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Shifting question???

renoman
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Shifting question???

Post by renoman » Tue Oct 09, 2012 5:05 pm

I have a CL77 that runs fine and shifts fine, unless I'm stopped, if I stop and I'm in 3 or 4th it will not downshift if the bike is stopped. I'm told if I rock the bike back and forth it will shift. Is this normal?

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G-Man
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Post by G-Man » Wed Oct 10, 2012 1:45 am

Yep - pretty normal. Caused by clutch drag. Try shifting down to 2nd before coming to a stop.

G
'60 C77 '60 C72 '62 C72 Dream '63 CL72
'61 CB72 '64 CB77 '65 CB160
'66 Matchless 350 '67 CL77
'67 S90 '77 CB400F

conbs
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Down shiftng when stopped

Post by conbs » Wed Oct 10, 2012 10:27 am

Renoman, If you have a chance to see a 305 transmission completely assembled in the top case (this would be right before the cases are bolted together) you will see why it happens. With it opened up you can see that as you try to shift the transmission, unless the dogs are lined up between the two relevant gears there is no way they will go together. The dogs just bang against each other until one of the shafts/gears turns enough to line up the dogs so they will slip past each other.

If you roll forward or backward the drive chain turns the back part of the transmission and it can line up the dogs. Sometimes I have luck if I feather my clutch a little which can line them up as well. Better yet, as G says, be in the habit of downshifting every time you are coming to a stop. It will save a little wear and tear on your brakes as well.

It is a very basic transmission that allowed Honda to make these bikes easy and cheap.

Hope this is helpful.

lifewithoutparole
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Normal

Post by lifewithoutparole » Sat Oct 13, 2012 7:29 pm

When i first got my CL77 I could not seem to get it in neutral. I learned to downshift into second then kind of gently "feel" it into neutral when the bike was still moving. Works every time. I also think that they like to be run...not sit around for weeks/months at a time.

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Snakeoil
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Post by Snakeoil » Sun Oct 14, 2012 10:17 am

The detents for neutral are not as deep as they are for the gear positions. Plus you are only moving it half the distance of the lever throw. Since our feet are not the most precision of appendages, depending on the wear in the shift detent mechanism, spring tension and shaft spline wear, some take more finesse than others.

I have a '65 A65C BSA is is almost impossible to find neutral once it is warmed up. I really think there are some severly worn parts in their even though the PO spent over $7K on an engine/tranny rebuild (can you say "screwed"?). Just another project on my retirement "to-do" list.

regards,
Rob

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G-Man
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Post by G-Man » Sun Oct 14, 2012 12:24 pm

My clutch on my 1966 Matchless will not free after it's been left standing for a while but once freed. it's a real beauty.

First gear drops in silently and it never seems to drag, making gear selection a real cinch, moving or stationary. Maybe it's because it has never been apart or because the clutch is attached to to a superb AMC gearbox.....

G
'60 C77 '60 C72 '62 C72 Dream '63 CL72
'61 CB72 '64 CB77 '65 CB160
'66 Matchless 350 '67 CL77
'67 S90 '77 CB400F

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Snakeoil
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Post by Snakeoil » Sun Oct 14, 2012 8:29 pm

G-Man wrote:My clutch on my 1966 Matchless will not free after it's been left standing for a while but once freed. it's a real beauty.....Maybe it's because it has never been apart or because the clutch is attached to to a superb AMC gearbox.....G
Isn't that really a Norton with Matchless badges? Or is it a single?

regards,
Rob

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