Got my 93 up and running after a three year freshen - up. I recently added 40 miles to the 98,000 on the clock.
I am experiencing hard shifts from 1st to 2nd as well 2nd to 3rd after that all is well. It dose not feel as if the clutch is dragging as I can get in and out of neutral easily.
Any guess as what I am up against?
Its almost certainly related to the gearshift linkage which can become gummed up with rust, road grime etc. If that happens, just remove the linkage assembly and soak it in brake cleaner, and then lubricate it. Be sure to mark the positions of the linkages on their respective splined shafts
BEFORE removing them.
The other possibility is a leak in the clutch hydraulic system. Except for the police bikes, few STOwners report problems with the actual clutch itself. On the hydraulic system, it is likely either the slave or master cylinder with the former being more common problem.
Here are some checks to do on the clutch hydraulic system:
1. Check the fluid level in the clutch master cylinder reservoir (mounted on the left handlebar) - if it is low, replenish the fluid and check again after a ride.
The level should not drop by any significant amount.
BTW: the clutch fluid is really brake fluid - use a
NEW UNOPENED container as that stuff absorbs water, which will cause a lot of problems later. Do NOT spill brake fluid on anything that is painted - the paint will strip in an instant, and do not get it in your eyes. That stuff is nasty.
2. Check for a hydraulic system leak the clutch slave cylinder and anywhere along the piping / hoses between the master cylinder and the slave.
You say that your bike is a 1993 model so I assume you have an ST1100. If so, the slave cylinder is mounted on the front engine cover and so access is pretty easy. If you have an ST1300, the slave is way up on the rear-side of the engine above the centre-stand pivot point, so access is more difficult.
If you find a leak anywhere, it must be repaired. Generally, this involves replacing the leaking component which is nearly always the slave cylinder.
NOTE: Sometimes the leak is internal, and you so will
not find a puddle on the floor beneath the bike.
If you do need to replace a leaking slave cylinder, I published an article on how to replace the slave on ST1300s and there is also one on the ST1100 procedure on this forum. The search function should take you right there. The job (on an ST1300) takes a couple of hours and on an ST1100, likely about the same. It isn't that difficult and plenty of STOwners members have done it.
NOTE: I would
not recommend rebuilding the cylinder. Your bike is 30+ years old and new slave cylinders are about $100 while the rebuild kit is about $60-75 - so for the difference, I wouldn't risk muffing the rebuild.
