Gear Shift Drum Guide Ball & Spring (that weird thing on the upper crank case)

[cgguy09]

Patriots,
Quick question regarding the Gear Shift Drum Guide. The large screw-nut & inner assembly atop the upper crankcase, that helps you find neutral when shifting. After a parade rest take down & rebuild this part was giving me some issues. Namely when assembled, it would seize up the shift mechanism. When uninstalled (not present) the mechanism would shift as smooth as milk.

Through some trial and error, I determined the problem was the screw nut (#17 in the pic) was the issue. I did this through isolating each part to see if they independently had the seizing effect or as an aggregate. When placing the nut it by itself (without the spring, lock washer, and o ring) it would seize the shifter.

I placed an additional washer (roughly a 1/32 -1/16 of an inch) on in-between the lock washer and the screw-bolt. The bike still shifts, (although it is stiff) and I can find neutral.

My mantra with modification is "if it works & doesn't put you in danger it's good to go." I doubt this slight modification would have an impact, but I wanted to run it by the Round Table first.

Thanks Team

(as a side note, the spring is still strong & straight & the ball bearing appears completely round ((I tested it by moving it on a mirror to look for any wobbles or other imperfections)) the o-ring is fine)

 

[Redliner]

Remove the parts that make up the neutral selector (part 17 and company). Look inside that hole as you shift through the gears.

You'll observe something surprising...

 

[cgguy09]

Remove the parts that make up the neutral selector (part 17 and company). Look inside that hole as you shift through the gears.

You'll observe something surprising...

is it the threads are missing on the sides?

 

[Redliner]

-.-

It's that the drum should be trying to move left or right as it turns. It's normal.

Put the shift lever and the whole neutral assembly on correctly. Twist the sprocket one way and the other as you shift and it should be fine. If it's not shifting, just jiggle the sprocket better.

These gears are constantly moving when the engine is running. It won't shift without turning somehow.

 

[cgguy09]

-.-

It's that the drum should be trying to move left or right as it turns. It's normal.

Put the shift lever and the whole neutral assembly on correctly. Twist the sprocket one way and the other as you shift and it should be fine. If it's not shifting, just jiggle the sprocket better.

These gears are constantly moving when the engine is running. It won't shift without turning somehow.

Gotcha. I noticed that. The way the question was put I thought there was some gremlin living in the hole & you saw it. And just to check, by sprocket you mean the "star" with the phillips screw in it on the right crank case? (#9, 15, 24 in the picture)

Thanks for the help.

 

[Redliner]

I mean the sprocket. There's only one on the engine, on the output shaft.

...where your drive chain connects.

 

[cgguy09]

I mean the sprocket. There's only one on the engine, on the output shaft.

...where your drive chain connects.

rgr, thanks! just wanted to check.