Hi got a problem when engaging first geat the gear dogs catch the kickstart gear and jam the gearbox up ,only happens in first have riddenthe bike a good few mile using 2nd 3rd and top with no problems ,any body got any parts for sale ,main shaft ,layshaft and kickstart gear are brand new
First gear problems
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Hi Martin, have you or a…
Hi Martin, have you or a previous owner had the gearbox apart? It has been some time since I rebuilt a late Lightweight gearbox but for it to do what you are describing I suspect it has either been wrongly assembled or even the wrong parts used. I would stop using the bike to avoid catastrophic damage or even an accident if you inadvertently selected 1st on the move or with the engine running. I would strip the gearbox and carefully check through using the excellent workshop manual and parts list available from the NOC club - you will find it under 'Parts Lists'. There is an even better manual available entitled - Twin Cylinder Manual for the Unapproachable Norton Motorcycle 1957 to 1970 written by Floyd Clymer which covers the Electra in detail published by VelocePress - ISBN 1-58850-069-1 (photo attached). I would be lost without mine! Martin's advice above is excellent - the kick start pawl is notoriously weak on the later gearbox and I do wonder whether that is where the problem lies - spares are available from NOC. Good luck with fault finding.
Nick
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still no go
Hi again Spent a full day on this gearbox ,have the manual with diagrams in and gearbox is assembled correctly ,there is wear and tear on the components but it selects all the gears and still winds the kickstart around in first gear ,i original thought it was the dogs on the gear catching but not sure now ,realy need some parts to interchange at this stage ,the club shop does not have much for the later gearbox the way this is going the bike may end up on ebay as its testing my patience now
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If it was a heavyweight gearbox...
... this symptom indicates a problem with the layshaft bearing at the end opposite the kickstart. Worth a thought.
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all sorted now
Fitted a set of new gears ,shimmed kickstart to top hat bush all good now thanks for replies
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Hi Martin,
I've never come across this before but I'm not the NOC expert. I run an Electra and there's not a bolt on it that I haven't undone and done up.
What you call the kickstart pinion is gear, first, on layshaft, bushed. When you engage first gear, the third gear, layshaft, slides into the first gear layshaft and the dogs take up the drive.
Except, in your case, the first gear doesn't rotate forward. It obviously rotates when driven by the kickstart, but not when driven by the third gear pinion. I suspect the pawl or some feature on the gearbox endplate assembly. Have a good look at the endplate. You will have to take it out.
First perhaps try loosening the endplate fastening nuts to let it move out a millimetre. Make sure the kickstart is operating properly and is hitting its forward stop and it's shaft is fully pulled outwards. Check the first gear engages. Try turning the engine in first gear with the back wheel. Or get a helper to pull in the clutch.
New parts may be required, but I doubt it.
Good luck
Peter