Topic: 73 CB500 wont shift... Help me.. Help me..

[75 honda]

I had a post up but I don't know where it went to. Heres my problem. Rode the bike.. Shifted okay with a little slip in first taking off and then every now and then at a stop sign trying to get back in to first the gears seemed a little tough to shift. Happened maybe twice within the past month. So I though id adjust the clutch but am unfamiliar with this set up so on the left side cover I loosened the bolt that holds the fork on the back side. I heard it fall and then took the cover off and it fell out. I stuck it back in and tightened it back down. I DID NOTICE THAT THE SLEEVE HAD A CRACK AND A PIECE OF THE CORNER WAS MISSING. My issue is it will not shift out of neutral running or not. I can pull the lever and feel tention as if it wanted to engage but I got nothing at the foot. I was wondering if maybe my shift forks are shot but where I'm puzzled is that I rode it and the next day I cant shift. Rather not being able to shift has anything to do with the fork that fell out that I put back on or not I don't know. Any help would be awesome. Thanks.

[LesterPiglet]

Do you have the manual? I suggest adjusting the clutch as described in the manual. After pieces falling off are you sure you have them assembled correctly?

[75 honda]

Im gonna order a manual this weekend. The fork fell out because I loosened the bolt on the cover all the way off. I heard it fall so I removed the cover and set it in there and put the bolt back in. Prior to this I had never messed with any of it. So first attempt was taking that bolt out which I probably shouldnt have and then it fell.

[LesterPiglet]

Have a look through here for a manual, some of the links are old though.

http://www.sohc4.net/index.php/cb500/manuals/

[nicks2319]

Make sure the clutch push rod ball is still in there.

[75 honda]

Ball is still sitting in there. It's almost like something is jammed in the case or something. I'm going to pull the clutch off tomorrow and look around. My only other thought is to split the cases and put new forks in. If the forks go bad could it happen like over night without notice? I rode it and parked it and the next day it wouldnt shift. Also is there a certain way that fork is supposed to go in on the left side? Looks like it can really only go one way.

[Frostyboy]

Years ago my 550 got stuck in 2nd gear, lever still felt like it was attached to something but no way would it shift out of 2nd. I found the spring (#17 in the pic) was broken. The lever still had spring tension but the busted one stopped the drum from turning. I used an old distributor advance spring out of a car distributor to replace it. I don't know it this is your problem, but check it out when you get the clutch cover off.
Good luck, I hope you don't have to get further inside.