Can't shift out of a high gear – SOLVED!!!

[1500Rider]

Been putting the Valkyrie back together over the past few days after a long overhaul. One of the projects I completed in the spring was the hydro lock repair. Everything went well and the engine was put back in. Noted shortly thereafter that I couldn't shift the transmission out of the gear it was in. Didn't worry about it too much and decided to leave it until the bike was further along.

Finally got the tins back from the painters and have pretty much everything back together. Started the bike today and it fired right up. Tried moving the bike and still couldn't shift it out of whatever gear it's in although the clutch seems to work fine. Clutch out, bike won't start or move. Clutch in, bike fires up and rear wheel moves freely. I'm thinking it's in a higher gear because went I let the clutch out while moving I can feel the engine turn a bit before compression halts the bike.

Any ideas?

BTW, another problem I found is a nasty fuel leak. Can't spot exactly where it's coming from but it's in the vicinity of the middle carb, left side. Thinking it's a stuck float as the bikes been sitting for about 16 months. Any way to tell for sure without ripping everything apart?

[gordonv]

I'm not too familiar with exactly what you have done, but I had to replace the water pump on my GL1100, and there was a big deal about making sure the shifter fork was relocated properly, and the bike in neutral, when you but it back together.

I remember this being for the neutral switch.

I would read the manual over again, and go through your memory and see if you might have put it back together wrong. Or it shows you how to test for what gear you are in.

[1500Rider]

When I started the job I had everything in neutral. At some point during the process, I remember accidentally shifting the bike into gear. I don't remember how or at what point. Not sure how to "reset" it, if possible.

[1500Rider]

Problem solved an boy to I feel stupid! Turns out I had the gearshift arm, on one coming out of the crankcase, in the wrong position. I had removed it to replace the shifter seal and thought I had reinstalled it correctly. It was hitting the exhaust and wouldn't allow a downshift.

Moved the arm a couple of teeth over and it now works like a charm. Funny, I aligned the punch mark with the slit in the shift arm mount as per the Honda Shop Manual but that caused interference with the exhaust. Glad it was something simple!

Fuel leak seems to have solved itself too. Going to run some Seafoam through it once I get it up and running after a coolant flush.