I’m hoping I can get some advice regarding what I think is a gearbox problem on my 1950 Shadow. I have read the available literature, and I have bought a six pack of beer and sat staring at the opened kickstart cover and pondering my problem. I’m now at a bit of a dead end and suspect I will need to strip the gearbox – something I don’t want to start if it isn’t necessary.
I was replacing a worn kickstart mechanism and during the removal of the cover the spline caught on the cover and dragged the kick mechanism as well as the moveable parts of the gear change mechanism including the gear ratchet shaft (G40). I replaced all of these bits and simply slipped G40 back. All seemed okay and after a bit of filing I now have a working kickstart. However, after reassembly the bike wont go into gear – it clicks between neutral and first, but it doesn’t feel right – just a click and not a clunk! Other gears wont engage. Figuring it might be misalignment of the gear change mechanism, I removed the cover again and I also played around with the lock nuts on the battery holder. But it wasn’t like the stiffness typical of misalignment (I had that problem a few times before when I changed the kickstart return spring). Anyway I removed the cover completely and then check all the gear change mechanism (all okay). And to further eliminate further undetected problems with this mechanism I have tried changing gears with the cover off just using the gear ratchet shaft (G40) with the gear indicator lever (G81) attached for leverage. Still only clicking between neutral and first, with the clicking noise. No other gears will engage.
I have a funny feeling the problem is in the box and relates the selector cam plate? If so, can someone whose mechanical skills are limited to installing clutches etc. while sipping on beer, deal with this problem. Or is it time to seek an expert (I’m near Sydney, Australia). Any suggestions would be much appreciated. Thanks. Rob Paton
I was replacing a worn kickstart mechanism and during the removal of the cover the spline caught on the cover and dragged the kick mechanism as well as the moveable parts of the gear change mechanism including the gear ratchet shaft (G40). I replaced all of these bits and simply slipped G40 back. All seemed okay and after a bit of filing I now have a working kickstart. However, after reassembly the bike wont go into gear – it clicks between neutral and first, but it doesn’t feel right – just a click and not a clunk! Other gears wont engage. Figuring it might be misalignment of the gear change mechanism, I removed the cover again and I also played around with the lock nuts on the battery holder. But it wasn’t like the stiffness typical of misalignment (I had that problem a few times before when I changed the kickstart return spring). Anyway I removed the cover completely and then check all the gear change mechanism (all okay). And to further eliminate further undetected problems with this mechanism I have tried changing gears with the cover off just using the gear ratchet shaft (G40) with the gear indicator lever (G81) attached for leverage. Still only clicking between neutral and first, with the clicking noise. No other gears will engage.
I have a funny feeling the problem is in the box and relates the selector cam plate? If so, can someone whose mechanical skills are limited to installing clutches etc. while sipping on beer, deal with this problem. Or is it time to seek an expert (I’m near Sydney, Australia). Any suggestions would be much appreciated. Thanks. Rob Paton