Difficult gear selection

[loadsabikes]

Having sorted out the engine noise and replaced the alternator drive shaft, I am now experiencing a problem with gear selection: It's ok going up the box (but a bit notchy) but downward changes are difficult or near impossible. Finding neutral with the engine running IS impossible! The clutch isn't dragging (which is what I would expect with this problem) - I can easily push the bike backwards in 1st gear with the clutch disengaged and the engine running. As a precaution I have bled the clutch hydraulics, but no change.
I'm pretty sure I put everything back together properly, but could it be the oil? I have put in some cheap 10w/40 (just for a few miles) to flush out all the crud after my previous trouble. I don't want to change the oil for expensive synthetic if I will need to drain it again to investigate the problem internally.
Like I said last week, any advice welcome!

[KitNYC]

I had this problem after having my alternator shaft replaced as well, but that was before I was doing all my work myself. I took it back to the mechanic, and he said there was a washer or a shim that had to be installed after the clutch cover had been opened? No idea whether this is true or not, and this is the same mechanic whose shoddy work almost killed me on the Sprint, but he did fix the shifting problem on the Trident pretty quickly after I brought it back to him.

Perhaps someone else knows more about this?

Cheers,
-Kit

[sanoptic]

Hi,
Did you replace the clutch plates exactly the same way they came out?
The clutch plate fingers wear to the slots in the basket & if there not put back in correct order you can have difficulties like you are having.

i would dismantle the clutch assembly & check the clutch basket slots for any ridges.If there are any lightly & i mean lightly file them smooth.
Also check all the clutch plate fingers & smooth them down as well.

Reassemble & check the clutch springs as well,they do tend to lose there tension after a lot of miles & there cheap to replace.

cheers

[loadsabikes]

Thanks for your replies, but the clutch is disengaging fully; it isn't dragging, so I don't see how the clutch can be the problem. I spoke to a technician at my nearest Triumph dealer this morning and he said the same as you guys. However, there are several owners on this forum who have had the same problem and it was all down to the oil. My sump was filled with red oil before the trouble started - I'm told this is probably Silkolene so I think the best plan is to buy some more of that and see what happens. I'll keep you posted.

[born to be mild]

Could it be a combination of wrong oil, incorrect chain tension and, if its like mine, wear in the gear lever mounting bush all adding together to make life difficult ?
I hope so .

[loadsabikes]

Well, I promised to keep you posted so here's the latest: I decided to drain the oil and refill with the proper stuff; my local bike shop had some Silkolene semi synthetic so I put this in along with a new filter. Hey Presto! it worked! The gearchange is back to normal although neutral is a bit elusive - would you believe it? In my decades of owning, tinkering and rebuilding bikes I have NEVER come across this before. Yes, the symptoms all pointed towards clutch drag but I knew it wasn't that.
The Sprint is great to ride when it's working properly but all these quirks can be very irritating. Hmmm....reminds me of the old Triumphs I owned years ago (and after my '73 Bonnie I vowed never to buy another).
Only joking! The Hinkley bikes are totally different and I'll learn to love this one when it's sorted. With the help of you guys on this forum I'm sure I'll get there in the end. Thanks again to you all.
Now what shall I tackle next? Neutral light switch, carb balance, upgraded fork springs, grease rear linkage.........................?

[KitNYC]

Neutral should not be elusive. It sounds to me like there is a problem.

Cheers,
-Kit

[Nobeard]

My neutral was elusive at times till I replaced the bush in the gear lever - made every shift much more positive. MotT3 has a walkthrough on his website.