shimming shift forks

[jimd60491]

after i shim them do i turn the sprocket or just click through them .

[58flh]

JIM---After your thru adj. the forks /If you have the tool then tighten them up & put a few screws threw the ratchet-lid & shift thru all gears!/Spin the main in Neautral & do it again.It should be fine.An ideal ADJ. is EQUAL distence between the gears on both sides of forks!.---Do not forget to check the Detent/ It should compress easily with no hang-ups!.----Respectfully---Richie

[jimd60491]

ok i have shimmed up good didnt use the tool. just did it the way a old timer showed me. but when shifting through gears say starting with second and going to third and fourth. then back through to second when i get to first it goes in but when i shift back to second it doesnt engage the gear like it misses the point to where it would slide in and engage. and the floater gear is just rubbed up against second. this wouldnt be a shimming problem would it or would it be the shift cam?

[PanPal]

By chance are you running a V twin ratchet lid? Do you have the top hats on the pins on the shifter forks? Is the shift drum cast, or the rolled steel with machined slots?

[jimd60491]

its a oem top yeah i have the hats on and its the cast style cam

[58flh]

Jim --Make sure all springs are in 1-piece/& the PAWLS MUST be RZOR SHARP!.After all that I would check the drums TIMING!/When everything is in correctly & you didnt see any chipped or worn dogs Then She should shift very nicely into each gear! by grabbing the ratchet!---IF springs & Pawls are good -(PACK the shit out of them with grease!-(Wheel-Bering is just fine).---Also look for a missing tooth when timing the drum./I have seen one worn down enuff & not broken & it did cause intermittent problems.----Respectfully----Richie

[Robert Luland]

In the end kid you need the aliening tool. No old grey ever saw though aluminum. It's total bullshit! Forget the manual because you can't use feeler gages to set the clutches. You need to eyeball it as close to center as you can in neutral. On the mainshaft if your going to be off by a hair favor the main drive gear. It's not rocket science but you got to do it right or you will keep pulling that box out. Bob L

[58flh]

BOB---I have to disagree///I was shown how to set-up forks without a tool!/NOBODY had MONEY for a tool & NOBODY wanted to wait!--Theres more then 1-way to skin a cat!/& doing it without the tool will put it in PERFECT alignment when checked by a tool!.THE secret is you need good EYESIGHT for one /So wear your cheaters if ya have em.A good BRITE LITE & just a small flip of the lid is needed to check /or ADJ.--Paper comes in handy as you write the differences for each gear.After setting to the GUESSED centering--It can now be done Perfectly as long as you can tell an EQUAL DISTENCE /ITS ALL GOOD!.Remember BOB YRS. ago these tools were not AVAILABLE from a Magazine!--If you were crafty you used a threaded-rod!.BUT I know of MANY who NEVER used the tool /It was deemed unessessary by them.I havent used the tool EVER really!--I have one!-& when IM done Doing it without the tool /When I check/& I ALWAYS WILL CHECK a CUSTOMERS MIXER!.Its always DEAD on!--I do mine without it & I dont check it. /actually my 58-since POP owned it -He never used a tool for that.Anyway ,Us guys gotta stop giving the wrong Impresion to a NEWBEE!/IF you never been shown/SPEND the cash & use the TOOL!.---Respectfully---Richie

[Robert Luland]

Richie, I agree there is more than one way to skin a cat (I hate cats). Bean and I have talked a couple of time about renting tools on the website. We have some of these in triplicate. I rarely use them anymore and I would rather rent it to someone for ten bucks so they can get the job done right. Think it's worth the energy? Bob L

[Larry]

Our purpose is to preserve irreplaceable motorcycles. A broken crankcase or gearcase is often just gone. Our machines are certainly worth the cost of proper tools.

[drinner-okc]

at 62+ my hands are not steady enough to lift the lid without bumping something. The more times I try the madder (shakier) I get. I have access to a tool & it's worth the gas across town (twice) to go get & return.

[Huck]

Old feller told me you center the dogs and add dobber of grease to each side. Do the best you can, then, drop the lid, pull the lid. Read the tracks, you should have a good idea which way to go and how much. Some of them old grey beards are pretty sharp.

[58flh]

HUCK----Dont give it away so easy/Dam we had to work for it! ---Richie

[flatboy1950]

A HD club member here rebuilt a gearbox for a local lad , Dudley C...., and used the eyeball method of fork adjustment ....
First time out Dudley accelerated hard in second gear , popped it into third .... one Godalmighty crunch & smoking rear tyre as the gearbox locked up and split the trans casing in half from left to right. Yes , engaged two gears at the same time , massive destruction : bent mainshaft , broken teeth & split case !!!

[PanPal]

Had a tranny case grenade on me but it was due to the sprocket nut coming loose. Always remember to bend over the washer that locks that nut in place.