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[PeteF]

The detent plunger has a blunt wedge shape that is spring loaded to engage in the notches in the selector plate. This keeps the selector plate in the correct position when in any particular gear.

[PeteF]

Good test for the detent is to put the bike on the stand and see if it shifts gears ok while you turn the back wheel. If it does it's probably not the plunger.

[Pecon]

Many thanks to all who replied and or the detailed information on the indent. I have persevered with adjustments and now have it going into all gears while turning the back wheel. I'll take it off the ramp tomorrow and see if there is any improvement on the road. BTW ceb pecan is a different type of nut but I've been called a lot worse

[ceb]

Oops sorry pecon.

[Pecon]

No problem

[sofiaspin]

Clutch drag must the most likely culprit as the box, whilst primitive, is basic. Read the technical notes on clutch adjustment, found on the left menu. Have you opened the primary side, drained the oil, pulled out the plates yet - a basic service, given what you have said, should be to do all that, check for burring in drum, replace with new plates (hosts do upgraded ones), replace clutch cable (do the actuator end first and you will need long nose pliers to pull the cable nipple through), fill primary with ATF fluid. Tighten slack in clutch cable, and in my case anyway tighten the pushrod adjuster screw to the point just past resistance. It is all in the technical notes. You can also buy a gearbox cover stiffener for about £15 which reduces flex in the cover, and hence leverage. Over tightening pushrod leads to slip, and vice versa if too loose.

[PeteF]

If you now have it engaging all gears on the centre stand there can't be much wrong with the selector/detent.
Sofiaspin makes a good point about the gearbox stiffener - they do make a big difference.
As the bike has been laid up for a long time the clutch may be fairly gummed up. Clutch overhaul time as Sofiaspin says but I wouldn't necessarily change the plates. Depends on mileage/condition.

[simon]

Its very easy to see the gearbox cover flex when you pull the clutch lever in. This isnt so much a design fault as a decline in manufacturing standard. The original design had a heavy cover that didnt flex but particularly in the 90's the Indian made covers were paper thin and flexed so much half the useful movement was lost. The stiffener will definitely help but the combination of that and the cork lined plates leaves you with a clutch as good as any English machine. With the ferodo lined plates the clutches tend to get hot and begin to bind especially when used in heavy traffic. They also have the rather unpleasant take up characteristics in that no matter how gently you release the clutch the last moment is a lurch. I put it down to the very lightweight clutch basket that hasnt changed one iota since all bike clutches were cork lined. Anyway the cork plates fix that completely, there is a video of my 350 clicking in and out of gear with the lightest of clicks somewhere although it is a few years old now. Search cork clutch plates in the forum search function.

[PeteF]

On the other hand.....
My clutch seems to operate very satisfactorily on the OME plates. They're fine in traffic and take-up (even with a close ratio conversion) is good.

[simon]

Each to there own but here is mine