What a concept - A Girl Bringing Back Her 1966 Super Hawk

peter4821 · Post by **peter4821** » Sat Jan 18, 2014 5:40 pm

lookin good. I like bikes.

G-Man · Post by **G-Man** » Sun Jan 19, 2014 4:32 am

Not long now! Your weather looks a tad better than ours, too!

G

sarals · Post by **sarals** » Sun Jan 19, 2014 9:32 am

G-Man wrote:Not long now! Your weather looks a tad better than ours, too!

G

The weather is nice, Graham, but there's a downside. We're in the most severe drought since record keeping started way back when. We have had NO rain in the Monterey area all January, and very little in December. It's worrisome!

Here's a brain teaser. The Old Girl won't shift into first gear. Everything was perking along normally until I put the back wheel and chain on. Now, I can't get the neutral light and it won't shift into first or fourth - let's just say it will shift up, twice, and back down, twice, but that's it. The clutch won't disengage, either, but I expected to have to adjust that.

Thoughts? Before I pull the clutch cover later this week?

G-Man · Post by **G-Man** » Sun Jan 19, 2014 1:22 pm

Sara

Difficult from this distance but before diving in I would check that there gear shifter linkage isn't fouling anywhere. The two levers should be parallel with each other and at 90 degrees to the shift rod in the 'relaxed' position. Which means that the arm on the gearbox shaft sits at 11 o'clock, I think. Shifting into first may take a little more 'throw' than other downshifts so it may be something simple.

If all is well it's off with the clutch cover to investigate the rest of the mechanism. Have you tried this with her running?

As for the clutch. Do you have the 5/16" ball in the lifter mechanism? This is the one that bears on the push rod.

I wish you could have some of our rain. The South of England is having repeated flooding. I was in Plymouth last week and the roads were just running with rainwater. Despite all of our grey weather the sun does shine occasionally. I have managed a little gardening and some time in the workshop today. My friends in Australia have had 42 degrees C so I mustn't complain.

G

sarals · Post by **sarals** » Sun Jan 19, 2014 3:30 pm

Graham, I watch Wheeler Dealers and Top Gear regularly and I was wondering if it ever DOESN'T rain in the UK! I have heard, too, that it is hot in Australia this summer!

I'll check the shift linkage. I agree, check the simple stuff first. Before I put the rear wheel on, she would shift into first and then neutral (and the light would come on). I didn't try it running, because the chain was draped over the primary drive sprocket and I didn't want to foul it. Once I had the wheel on, I tried it with her running, and that's when she wouldn't shift down into first. No neutral light, either - but that might be a simple connection in the headlight shell. It's unrelated, but the horn has stopped working, too, so I definitely have to root around in the headlight shell.

Hahnda · Post by **Hahnda** » Sun Jan 19, 2014 3:35 pm

Have you tried rotating the rear wheel while trying to shift? Sometimes some rotation is needed to get the gears to mesh.

sarals · Post by **sarals** » Sun Jan 19, 2014 3:39 pm

Hahnda wrote:Have you tried rotating the rear wheel while trying to shift? Sometimes some rotation is needed to get the gears to mesh.

I have. It will shift up, twice, and back down twice, but it won't shift to first.

I have checked the kick start shaft, and it is rotated all the way clockwise, so it's not that.

You don't suppose the clutch dragging would cause it? Oh, and the ball is in the clutch throw out mechanism. Everything is where it should be. I could use more lube in the throw out mechanism, but that's not related to this.