Topic: HELP: My 350 twin will not go into first or neutral, but all other gears work

[schwebel]

Hello all. My 73 CL350 will not work in first gear, I just hear grinding and the neutral light stays on, but I can feel it "kick" into first. It just doesn't go anywhere. It also will not go up into Neutral easy. All other gears work. I can start it out in second and go all the way up to fifth with no issues in those gears. Is there a way to fix this without pulling the engine, I just got done putting this engine in. I tried playing with the clutch adjuster thinking that was the issue, but just hear the grinding. Am I going to have to throw in a new neutral and 1st gear? Thanks for any help.

[Hush]

When you tapped the gear shifter on from the left side, did the selector get belted out of the right side?
I've done this on a few bikes much to my embarressment, just a thought but you did say you had rebuilt the engine and played with the clutch so I'm betting you had to put your shift lever back on.
Only my theory, don't pull her apart on that eh!
Just thinking outside the square..........best of luck........Hush.

[bender01]

I had a 70 350 cl . The bolt on the shift lever worked loose and 1st was out of reach. it has a bolt that goes back over the shift shaft forward to the clutch??.. well check that. It scared the .... out of me but was  a ridiculously simple fix. hope that helps. I hadnt pulled my engine but was adjusting the clutch. and hadnt  tightend things up enough.Hope thats your problem. Did it work ever since you put it back together?
  Ben