CL450 Shifter Problem

[accidentprone315]

On my Honda CL450 the shifter is rubbing right up about the left crankcase, leaving gouges. I had a local mechanic "tune-up" my bike, and he said he did something to the shifter. Now it appear to be leaking oil from the shifter, dripping off the bolt that holds in on.

I was loosening it to see if I could figure out the oil leak, and possibly move the shifter arm slightly so there's more clearance. Well, I managed to split the bolt in half. I'll head out tomorrow to find a replacement bolt.

My questions are:

1. Where could this oil leak be coming from?

2. How can I get the shifter arm farther out so it doesn't ride up again the crankcase?

Thanks!

 

[paulcl450]

Oil leak is most likely coming from the seal right behind the shifter arm. Its a round oil seal thats usually pressed in. To replace the seal you will need to remove the cover pull the old one out and press another in. I will usually use a press to do this but it can be done by hammering it in. If you do that use a socket that is almost the same size as the oil seal and bang on the socket to force the seal in. Make sure it seats tightly and you don't damage the seal. As far as the shifter rubbing the case goes thats easy...take it off and bend it out a little. Hit it a few times with a hammer.

 

[frogman]

Sounds like your shift arm is bent or is incorrect. It should not rub the housing at all, mine sticks out about an inch from the housing.

What year bike do you have? Some of 450's came with an auto chain oiling mechanism that is part of the counter shaft that spins the chain sprocket. It uses engine oil to leak onto the chain to keep it lubed and otherwise makes a mess all overthings. Now days we know better and close the auto oiler and use chain lube. It might have managed to work loose and start doing its job, so to speak.

There are several oil seals behind the sprocket cover, any of which can cause that leak.

 

[cqyqte]

The CL/CB450 shifter rod is held in position laterally by a small 10mm circlip on the shifter shaft which rides outside the left side case seal on the shifter shaft. The shaft has a shallow groove in which the circlip fits, the groove edges become rounded over time and the circlip can slide out of the groove allowing the shifter shaft to move inwards causing issues with the shifter latching mechanism in behind the clutch basket on the right side of the motor.

When I rebuilt my '71 I experienced the rounded edges and performed the following modifications to prevent the circlip from jumping out of the groove allowing the shifter to move up against the left side case.

The above collet fits over the shifter shaft and the set screw holds it tightly in place. The recessed ring in the collet allows the circlip to be encased and prevents it from being able to expand enough to come out of shaft groove. This maintains the correct positioning of the shifter shaft and the shift away from the left side case.

The external bevel allows adequate chain clearance preventing collision as the chain moves and shifts during normal riding.