Roadster transmission problems sorted.... My a***!

Dr G · Sep 23, 2016

jpool said:
Sorry to hear about your transmission woes @Dr G . Like others have said, let's hear the symptoms first before you make any hasty decisions. While some of the earlier problems have been addressed in the Roadster gearbox, unfortunately it doesn't seem to be flawless. Over the past few months, at least @Claviger, @AnungUnRama and I have had to go through a full transmission rebuild, and I recall @albertaduke is planning to have his repaired over the winter. Hopefully the problem you're having is less severe and doesn't require splitting the cases.

Thanks for you response jpool. I am having it further investigated and will keep you posted. I hope I have been too hasty! I guess I was a little annoyed at the triumph response and the fact that the dealers couldnt even diagnose / replicate the fault on the test ride. Fingers crossed I may not have to send the wife out on the street with fishnets after all!

Mittzy · Sep 23, 2016

Ok - If under load I would say possible FINAL DRIVE SPLINES or something going on with your clutch
Putting it on a dyno or rolling road is a great idea.
Q: Have the drive splines ever been lubed with molly grease?

Dr G · Sep 23, 2016

TURBO200R4 said:
thats what the dealer tells u.

what is the symptoms? just for the hell of it. let the guys tell u if it is bad.

Hi Thanks for getting back.

Bike is regularly serviced with the right oils. It has ramiar but that is the only mod. I ride it failry hard but have done the same with Ducatis for 15 years with no major issues so i guess I know how to change gear etc. No wheelies or burn outs crap.

Coming up to a roundabout in traffic about 20 mph, opened up throttle to keep pace and there was a sudden clunk from (it felt like) the back axle. Felt almost like "chain slip" on a conventional bike. Further investigation revealed it was happening in all gears. Even in top if you applied 10 deg of throttle it would occur but backing it off to keep stress off the transmission it got me home.

There is no associated grating or rattling in the box on tickover or when moving. Sounds as smooth as the day i bought it and the back axle oil is free from "bits". It is only under load that the clunk and slip happens. It has been suggested that it is the gearbox output bearing?

Any thoughts welcome

Dr G · Sep 23, 2016

Mittzy said:
Ok - If under load I would say possible FINAL DRIVE SPLINES or something going on with your clutch
Putting it on a dyno or rolling road is a great idea.
Q: Have the drive splines ever been lubed with molly grease?

hi there, yes checked the (back axle) splines on my return and re greased them. They were also greased a few weeks ago when I had a new tyre. No issue taking the back wheel off / on so I guess they are not damaged.

albertaduke · Sep 23, 2016

Dr G said:
Hi Thanks for getting back to me.

I am absolutely no expert. My symptoms were similar and it happened whilst i was in traffic coming up to a roundabout. It felt like"chainslip" under load. I nursed it home OK keeping the throttle to about 5% max. Even in top if you applied throttle I felt a clunk in the back axle area (NB I changed the oil on my return and no metal bits in it) and this "chain slip" feeling. I initially feared that (impossibly) the back wheel was coming unmeshed with the drive in the axle. Speaking to a local afficionado he thought it was the gearbox back bearing allowing movement at the start of the prop shaft which allows it to unmesh with the gearbox final drive although Triumph dealer reckons it was only a 4th gear problem (which it was definitely not) after a 2 minute test drive.

I have to admit I do ride the bike hard but it has a rev limiter which is surely there to ration the power to the limits of the bikes transmission and the adverts say that the drive train has been beefed up to take the extra torque.

I am having the bike placed on a rolling road with (not the dealer) a trusted race mechanic trying to get to the root of the problem. Will keep you posted.

I was answering member imfasttoo. who has a vast knowledge of R3 in general but if you find a definite solution to our seemingly common problem by all means share it !!

Rocket Scientist · Sep 23, 2016

Dr G said:
Hi Thanks for getting back to me.

I am absolutely no expert. My symptoms were similar and it happened whilst i was in traffic coming up to a roundabout. It felt like"chainslip" under load. I nursed it home OK keeping the throttle to about 5% max. Even in top if you applied throttle I felt a clunk in the back axle area (NB I changed the oil on my return and no metal bits in it) and this "chain slip" feeling. I initially feared that (impossibly) the back wheel was coming unmeshed with the drive in the axle. Speaking to a local afficionado he thought it was the gearbox back bearing allowing movement at the start of the prop shaft which allows it to unmesh with the gearbox final drive although Triumph dealer reckons it was only a 4th gear problem (which it was definitely not) after a 2 minute test drive.

I have to admit I do ride the bike hard but it has a rev limiter which is surely there to ration the power to the limits of the bikes transmission and the adverts say that the drive train has been beefed up to take the extra torque.

I am having the bike placed on a rolling road with (not the dealer) a trusted race mechanic trying to get to the root of the problem. Will keep you posted.

Just an FYI, when you remove the oil drain plugs, the oil passes through the screens on its way out. The only way to tell if you have shrapnel, is to remove the sump pan, which is not a difficult job. If your careful you can usually even save the gasket.

jake shaw · Sep 23, 2016

Sorry for your problems. At the back end there are two sets of splines. Take off the bevel box (4 bolts) and check the splines on the end of the drive shaft. I suspect that may be where your problem is. There is no mention of servicing this in the manual, but it should be. it requires greasing with Moly grease. (Available from Honda) Good luck

Nat67 · Sep 23, 2016

I was recently talking to a friend who is head technician at one of the main Triumph dealerships . I was expressing concerns about gearboxes on the rocket in general and he mentioned that they have recently had a spate of 2011 to 2013 bikes in , mainly roadsters that had chewed 3rd and 4th gears . Some ridden hard and some not so . There seems to be no rhyme or reason to this problem , you either get a good one or you don't . There is some light to this tho @Dr G as he also said there has been issues with the output bearing also on these models so maybe your problem is not so terminal , fingers crossed ?
Also , altho not related and in response to a previous thread , he mentioned that as of early 2016 triumph have indeed upped the scheduled 10000 mile valve check to 20000 in light of none of 10000 mile bikes being out of tolerance !
As @Dr G says tho , the triumph promotional video does show wheelies and burnouts , but it doesn't show the bikes used being returned for gearbox rebuilds ! If the bike is not capable of handling that kind of abuse , it seems wrong that Triumph themselves should advocate it !
Good luck with the problem mate , I really hope it doesn't turn out to be too painful ?

Mittzy · Sep 23, 2016

jake shaw said:
Sorry for your problems. At the back end there are two sets of splines. Take off the bevel box (4 bolts) and check the splines on the end of the drive shaft. I suspect that may be where your problem is. There is no mention of servicing this in the manual, but it should be. it requires greasing with Moly grease. (Available from Honda) Good luck

That's what I was trying to say - thank you

EasTexRIII · Sep 23, 2016

albertaduke said:
this detent spring problem you mentioned .. could it cause these symptoms I mentioned above , because if so I can save much money from opening the gearbox and changing parts like shifting fork or gears , or something else . my gut feeling ..it is a problem in the gearbox but I'd love to be wrong on this one

Your gut feeling is probably right
The detent spring breaking causes it to "jump" out of gear

Roadster transmission problems sorted.... My a***!

Dr G

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Roadster transmission problems sorted.... My a***!

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