Subject: FIXED! Four speed shifting problems
Author: Greg Bender
Date: Mar 29, 2005, 3:55 PM
Post ID: 1718617829
I am very happy to report that my four speed shifting problems are a
thing of the past. Here's the story:
A while back, I gave up on the shift offset bracket. The clearances were
so tight around the shift arm, that I couldn't get the adjustment I
wanted. I'm certain that it works great on the Eldo 5 speed...but things
are just too tight on the left side of the 4 speed.
A week ago last Sunday, whilst beginning a ride with the local classic
owner's group, my shift linkage broke. I had bent the stainless
allthread to clear the shift lever. You guessed it, it broke right at
the bend. So, I snuck her into 2nd gear and headed for home, grabbed the
Quota, and met up with the guys in time for breakfast.
Fast forward to today - my first opportunity to work on the Ambassador.
I really wanted to continue using my hiem joints and allthread (this
time leaving the allthread linkage unbent). So, I scavanged a straight 4
speed shift arm to replace my dog-legged shift arm and found the
clearances I needed (these are the little arms that attach directly to
the shaft exiting the rear of the tranmission - I didn't even know that
Guzzi made more than one kind). Along the way, I took the time to notice
the movement of stock lower shift arm (this is the arm that is welded to
the shaft that connects directly to the foot operated shift lever). Low
and behold, if the linkage is too short, the lower shift arm will hit a
cover bolt on the upswing. I made sure this had ample clearance and put
everything back together.
For reasons I won't go into here, I'm just certain that the extra-bend
in the linkage was causing the welded arm to hit the case bolt before it
travelling as far as it needed to go...thus shortening my stroke.
The test run proved my theory correct. It shifts MUCH better. It still
has that characteristic clunk that let's you know it's in gear. Safety
features like that affirm the 4 speed a far superior transmission than
the 5 speed. ;>
So, to all of you who told me it was a linkage problem, you can now say
- in unison - "I told you so!"
Regards,
Greg Bender
1971 Ambassador
2000 Quota
http://www.thisoldtractor.com/gtbender