And another,
Terry's description works well. I had a similar problem to you after
converting from LH to RH shift. Here are some tips that helped me...
Ride the bike and determine whether the gearbox shifts too much or too
little. For example when shifting from 2nd to 3rd the gears pop out
to a neutral between 3rd and 4th, it shifts too far (this was my
trouble). Or for example when shifting from 2nd to 3rd the gears pop
out to a neutral between 2nd and 3rd then it shifts too short. If you
have to drive holding it in 4th gear with your foot it !probably!
shifts too short. If it seems to jump out of gear to neutrals both
above and below your selected gear check the GOSA (see below).
Put the bike on the center stand so that the rear wheel is clear of
the cement and can be turned by hand. Remove the outer gearbox cover.
Check the spring loaded gear selector detent pin that is at the upper
front under the outer gearbox cover. Jan's old posts call it a GOSA
and you should be able to find it in the archives. The GOSA is what
holds the gears in gear. There are 5 detents that the GOSA slips into
in the inner "gear operator" (1st, neutral, 2nd,3rd,4th). If the GOSA
is too loose, misaligned (slot and taper not horizontal), or the
taper is rounded off it will allow the "gear operator" to move and
gear to slip out. When the GOSA is over tightened the tapered face
quickly becomes a rounded rubbing block rather than a tapered detent
pin. Set the GOSA up correctly before adjusting the ratchet (below)
and use Jan's posts and common sense to set it snug but not too tight.
(The taper should not bottom the spring between the detents. the
repair book had a terribly vague description of how to do it)
After the GOSA's in good working order... With the bike on the center
stand and the outer cover off the gearbox re-install the foot shifter
(this is easy with RH shift and may not be practical with LH shift)
You may have to reinstall the kickstart lever too. You should be able
to turn the rear wheel with your left hand and shift up and down
through the gears with your right (or you may need an assistant with
LH shift). As you shift you will be able to watch the ratchet that
Terry's post talks about. You can loosen the nuts that hold the
adjuster and move it on its slot to see how the adjustment changes how
far it shifts.
If your bike was shifting too far the ratchet will allow the "gear
operator" to move past the GOSA's detent. For RH shift this means the
shift lever is rotating clockwise and the solution !if I remember
correctly! is to rotate the ratchet adjuster plate counter clockwise
(sort this out for yourself by going through the gears a lot). In my
case I could not rotate the adjuster plate enough and I had to file
the slots in the adjuster plate longer. I didn't do any filing until
I'd adjusted it several times with plenty of riding on each change.
(It's not a 1 day process unless you're REALLY in to it.) When the
adjustment is close the bike was very ridable and only popped out of
gear occaisionally.
If your bike was shifting short the RH shift lever will need to move
further. If I remember correctly (!) this means you need to move the
ratchet adjuster plate clockwise.
Some other things could cause jumping out of gears... Worn gears,
bent main or layshaft, or the detents worn out of the gear operator.
Good luck and patience,
Shawn