Gear Indicator Showing 3rd when I'm in 1st

[detbmw]

On my beautiful little K75S, this just started happening this weekend. I start the bike in neutral, downshift into 1st, but a 3 shows up in the gear indicator. I upshift into neutral, and a 2 displays instead of 0. After about fifteen minutes of riding I work through the gears and 1 & 0 start showing again.

I haven't done any recent maintenance on the bike other than change the engine oil about 2,500 miles ago.

[johnny]

did you recently warsh it or ride thru a supercell... water is known to do that... then back to normal when it dries out...

j o

[detbmw]

did you recently warsh it or ride thru a supercell... water is know to do that... then back to normal when it dries out...

j o

I did wash it late on Saturday, first time in about two months.

Then Sunday morning when me and my better half went for a ride it started doing it. Just now at lunch it was fine.

Thanks for the feedback!

[JimB]

My '94 K75S does that, too.  First start of the day, every time, shift to 1st and it shows "3".  Ride for a few minutes and the problem goes away.  I grumbled about it at first, but unless it develops something more serious I can live with it I guess.  If nothing worse happens with it I'll file it under "quirks".

[fadingfastsd]

My 85 K100 does this as well. Seems to be pretty random. Usually it's right when I start out in the morning. I shift into 1st and the screen shows 3. After a few shifts it syncs up doesn't have a problem anymore. I just ignore it!

[hammick]

My '94 K1100lt did this shortly after I bought it and took it to a spray car wash.  Most everything I read said it would start working normally after it dried out.  Mine never went back to normal.  I sold the bike to a buddy and when he had the clutch splines lube they put in a new switch.  Works perfectly now.

[kioolt]

If you'd like to troubleshoot it further check here.  http://www.ibmwr.org/ktech/trans-switch.shtml

[FONG]

I've got a 91 K75s, and it's had a wonky gear indicator ever since I've had it (8 years now). 

I had the back end apart a year ago and checked the 4-pronged GPI switch and didn't see anything obviously wrong (corrosion, etc.).  Any guidance on how to troubleshoot if the GPI switch is busted, or if it's an issue within the instrument cluster?

[Martin]

I replaced mine when I was doing a spline lube. Brush coated the new one with Plasti Dip, but don't put to much around the bolt mounting holes or the back mounting surface. Pulled apart the old one and cleaned it up and coated it with Plasti Dip as a spare. I used Red Plasti Dip so I can change gears faster.
Regards Martin.

[Laitch]

Any guidance on how to troubleshoot if the GPI switch is busted, or if it's an issue within the instrument cluster?

There's guidance in the Technical Library Card Catalog, FONG. There's this, then there's this. That's the place to go first to find methods of diagnosis.

[rbm]

I've got a 91 K75s, and it's had a wonky gear indicator ever since I've had it (8 years now).

Define wonky.  Are segments missing in the display?  Are you getting indication of a different gear number than the gear you're in?  Is the display completely blank?  Being specific about the symptoms will result in better information about the fix.

[FONG]

Absolutely - my apologies:

The display clearly shows 1st (when in 1st), 3rd (while in 2nd and 3rd gear) and 5th (while in 4th and 5th gear) with no Neutral indicator - the digits seem to be fully intact.

I will be sure to check those tech pages - the first link seems to hit the nail on the head.

Much appreciated.

[rbm]

Ah, that's good information.  What's happening is that the Yellow/Blue wire is open circuit.  The gear position switch will make contact with ground in a particular pattern as the gears are selected.  In your case, the pattern is being disrupted.

The problem might be in the switch, but more likely it is in the connectors.  there is one connector on the right side of the frame tube where the switch joins the harness.  There is another connector on the back of the speedometer and finally there are circuit card connectors inside of the speedometer (I am assuming your bike has all original equipment). 

My first port of call if I were you would be to inspect, clean and make certain the plug on the right side of the frame is making good connection, especially on the Yellow/Blue conductor.

If that fails to solve the problem, check and clean the connector on the back of the speedometer.

If that fails to solve the problem, then it might be time to get at the switch itself and clean it's insides.