Hitchcocks Forum

Can any one help me I can't get first gear on my crusader sport and it's driving me mad. I went on a club run on a Thursday night and all was fine except a few missed gears then on the Saturday morning got bike out to go to the Stafford show and no first gear. I've striped the gearbox and clutch umpteen times and can't see anything wrong. I can get all four gears with a spanner on the operator leaver with the operator assembly disconnected but not with it on, I've checked the adjuster settings several times but nothing seems to work. it's got me truly stumped. hoping someone can help. Steve

Hi Steve, Had the same trouble with my 1959 Clipper, just felt that the gear lever wanted to travel a bit more but was restricted by the stops on the gear lever return spring, if you still have the gen cover off remove the stops, it only takes a couple of minuets then try again, if it doesn't work then put them back.
Cheers Howzie.

Steve, go into the technical Notes section on this site, (left sidebar,) and look at 250 Engine rebuild (or some similar title)and you will see at the end of the article the best explanation of how to get the adjustment right. It's a little fiddly but it works.
REgards, Mark

Hi chaps thanks for the tips. Mark m I set up the gearbox using the notes you mentioned but no deference. Howzie I will try your idea later today and let you know how I get on. Thanks steve.

hi steve hope your well have you found first gear yet if you need a hand as another pair of eyes often helps youve got my number i,ll come and have a look no probs give me a ring monday after 12 dinner and i,l pop over from work atb paul.

H'i Paul thanks for the offer but I thin I've cracked it I followed Howzie's tip and removed the stop screws and it seems to be ok now.so thanks Howzie .Steve.

Hi Steve, Glad your back up & running, I removed the stops from my machine about 18 months ago & no problems at all.
This forum is a great place & all the guys are spot on with there help, but Steve like you & others I suffered for ages trying to get the gears right, all the manuals & tech books are good, but they all have one thing in common in that most of the time its for new machines, & when you have a machine manufactured 54years ago & worn! sometimes you have to think outside the box! don't no how many times I tried to get the clutch cable adjusted correctly, in the end I just set it up till it felt OK, been fine ever since.
Cheers Howzie.

Oh !! HOWZIE !! (groan)------------ "think outside the box" --------------- that's a good un !! (isn't that where the stops are ??).....Ho-Ho-Ho---LoL

Hi Steve glad your sorted am currently basking in the sunshine at the big knock rally great things these I phones atb paul

Hi Alan R,
Just trying to help a fellow biker out here, don't quite understand your reply, is it a pat on the back,
Or a kick in the nuts, please explain.
Howzie