Hitchcocks Forum

I solved my kickstarter problem, but have a lot of problems adjusting the gear change ratchet assembly.
I tried changing the position of that adjustable plate which holds the biggest spring. I can either only shift up, or not shift at all.
Right now the ratchet ring touches the inner ratchet, but does not succeed in changing gear. It slips over the inner ratchet teeth. I can also see it dislocates on the top from that spring.
I never thought I was going to run into such problems only because of a problematic kickstart pawl !
Any ideas ?

You shouldn't have had to dismantle this just to do the pawl.
However, it sounds like you have something assembled incorrectly. Hope this helps.

Hi, I think your'll find you have refitted the ratchet 180 degrees out.

Hi PeteF and Vince,
thanks for the replies. The ratchet was mounted correctly, but I have noticed that, after removal of the ratchet, if I shift with a vicegrip on the shaft, it is a bit stiff, and needs too much force. And so is the kickstarter. I need to look at the inside of the gearbox. I think that something is stuck or wrongly mounted there.

I've solved a problem which may or may not be related. I fitted the gearbox cover strengthener and after putting everything back I found that the kickstart wouldn't return properly, and the gearlever wanted to move with it. After a lot of head-scratching, I found that I'd overtightened the pinchbolt on the gearlever and it had squashed the shaft enough for it to be binding on the kickstart shaft inside it. I backed the bolt off half a turn and all is well again. I love playing around with these old machines!

Thanks to everyone for the replies. I reassembled the gearbox, and the Bullet now shifts like a dream !!!
I replaced:
- detent plunger (old one had been fiddled with)
- ratchet housing
- ratchet itself.

Forgot to mention:
I also replaced the little spring in the ratchet assembly.