Hitchcocks Forum

Hi,

I have a 2008 Indian made bullet 350 which I brought back from India.

When I first start a ride the gears are OK. But after a mile or so (less when its hot) the gears stick very badly and I can't change down at all making riding very difficult! If I loosen the cable on the clutch lever that alleviates it, but its at the maximum now (almost falling out).

Asked my local bike mechanic and he suggested asking here before going back to him.

Can anyone give any advice? Is this a simple case of the gears need adjusting at the other end or is there any other common issue I could be made aware of?

Thanks,
Andy

These bikes have a cable adjuster and a clutch adjuster.
The clutch adjuster can be found behind the swivel inspection disc on the outer gearbox cover just above the kick starter shaft. Slacken off the locking nut and turn the threaded screw, you'll see the handle bar lever move closer to the bars if you turn it clockwise allowing you to reset the lever.


Just make sure adjustment is done cold and there is still play between the clutch arm and the outer casework which can be checked with a hooked finger after lifting or removing (dependent on finger size) the other swivel inspection plate.

Wouldn't surprise me if the inner gearbox cover has come loose. To check, you'll need to remove kick-start lever, gearbox lever, neutral finder lever and the gearbox outer cover. Then you will be able to see the screws holding (or not holding) the gearbox inner cover. Tighten them all (one is partially concealed and may need a cranked screwdriver to access it). All in all only about half an hour to check - so worth looking at, even if this isn't the problem.

Are you sure it's the clutch? If the clutch is the culprit, it will also be a pig to find neutral with the engine running and bike stationary. Also, there will be a tendency for the bike to want to move when in 1st and stationary with the clutch pulled in. If these symptoms are not happening, I'd be tempted to look at the spring plunger inside the 'box, which fixes the position of each gear on an indented quadrant. It may be screwed in too far, thus putting too much spring pressure on the quadrant, resulting in stiff movement. Slacken it off half a turn or so (it's inside the outer cover)

Good luck

Stephen

Hi,

Previously it was impossible to get out of whatever gear you finished in once stationary, in fact you couldn't actually stop the bike without it stalling once warm.

I followed Ric's instructions and the situation is massively improved - so happy! Thank you Ric!

It was still difficult to find neutral with the engine running at the end of my ride, but that doesn't really worry me too much.

I'm such a pathetic mechanic I'll not risk any of the other suggestions unless it becomes un-ride-able again - but thanks very much for all the ideas.

Cheers,

Andy

Hi, i think you will find that the mainshaft nut has come loose on the kickstart end. This will explain why slack in the cable improves the situation. As you pull the cable the mainshaft moves and misaligns the gears. The nut is a lefthand thread. Vince

Whilst on the subject of nuts, it may be worth checking the one holding the clutch assembly to the main shaft.

Sounds like you have no thread left on the adjusters as you try to keep up with the slack created by the clutch basket moving outboard..

I'll be clutch. The gearbox cover will be flexing and you'll never have sufficient clearance because the clutch operating mechanism is held in the cover. It all works ok to start with until it all gets hot and sticky. Buy the cover stiffener from our hosts and fit that which will give you just enough adjustment to get the clutch to clear properly. If that still isn't sufficient I strongly recommend the cork plates which were 5 quid a piece when I bought mine. They are thinner and so give you additional clearance and adjustment. they also take up more smoothly and don't seem to get so hot. Had mine on for a few years now and never have a problem shift gears or finding neutral even after a hard ride in heavy traffic.

Hi,

Thanks for all your inputs!

Its started sticking badly already again so I guess it needs more work!

It does try to drive along even with the clutch fully in and I have to play heavy gas against the brake to stop it stalling.

Thanks for all the ideas. Does anyone know of a good Enfield mechanic in the South West of England (Bristol/Bath/Chippenham/Swindon/Wells etc.) that can handle this sort of work?

Thanks,
Andy