Gear shifting problem please help SOLVED lol

[Keijo]

Hello all, this is my first post to the board, dont know if i should introduce myself so forgive me i will just introduce you to my problem.

I bought a '97 vtr with 77k on the clock. For peanuts. It has had some rough days and it came without a few parts, including the rear cylinder cct. I figured the timing was off (as it was) but bought it anyway. At this point i was able to change gears.
So i got it running and bought the other bits to make it roadworthy. The engine had been running only for very short periods, not even to warm it up. Last night i thought i would take it for a test drive around the block, warm it up and change the oil, but as i tried to put it in 1st gear the lever wouldnt move. Checked the clutch and adjusted it as far as it went. The clutch engaged/disengaged well.

The gear lever wouldnt switch down, only up and now i was stuck in gear with a foulty clutch switch.

Today got a new clutch switch, zip tied the lever to the handlebar and warmed it up. Drained the oil, and hit it with mobil delvac mx 15w40.

Shift lever wont switch down. Its stuck on high gear, i took it for a spin, it was interesting, must be on at least 5th gear.

Does anyone have any ideas or thoughts on the matter?

Any input greatly appreciated.

[tony.mon]

Can you get it to change gear with the engine off, by rolling it forward and back?
Second question. Does the gear lever move? If not, it must be the selector drum or selector forks in the gearbox.

[Keijo]

Oh fook the p.o. told me the bike had an akrapovic exhaust fitted before. Now it has stock exhaust and the shift lever was adjusted so low the rear part of the shift lever hit the exhaust bracket thus not being able to shift down

I had already downed a cold one (or two) on my grieves but when i noticed this i had to fix and test it

Gears work well, 1& 2 are not annoyingly rough.

Pondering do i need to introduce myself to get replies im going straight to the next thing that came to mind:

Along with the akrapovic a jet kit was installed. Havent checked plugs, my nose might say its rich, the question is would a bafflectomy be of benefit? There are already 3 holes drilled on the left and 4 on the right.

Cruising on idle feels rough, its virtually like on or off.

[Keijo]

Thanks for the reply Tony!

I just posted the same answer i posted to my question on the superhawk forum, i feel a bit dumb but happy af

[alanfjones1411]

Hello and welcome to forum.

[Keijo]

Thanks alanf!

[Kev L]

Welcome to the club. May all your issues be as simple as that one

[Keijo]

Thanks kev!

I took her for a few spins and listened to the engine and after more research i felt that i hadnt done a thorough job so off with the valve covers and checked the cam chain slack and valve clearances.

They are a bit off and im thinking should i just ride it until winter and shim them later or not. Covers are off so it would be easy now.

Whats the tolerances on the valve clearances?

I need to search

[Keijo]

The cam chain slack is 6mm between sprockets, only some valve clearances are off. As in

Front intake 0.17 and 0.14
Front exhaust 0.31 and 0.30

Rear intake 0.09 and 0.10
Rear exhaust 0.31 and 0.21

[Keijo]

Well my neighboring bike shop had shims in stock so i took the cams out, re-shimmed, and now she is much better!! Also i think the rear timing was one tooth off, it was 3mm over the head, now its 2mm under the head but works much better imo. Wouldnt align properly so thats where im set now.

Perhaps this multi-subject first post of mine can close now. Its a great forum, lots of knowlege i like it