Topic: Dumb Question-from a Dumb Girl!

[smithrelo]

Ok, guys (and gals) I spent about an hour at the local motorcycle graveyard - Must have seen 4-5 THOUSAND bikes and a billion parts of bikes. 

I was just walking about and saw a shifter with a heel plate.  Stood there looking at it, and realized I missed having a heel shifter...sooooooooooo....

(I have 74-550 4) - Is there enough room for me to change out the shifter lever for one with a heel plate?  I had one on my last bike (29 years ago!!) and wondered if I could just swap out the plain shifter for one with a heel plate?  Is there a way to measure so I can go back to the grave yard and find one that will fit??

(Is this sacreligious?  sp??)

Also, is there a way to adjust the amount of space between the handle bar grip and the clutch lever?  My hands are still killing me...I think I need to shorten that reach from clutch to grip.  Isn't there some sort of adjustment I can make to bring that lever closer to grip?

Thanks in advance!
Linda

[kghost]

Linda,
 No such thing as a dumb girl. Girls have always been smarter than boys.

 Fact: Men stop maturing at like age twelve. Too many hormones and such.

 Girls on the other hand are way too smart to point this out. Until after you marry them at least!

 Sticks and snails and puppy dog tails......Thats what little boys are made of.

 As for a heel shifter.....If you can't find one to fit someone with a TIG could weld one on your existing shifter.

[smithrelo]

I actually saw one at the graveyard..I just didn't know how to measure to see if it might fit, plus I need to check size of attachment bolt thingy (real technical here!)

How would I measure to see if one can replace the old one?

Linda

[kghost]

Take a dial caliper, Measure the inside diameter of your shifter lever (or the outside diameter of the shaft it goes on). Compare to the one in the boneyard.

Also, count the number of splines/grooves in your existing shifter.

If the diameters and spline counts match you should be good. Provided you have room behind were the shifter mounts for the new heel part. I would just kinda eyeball it.

 Course, if the boneyard just wants a couple bucks you could just take it home and try it. Although no use if the diameters and splines don't match.

Good luck, Keep us posted

[smithrelo]

Thanks for the info.  Looks like you and I are up late??

anyway, what about adjusting space from clutch lever to grip?  Surely there is a way??

Linda

[SteveD CB500F]

You can get dog-leg levers for these bikes. I've seen them on eBay and they're not expensive - so probably worth a punt.

For those following the recent English vs American language threads:

(English) punt is a "go" or an "attempt"; or a boat on the river Cam at Cambridge!
(Irish) punt is an Irish Pound (money) which is not the same a Pounds Sterling...

[mcpuffett]

hi linda, i agree with steve dog leg levers is the way to go it will bring your lever closer to your bars and make it easier for you  mick.

[smithrelo]

Ok-on the dog leg levers - is there a brand or can you suggest how to tell if they will fit on my bike?  I went to e-bay, there are some there but I think they are for some Italian bike? 


Anyway, is there a way to know which ones to buy?

Linda

[SteveD CB500F]

Search for "Power Levers".

There are no Honda ones on eBay UK right now, only these for Kawasaki:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10464&item=7972512523&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

[Bob Wessner]

Will any of these do the trick?

http://www.naturecoastmotorsports.com/eshopitems_cat_1286-10264.Levers.htm

[cb650]

Ok, guys (and gals) I spent about an hour at the local motorcycle graveyard - Must have seen 4-5 THOUSAND bikes and a billion parts of bikes. 

What yard did you go to?   Let me know if you need the welding done.


                         Terry

[Ben]

C,mon People! How about supporting your local Motorcycle shop instead of ebay?
They will give you the right part everytime with no stress from ebay snipers!
Don't forget how important the small bike shops are to our motorcycling heritage,
we must support them or they wont be there for much longer.
Just something to think about.

[Bob Wessner]

For the most part, I have no problems with my local dealer. However, it seems they have problems with me. Usually, when I walk in and try to find a part or something for my old 750, they tend to look at me like I'm from another planet. They seem far more interested in moving the latest iron on the showroom floor.

[kghost]

I really got to agree with Ben. I have exellent experiences with my local Honda dealer. also have a good rapport with my local independant bike shop.

Bout the only thing I buy on E-bay are hard parts. I tend to get all my Rotables", or service items from my dealer or independant local shop
 

[Bob Wessner]

Just curious, are most of the dealers being discussed here single brand, as in Honda only? Mine is a multi-brand dealership.

[kghost]

Mines Honda an Kawasaki. But I get really top notch help. Might be because the manager has a CB750 though 

[Ben]

I get all my geniune parts from my local Honda Dealer, but I guess I am lucky in that they still have the fiche for most of the old hondas. All other parts I get from the "mixed brand" shops as they are heaps cheaper!

[smithrelo]

Terry, I went to Steeles - Graveyard of 5000 bikes (at least!).  I saw one, but my bike is at upholstry shop right now and I cannot measure the lever thingy and can't count the splines.  I'm going back tomorrow to look a bit more closely and possibly go ahead and buy the lever - if I can get a price from them. 

Thanks for the offer to weld-let me work on this for a week or two and see what I can pick up that will fit.

Linda

[kghost]

Linda, you typing away in the middle of the night again?

[cb650]

The man steele himself is a ass.  He has good help though and some cool old bikes for sale.  Last time I was there a 75 or so cb125 with 200 miles was for sale. Lots of parts too. Last year there was a wasp nest on the south side.



                                    Terry