Gear position indicator

[paneyes]

2000 R1100rt: After a stop & dismount while riding around today I noticed the drivers information display was not showing the proper gear. It was when I started. Here is what it is doing.
1st. gear displayed O
2nd. gear displayed 2 as it should
3rd gear the display still showed 2
4th gear then displayed O
5th gear displayed 5 as it should.
This has continued since it began. Is this the gear position indicator switch going bad or could it be something else? I was thinking if the switch was bad it just wouldn't work at all any more. Ever happen to anyone else?

Steve

 

[PGlaves]

It probably is the switch but could be a bad connector. That switch/display setup uses the presence or absence of voltage on three different wires to set the display. I forget the details but one wire on and two off causes one thing. Two wires on and 1 off causes a different display. And so on for each of the combinations of 1, 2, or three wires. From the description it appears that voltage is failing to be supplied via one of the three wires. It could be bad contacts in the switch, a broken wire, or a bad connection in a connector for that switch bundle. If you were perchance riding in the rain it could be moisture in the switch or in a connector.

 

[MotorradMike]

Hi Steve:

The gear information comes from the switch as 3 bit binary. If there was a consistently stuck bit you might have a poor connection but your pattern shows different issues with more than one bit so my guess is that the switch set has dirt in it.

 

[paneyes]

gear position indicator

I was riding in the rain but a light rain. But I will check the connections under the dash (good suggestion) as I am not going to tear the bake apart to check/change the switch at this time. I have a trip coming up (2500 - 3000 miles) and don't want to do that at this time unless it's really necessary. If not it's just a nuisance for now. Thanks for the response. Steve

 

[gsaddict]

I've got a used one (Switch) if or when you need one.

 

[PETDOC]

2000 R1100rt: After a stop & dismount while riding around today I noticed the drivers information display was not showing the proper gear. It was when I started. Here is what it is doing.
1st. gear displayed O
2nd. gear displayed 2 as it should
3rd gear the display still showed 2
4th gear then displayed O
5th gear displayed 5 as it should.
This has continued since it began. Is this the gear position indicator switch going bad or could it be something else? I was thinking if the switch was bad it just wouldn't work at all any more. Ever happen to anyone else?

Steve

Steve,
If your switch is similar to the one on an 1150 GS I can tell you how it works (and thus how it may not work).
The gear position indicator is a rotary switch, much like a horn switch in older cars. Attached to the back of the transmission is the black plastic cap to the switch. If you pry off the cap you will see 3 tiny, tiny brass pins, which rest on tiny, tiny springs, lined up in a row moving from the center to the right side of the switch. If you move your shifter up and down the switch rotates clockwise and counter clockwise through an arc of about 45 degrees. This moves the pins. If you look inside the black plastic cap you will see 3 discontinuous semicircular metal plates that each of the pins contacts. As specific combinations of pins make contact you will get different gears displayed. If something is interferring with any of the pins making contact with the plates you will see erroneous gears displayed.
CAUTION:The first time I pulled the cap off I did it without knowledge of how the switch worked and 2 bad things happened. One of my pins fell out and I didn't mark the orientation of the cap to the switch base. The pins and springs sit in a tiny tunnel and can be easily pulled (or fall) out. Subsequently I proved that with proper motivation one can find a needle in a haystack. Once I had my pin back in place I realized I would have to situate the cap correctly for the appropriate gears to be displayed. I did several rotations of the cap and could not get it correctly positioned until I looked at a picture from another GS of the cap location. Once I had the cap close to the correct position it was a matter of a very small rotation to get the correct gears displayed.
So before you pull the cap off your switch place a very clean, very white cloth below the switch to catch any of the pins or springs that might fall out, although I doubt any will. The only reason my pin fell out is I removed the transmission and placed it in the back of my car to transport to a mechanic's house for help removing the rear input seal. I was lucky only 1 pin fell out vs. all 3 pins and springs.
My guess is you may have water or corrosion affecting the contact between one or more of the pins in the switch and the contact plates in the cap.

Dave

 

[MotorradMike]

Once I had my pin back in place I realized I would have to situate the cap correctly for the appropriate gears to be displayed. I did several rotations of the cap and could not get it correctly positioned until I looked at a picture from another GS of the cap location. Once I had the cap close to the correct position it was a matter of a very small rotation to get the correct gears displayed.

Actually, the switch parts are keyed, they only go together properly, one way. However, the keys are small and you can get the switch together incorrectly if you don't notice them.
Also, the mounting bolt pattern is such that you can't get the switch backwards on the back of the trans.
I thought the whole thing was a pretty clever design.

Good job fixing yours and good advice about the clean white cloth

Another tip:
The first time you remove this part, you'll probably have to take the cap off because it's so difficult to get a wrench on the mounting bolts. If you have two (M4 x .7 x 25mm) socket head cap screws handy you can remount with those and use a ball end Allen key to get them off next time without removing the cap.

 

[MotorradMike]

Are you saying the RID backlight goes out when you shift out of Neutral?

 

[PAS]

Problem Solved...The side stand was down and caused all the grief.

 

[paneyes]

gear position indicator

Thanks to all. Dave, I like it. I try to do most of all my own work and those were good words to work by. Steve

 

[PETDOC]

Actually, the switch parts are keyed, they only go together properly, one way.

Mike,
The cap is not keyed. You can rotate it on the switch in either direction as far as the electrical wire will allow. Next time I plan on removing it I'll use a marker to make sure I put it back near its proper location. I suspect your comment regarding being keyed is correct regarding the the switch itself, but I've never had any need to remove it........ yet.

Dave

 

[PGlaves]

Any time I take ANYTHING apart for the first time I mark orientation with red paint or a magic marker. Then I can figure out out to put it back together. Good shop practice!! These are the little things that make wrenching strange things for the first time possible!

 

[PETDOC]

Problem Solved...The side stand was down and caused all the grief.

You bring up a great point. Anytime you are working on the gear position indicator you should have the side stand up, otherwise all you will see is neutral and then if you shift ...........nothing! Don't ask me why I know this fact.

 

[MotorradMike]

Mike,
The cap is not keyed. You can rotate it on the switch in either direction as far as the electrical wire will allow. Next time I plan on removing it I'll use a marker to make sure I put it back near its proper location. I suspect your comment regarding being keyed is correct regarding the the switch itself, but I've never had any need to remove it........ yet.

Dave

The 1100 switch is a different part number from the 1150 probably in part due to your extra gear. There may be other differences.

 

[PETDOC]

Any time I take ANYTHING apart for the first time I mark orientation with red paint or a magic marker. Then I can figure out out to put it back together. Good shop practice!! These are the little things that make wrenching strange things for the first time possible!

Now you tell me!

 

[gsaddict]

Any time I take ANYTHING apart for the first time I mark orientation with red paint or a magic marker. Then I can figure out out to put it back together. Good shop practice!! These are the little things that make wrenching strange things for the first time possible!

+1 as well as documenting critical stuff with my digital camera. Leaves no .
You what they say about a picture............