Just got everything back together, shifter seemed to change ok, hard to shift by hand, but cam assembly seemed to wobble to one side. It would go into first sometimes shifting by hand, thats why I rebuilt it because it wouldnt go into first gear. It still wont go into first gear like it should. It goes into neutral, and will sometimes go from second to first, but not from neutral to first, hangs on the lobe. It just wont turn the cam far enough to go across the lobe. My guess is that the top is worn out where the cam rides inside it, thus the sideways movement. Put new cam, new springs, new pawls, new pawl carrier. There seems to be only 2 things left, the top itself, or the shift shaft is bent. I dont have a new one to compare to, but the wobble in the cam makes me think its the top. Any ideas?

 

You can't really tell by hand.Try with motor tunning.

 

The vibration really does help them shift. I wouldn't put any money in that trans...I fought one for over ten years...basically they suck. The older ratchet top are much better if you want a 4 speed. I saved up and bought a Baker 6 speed in a 4 speed case but they are expensive....but rock. Several company's make a 5 speed in a 4 speed case, or you can buy the case from Sputhe and a used 5 speed off ebay.


http://www.sputhe.com/5-speed%20case...sion%20kit.htm

 

its the shifter thats the problem, does the same thing in the bike, just wont go into first, got it back together yesterday. It just wont go far enough to get into first, hangs up on the lobe on the cam between neutral and first. Cant afford 3 grand sooooooo..... its either the top is work out where the cam assembly goes through, or the shift shaft is bent, I lean more towards the top is worn out. Tranny works fine, just the shifter is giving me problems, but, Id love to be able to afford that new tranny.

 

On my 85 FXWG, I had the shifter shaft actually break right in half.

 

Are you trying it with the engine running?? If not they can be hard to put in gear. Just a thought.

 

Is your gear linkage hanging up on something? Look at the lever behind the inner primary.

 

its doing the same thing in the bike as its doing in my hand, it wont go from neutral into first. I to broke a shift shaft once, replaced it about 14 years ago. I really think the shaft is bent, I can push it with my foot, engine running or not, and it wont go past neutral into first, it tries, but hangs on the top of the lobe between first and neutral. I can see what its doing when its in my hand, its like the shifter shaft isnt turning the pawl carrier far enough to make the cam go into first. It hangs on the lobe, and you can shift and press, and it just wont go past that lobe. I really feel its the shift shaft is bent. When it hangs on that lobe, you can try to shift and the shift arm wont go any further, and the cam wont turn any further, its coming up short, like the ball part is bent.

 

Without being there hands on, I'd say it sounds like you might be right. That is if everything else is OK mechanically.

 

Put new cam, springs, pawls and carrier. Stops looked good. Not much else left. Ordered new shift shaft and seal yesterday. Gives me something to do besides now the yard.