1954 vb600 gearbox.

Singles, twins and fours.
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dez.butterworth
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1954 vb600 gearbox.

Post by dez.butterworth »

Hi again.
My trusty vb has now completed over 2000 trouble free miles after troubleshooting a previous owners rebuild, and I immensely enjoy riding it whenever I get the chance, and in fact intend keeping it in use all winter weather providing, but
now I am knit picking and looking to smoothen gear selection, particularly into 1st.

I currently use my engine oil, which is low detergent sae50 in the gb5 box, and am curious to know if a heavier box oil would result in smoother selection.

While on the subject of oil, is low detergent or non detergent best in an older restored engine?

Thanks in advance and looking forward to some good advice which is always available from AOMCC.

Cheers and keep safe. Dez
will_curry
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Re: 1954 vb600 gearbox.

Post by will_curry »

Tricky selection of first gear especially from neutral is more often than not caused by
the clutch dragging slightly. Oily plates and incorrectly adjusted clutch springs are two
common causes I've found over the years.
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simon.holyfield
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Re: 1954 vb600 gearbox.

Post by simon.holyfield »

From ever-increasing experience with Ariels, may I suggest that you look at the splines on the clutch centre and the plates themselves. The splines ideally need to be perfect (new centres are available from club spares) and the plates need to be flat.

Eliminate any sign of drag in the clutch and your changes will be smooth and silent.
cheers

Simes

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Roger Gwynn
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Re: 1954 vb600 gearbox.

Post by Roger Gwynn »

I would use gearbox oil in the gearbox and engine oil in the engine, I doubt however that it will improve gear selection, Will and Simon are on the money.
Roger Gwynn, Membership Secretary, curator of the Machine Register and the works drawings. Director of Draganfly Motorcycles, Craven Equipment and Supreme Motorcycles mostly retired.
JohnnyBeckett
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Re: 1954 vb600 gearbox.

Post by JohnnyBeckett »

hi i had the same problem with my gearbox dragging until i cleaned the clutch and plates and fitted new clutch springs and adjusted it
Simon.Gardiner
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Re: 1954 vb600 gearbox.

Post by Simon.Gardiner »

If the chains have got a bit loose that doesn't help, in my experience.

SG
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'55 Huntmaster, '56 VH, ' 51 VH, '61 Arrow, '80 R100RT, '00 Sprint ST (hurrah, the 4-stroke Ariel parts have managed to make a running Huntmaster!)
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