Author Topic: Gears not selecting - Nova close ratio gear cluster  (Read 1952 times)

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Offline Phil

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Gears not selecting - Nova close ratio gear cluster
« on: October 12, 2019, 02:39:23 am »
Can anyone help please? I'm putting together a race engine fitted with a (new) Nova close ratio gear cluster. I'm having trouble selecting the gears now. I suspect the shift drum is causing the problem, but maybe not. The cases are F2. The gear cluster was made for the F2 cases. The shift drum is brand new but I do not know its part number. My question is this: Has the shift drum changed over the various models? Perhaps the one I have is not F2?? If you look at the photo, you can see (pointed out) that the shift drum is not fully home - there is a gap - and this doesn't look correct. This is the reason I suspect the shift drum is the culprit. Your help greatly appreciated!!

Offline Phil

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Re: Gears not selecting - Nova close ratio gear cluster
« Reply #1 on: October 12, 2019, 03:58:53 am »
Just found the shift drum part-number - the one I have fitted - 24300-392-00

Offline Old Scrambler

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Re: Gears not selecting - Nova close ratio gear cluster
« Reply #2 on: October 12, 2019, 06:33:34 am »
Not specific to your app............I use K4 cases with a 5th-gear swap to an F2 unit.......as well as the F2 shifter. It shifts as it should.
Dennis in Wisconsin
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Offline Phil

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Re: Gears not selecting - Nova close ratio gear cluster
« Reply #3 on: October 12, 2019, 06:41:48 am »
Thanks - so shift drum remained the same on all Ks + F2s?

Offline napoleonb

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Re: Gears not selecting - Nova close ratio gear cluster
« Reply #4 on: October 12, 2019, 02:23:43 pm »
The only difference I know of in "regular CB's" wasn't in the measurement but in the way the pins were secured.
CR partslist shows a different type of selector but that was done for changing the shifting pattern when used with another reversed gear shifter.

Offline Old Scrambler

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Re: Gears not selecting - Nova close ratio gear cluster
« Reply #5 on: October 12, 2019, 02:56:11 pm »
The shape of the selector pattern has slight variations..........but I would think you would need a 6-position selector drum to match with a 6-speed gear-set.
Dennis in Wisconsin
'64 Triumph Cub & '74 Honda CB750 Bonneville Salt Flats AMA Record Holder (6)
CB750 Classic Bonneville Racer thread - http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,135473.0.html
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Offline bwaller

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Re: Gears not selecting - Nova close ratio gear cluster
« Reply #6 on: October 12, 2019, 05:34:33 pm »
It's a 5spd Dennis, difference is close ratio gearsets.

I can't help with the F shift drum, but if you're unable to get an answer, pick up one cheap on Ebay to see for yourself???

Offline scottly

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Re: Gears not selecting - Nova close ratio gear cluster
« Reply #7 on: October 12, 2019, 07:08:08 pm »
The shape of the selector pattern has slight variations...
Yes, there was a service bulletin on this. The two versions were interchangeable though, so either one should work.
On the 750, the lateral location of the drum is set by the neutral switch. Is it fully seated?
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Offline Phil

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Re: Gears not selecting - Nova close ratio gear cluster
« Reply #8 on: October 12, 2019, 11:42:57 pm »
It's the neutral selector switch that prevents the selector drum from moving all the way into the machined recess in the inner crankcase. If I remove the neutral switch, it slides all the way home - but then the forks jam on the gears.

Offline Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er

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Re: Gears not selecting - Nova close ratio gear cluster
« Reply #9 on: October 13, 2019, 09:04:34 am »
Not sure it this applies to you but last time I re-installed the neutral switch it didn't seem to want to "seat" properly and work correctly. I jiggled the external shift mechanism (the external circular part that the shifter dog legs click up and down) inward and outward and everything fell into place.
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Offline scottly

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Re: Gears not selecting - Nova close ratio gear cluster
« Reply #10 on: October 21, 2019, 08:05:04 pm »
Was this issue resolved??
Don't fix it if it ain't broke!
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Offline Phil

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Re: Gears not selecting - Nova close ratio gear cluster
« Reply #11 on: October 22, 2019, 12:20:20 pm »
Thanks everyone for your advice. I've taken it all apart again - checked everything - and put it pack together again. Shifting through the gears is still a struggle - they most certainly just click in. I'd like to dry connecting a slow drill to the clutch shaft and see if it gets better. If, not, I guess I will paying Nova a visit - it wasn't cheap!

Offline turboguzzi

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Re: Gears not selecting - Nova close ratio gear cluster
« Reply #12 on: October 22, 2019, 12:27:31 pm »
oops, i hope you been turning the shafts by hand as you shift, otherwise gears will never shift....

Offline maxheadflow

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Re: Gears not selecting - Nova close ratio gear cluster
« Reply #13 on: October 22, 2019, 06:03:03 pm »
More important than rotating the gears is that you need to rotate one shaft while holding the other.

Offline Phil

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Re: Gears not selecting - Nova close ratio gear cluster
« Reply #14 on: October 22, 2019, 11:17:39 pm »
Yes, of course, I have been rotating the shaft using the clutch spline whilst changing the gears. I realise this isn't simulating a running engine but it is the best I can do.