dragging brake = shifting woes?

[wirespokes]

I've had this LM3 since March and ridden about 3K. Now and then shifts up to 3rd wanted to grind the dogs. It was difficult shifting into gear from neutral, or getting into neutral at a stop light from higher gears. Recently the rear brake wouldn't release immediately after stopping so I pulled the caliper (already had gone through the master) and found it in excellent condition in all respects. But the pads were SHOT. Didn't measure, but probably a 1/16" or less. I'm easy on brakes, so this was unexpected for a bike with now 22K on the clock. But I guess the POs used the pedal a lot. I de-linked the brakes back in March. 

Now it's all back together and I've got 40 miles on it. Brakes are much better and there's a freer feeling about the bike now, which I guess is to be expected if the brakes have been dragging all this time. The interesting thing is that it seems to be shifting better. Up till now I was certain I'd be doing a shift drum shimming on it next. But now I don't know. I haven't really put enough miles on it to know for certain, and in fact, only realized it seemed to be shifting better once I got home.

Anyone else had a similar experience?

[Huzo]

I've had this LM3 since March and ridden about 3K. Now and then shifts up to 3rd wanted to grind the dogs. It was difficult shifting into gear from neutral, or getting into neutral at a stop light from higher gears. Recently the rear brake wouldn't release immediately after stopping so I pulled the caliper (already had gone through the master) and found it in excellent condition in all respects. But the pads were SHOT. Didn't measure, but probably a 1/16" or less. I'm easy on brakes, so this was unexpected for a bike with now 22K on the clock. But I guess the POs used the pedal a lot. I de-linked the brakes back in March. 

Now it's all back together and I've got 40 miles on it. Brakes are much better and there's a freer feeling about the bike now, which I guess is to be expected if the brakes have been dragging all this time. The interesting thing is that it seems to be shifting better. Up till now I was certain I'd be doing a shift drum shimming on it next. But now I don't know. I haven't really put enough miles on it to know for certain, and in fact, only realized it seemed to be shifting better once I got home.

Anyone else had a similar experience?

Can you pull the clutch in while selecting 1st gear and wheel the bike with engine off ?

[wirespokes]

Funny you should ask.  When I first got the bike and got it running (hadn't run in 8 years) there was a lot of drag with the clutch pulled in. It would hardly roll in reverse. As with every other Guzzi I've owned, this is the fourth, clutch work was needed, but all for different reasons. Guzzis and clutches????

it had rusted pretty badly in there and the splines were trashed. The flywheel splines were notchy but I carefully smoothed them best I could and it's evidently good enough since it tends to shift fine most of the time. At first I was concerned the flywheel teeth could cause clutch drag, but I'm pretty certain that's not the case.

Anyway, the situation now is that I've eliminated drag on the rear brake and it seems the transmission is shifting better. I'm wondering if a dragging brake can cause shifting problems. I can see how it might, but it's the first I've run into this and don't know for sure if that's the case.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Dragging brake could definitely effect shifting. Any load on the gears from either input or output effects shift quality. Dragging clutch or dragging brake is sort of the same thing, just from opposite ends.

[wirespokes]

Yeah - and a dragging clutch sure can affect shifting. Seems obvious now.

[Tom]

"Youse got beeg feet?"    The husband is up front (forgot what bike) with her behind on the right.  I'm behind her on the left.  Staggered formation.  The other couple is behind me, staggered.  I see smoke coming off the left rear of the bike.  I pull up along side of her and motion for her to pull over.  The rear disc was red orange.    The husband turns around and joins the roadside party.    We let it cool down so that it's not red orange.  Still very hot.  We roll the bike to see if it's still stuck.  She's on it.  The rear brake is dragging but rolls.  WTF???  She says that it never happened before.

The husband gets on the bike and we push him.  Rolls and no binding.  I look at his wife and the thirteen yr. old in me says "Maybe your bike is a female and doesn't like you."    She gives me a "stink look".  I shrug and break eye contact looking down.  "Are those new boots?" 

Turns out this is the first time to ride with new boots and on a couple states trip.  "Newbie gear" on a different bike.  I was on her bike a Cal1100i with floorboards.  She was on her V11 Sport.  First time to go touring.  Her boots waffle soles were thicker than her normal boots and the riding position different.

[wirespokes]

Seems she would have noticed the drop in horsepower - or at least the draggy feeling. Good thing it happened with company and was caught before the meltdown!