Triumphrat

argie

Have a 69 T100, about to put back on the road but when I pull in on the clutch and go to shift in 1st gear it won't go (feels like gears are turning inside) Does it need an adjustment at the handlebar cable ? Any advice would be helpful

GrandPaulZ

1. get a shop manual. Triumph, Haynes, Clymer, any one will do.

2. Adjust per the book.

It could be as easy as taking up cable slack, it could be as involved as having to pulll off the primary cover and totally clean out the clutch basket and re-adjust ffrom the inside out, bottom to top.

Welcome to the forum.

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GrandPaulZ
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McQueen

Argie,

Do you mean it feels like the gears are grinding?

Does the clutch break free easily before you try to start it?

Is the clutch slipping? Sticking?

There could be a few reasons for your malady based on your answers. One thing to try before you start taking things off, make sure the bike is warmed up and idling well at low RPMs. Then try shifting into first. My 500 grinds a bit going into gear, but not as much when I'm conscious not to shift while the engine is wound up.

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Mecchanica

Remove the spark plugs, put the bike in gear, pull the clutch in and try rolling it back and forth. It should roll with little drag. If it won't roll, the clutch plates are stuck together. With the clutch lever pulled in and the bike in fourth gear, roll the bike back and forth vigorously. If the clutch breaks free, great, put the plugs back in and try a ride. If not, you will need to pull the primary cover, remove the pressure plate and pry the plates apart. Sand the plain plates with coarse sandpaper to get some tooth....better to blast with coarse or medium garnet. Lightly sand the friction plates to break the glaze. Oil and reassmble. The clutch rod freeplay is about 10 thou....bottom the adjuster lightly and back off about a third of a revolution and lock the nut. The clutch spring nuts should have two or so threads showing inside the nut, the stud should not come up to the surface of the nut. Pull in the clutch and see if the plate lifts evenly...hold it in and kick over slowly. Screw in the nut or nuts closest to the high spot a little at a time until it runs true. Cover on and go. If you can't get any lift, then the problem is in the gearbox cover, either the lifter mechanism is shot or the nut on the end of the mainshaft has backed off and takes the lifter's thrust. While in there, the shifter pawls are retained by cotter pins and they really are too small in diameter. Remove them and drill out the pawl carrier to the next size pin. Get the bigger cotter pins and install them. That will improve your shifting, too.
Top up the lubes you've let out. I'd use synthetic oil, like Amsoil or Royal Purple. Put ATF in the primary case, it's made for wet clutches.
Plugs back in and go.

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