That sounds dangerous. Not physically seeing the R on a gate as a reminder could complicate a ride. Having the FX with a reverse shift pattern trips me up once in a while, I wouldn't feel comfortable with a "surprise" gear in the mix.

 

having ridden a 1939 FL the neutral location is in the center of the selector gate < yea it became a one year thing but still its a thing when your accustomed to it being between 1 and 2 and your left foot is up on the clutch -

happen to me as i was stopping at a water hole and someone started talking to me just as i stopped - did not drop it but I was real close

a row of twinkies was to the left and my foot caught the first one - can you say dominos no one could stop laughing

 

uh huh.....

 

Don't believe you can time the shifter assembly correctly to get the necessary gearing. It's designed for the 4 speed only.

 

66 and later used a frame shift set up with 5 gallon tanks. Think you have to get used to "feeling' where the corrects shift pattern is cuz you're not gonna see it

 

I think you can.. When you get right down to it, the difference between the 3 and the 4 is first gear becomes reverse.. Then 2nd - first, 3rd - 2nd and 4th -3rd. IIRC In the 3 speeds, 1st gear lowers over 2nd in a 4 speed.

But I could be wrong..

 

i mentioned to him that i have a mmd reverse on my trike. he didnt want one for some reason

 

I think it could be timed too, just use the correct drum. The difference for me is using my foot vs my hand. I like to think I have more dexterity using my hand to feel but as the saying goes, just because you can doesn't mean you should.

 

BTW. No way would I put a ratchet top on a 3F/R tranny.. With 3 speed / reverse, down shift 3 times from high gear and you are in reverse. Even with a side hack, coasting down and end up shifting through neutral to reverse.. I guess you pull out reverse then neutral would be super easy to find.

 

That’s an interesting question - idea

i do not believe the travel timing crosses from a tank shift lever location to a ratchet stop location

the hand shift gate has stops to help and they are not exact to one another — as the ratchet is consistent in travel distance < the drum timing to the ratchet stop is the deal for no over shifting — un like the hand shift as you can pass the stop and hit a neutral between 2 gears - it only goes to the location you put it unlike the ratchet is spring loaded