Shifter linkage is a pain as the factory manual doesn't help you put it back together correctly. Take pictures before and during disassembly. The transmission wears out the clutch packs first, then can wear out springs and bearings if run for many miles. The clutch packs are just like mini standard bike clutches. Fibers and steels stacked on top of each other. Two clutch packs in the Hondamatic, one for each gear. The low gear has 2 more fibers than the high gear pack has. I'm using Honda Civic car fibers and steels from the similar era as they interchange and are far cheaper than NOS Hondamatic ones. The first symptoms are usually slippage between gears or the revs climbing without matching motion when you start off. The fibers wear out/wear off of the backings and contaminate the oil with the loose fibers from the clutch packs. If you're in there, replace both. Low gear usually goes first. Nothing fancy or special in replacing them. Follow the manual for shaft rotation/placement into the case halves to put it back together correctly. Some carefully placed sealant for the case halves and you're well on your way to getting it back together. Checking the cam chain and tensioner is also worth doing when the motor is split. If you're even thinking about doing this, get the gasket set from Jim F. Everything you'll need will be there for a normal motor. There aren't too many gasket sets available any more.
Jon Weeks
