Curvy can't get first gear

[Mickle]

Evening all,

My friend has an early curvy which he is re commissioning after winter, but can't get first gear at all! Has anyone experienced this before?

Did try a search but couldn't see anything similar

Cheers

Mike

[Blapper]

When you say 'can't get', do you mean it grinds? The clutch pack has probably stuck solid over winter plus the lifting mechanism may need replacing or at least correctly adjusting to maximise lift. There are threads on this forum to help you do that.

If that isn't what you mean, please expand on can't get a bit.

[Mickle]

No first gear at all, gets all the rest just fine,

[Biker Biggles]

First check to do with selection problems is to ensure the gear lever is moving properly on its pivot on the footrest.These corrode and get sticky leading to erratic action(can I say that on here).Try a bit of oil on it first,then dismantle it and free it properly if that seems to be the issue.

[Blapper]

These gearboxes are normally reliable if not abused.

OK, lets try this:

1/ When you press the lever down, does it feel normal?

2/ Does it select first if the engine is off so you don't rely on the clutch at all?

3/ When you change down from the higher gears does it feel normal?

4/ Is the bike able to be ridden, if it is, what happens if you try to change to first while it is rolling?

Try to give more detail about what is actually happening or people will not be able to help.

[Mickle]

From what he has told me.
All ok at beginning of ride
Unable to get 1st after a couple of miles, no warning or noise
Not been able to get 1st ever since
All feel and sounds normal just no 1st all other gears and neutral ok
Will ask him to let me have a go and report back

[Taipan]

Sounds like its just the drag of a poorly adjusted clutch to me. It needs everything slackening off along the cables, then adjusted at the gearbox end for 1/8th of a turn. Then remove any cable slack with the adjuster near the gearbox end of the cable. The adjuster at the clutch lever is the past point of adjustment. One of the Gurus on here has it written up well. I'lll see if I can find it.

[Taipan]

Here ya go! That needs to be right before looking elsewhere.

Originally Posted by Sid Squid

First off make sure it's adjusted right, like this:

Slacken off cable adjusters at top and bottom, loosen lifter locknut, back out screw a bit, ensure that lifter arm is as far down as it will go, gently turn screw in until it contacts pushrod back out a bit, (~1/8th of a turn), then nip up the locknut, roughly adjust cable with lower adjuster - not too tight - then with top adjuster ensure that there remains a little slack all the way from lock to lock.

If that fails to do anything useful, check that the lifter's working right and the ramps and balls aren't knackered, if not that then the cover's going to have to come off to examine the plates, clutch basket and hub, which could be warped or notched.

[Blapper]

Hence my questions 2/ and 4/.

[SheepShagger]

Did your friend resolve this?

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