XJ 1100 Transmission Question

I bought an 82 XJ 1100 a few years ago. It seemed to work just fine for the first year. Ever since a couple of years ago, It's been increasingly difficult to shift from 1st to 2nd. I find it shifts reliably around 2400rpm but any higher or lower and it'll sometimes shift into neutral or stay in first. It once went from 3rd to neutral on an up shift, I'm not sure how thats even possible, but it happened. It's still rideable, but its getting annoying. It'll miss 2nd gear about 25% of the time. It makes for some embarrassing moments on group rides. Bottom line is, I'm turning this into a rat/bobber and I really should do something about the transmission.

I've seen a few parts bikes for sale, but my money is tight at the moment and I just can't spend the kind of money they're asking. I saw one XJ1100 transmission for sale awhile back, but the guy wanted $600, I could buy a whole bike for that price... Plus I dont even know if it'll work.

I'm tempted to open up the transmission and see what I can see. My knowledge of transmissions is very limited, I've never even seen inside one before, but I learn by doing things hands on so I'm not to worried about it. But I'm not sure what I should be looking for? A badly worn gear seems logical, right? I saw a store on ebay that sells individual gears for XJ1100's, XS1100 ect.

I was thinking I might be safer to inspect the transmission rather then buy a whole new one and hoping it works, but parts for the XJ1100 seem to be so rare, that buying a whole transmission or parts bike might be my only option.

I was wondering if I have any other options. Are the transmissions on the XS1100 the same as the XJ1100's? are the internal parts the same?

I need some advice. :?

 

sx11.com has some good stuff on transmitions search "second gear fix"
don't know if their the same but they are very close.
you'll want to look at the shift drum, shift forks and gear dogs and their slots, if you split the case. before you do that have a look at the shifter parts that rotate the shift drum, right there under the cover by the shifter.

 

Yes the XS and XJ 1100 transmissions are the same.
Read through these articles it explains with pics some of the common problems.
http://www.xs11.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=39
Its hard to say exactly what your problem is but I would focus on bent shift forks and rounded "dogs" on the gears. Good news is you don't have to remove the engine to take the trans out.
Keep an eye on EBAY, sometimes you can get a complete trans for 50 to 75 shipped. I have even seen parts and engines on Craigs List.

 

I seem to recall reading somewhere on here that in '82 Yamaha used a new supplier for their gears & the hardening on the dogs wasn't up to much, don't know how true this is but if your dogs are worn beyond repair it might be worth getting an earlier or later cluster?

mlew et-al have covered what to look for & where to find parts although I think you have to register on the XS11 forum to view the link, as I had to last time I visited there. It's worth doing though as theres some very good photographic gearbox stuff on there that can be really helpful if you learn by seeing/doing, and theres a lot more experience of gearbox issues over there too (I guess us "little guys" don't put as much strain on them :lol