...
Congrats on achieving success, and thanks for drawing out all the other comments!
 
My hard shifting issue, particularly when the engine is hot, continues. I'm also now experiencing clutch drag in first gear, with the clutch handle pulled tight to the handlebar, and the engine hot. No drag when the engine is started and in the first 15 minutes of riding. Have continued bleeding attempts, tapping the joints, etc. without finding any air bubbles, so I think that bleeding is not the issue. I have also checked the lever bushings, the guard piece in the fluid reservoir, moved handle bars side to side, etc. I am concluding my next step is to pull the front cover and check clutch springs, plates, etc. and go from there. Perhaps sidecar duty for this 1300 has led to faster wear than anticipated, even with only 43K on the odo.
 
Hmmm, I was going to suggest checking the wear limits below, but this can't be connected to the problem when it gets hot... you may be right about the sidecar. :cautious:

The lever travel on mine is 25mm at the ball-end, and that's with a brand new Piston / Spring / Boot Kit etc. so I'm unsure if this measurement helps with diagnosing clutch issues.

Screenshot (273).png
 
SUCCESS - my clutch is now operating normally, even when hot - while a number of solutions were tried, the primary solution that solve my hard shifting out of first gear when hot issue seems to be centered on the bushing in the clutch handle, to restore full travel of the clutch master cylinder piston. I even went so far as to stuff a minor amount of material into the bushing recess in order to maximize the travel of the clutch piston. Igofar sent me a new bushing, which is currently installed. At Igofar's recommendation, I also switched away from Rotella T6 synthetic oil, and refilled with Valvoline dinosaur oil, which may have helped clean up the clutch plates. As I bought this bike used, I never knew how smoothly the shifting good be. Thanks to all who contributed ideas, thoughts and recommendations for solutions to my issue.
 
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