California Vintage 2007 gearbox lever problem

[Richard Tasmania]

I bought my Calvin second hand with 12,000 km on it. I always had trouble getting the right gear, often getting a false neutral. Yesterday it finally would not change gear at all. The gear lever (03258250) fell off. I have not pulled it apart yet but will clean it tomorrow and inspect the damage. I hope the shaft to the gearbox is okay.
It is clearly a problem from the factory that they should be aware of and other owners. Here is a link to a chap who had the same thing happen.  http://www.motoguzzicalifornia.com/2013/11/shift-linkage/
I was stuck in the middle of nowhere and admit my respect has diminished for this bike. Hopefully it can be easily rectified.

[Morizzi]

I was stuck in the middle of nowhere and admit my respect has diminished for this bike. Hopefully it can be easily rectified.

Honestly, a loose nut or bolt 8 years after manufacture and your faith is diminished?  ::)

Lever positions and the adjustments are there for you to set them up to your individual needs. There is a very good chance any PO would have done that. Maybe its something you should have?

There is very little wrong with the T5 box if adjusted to your requirements. In probability the false neutrals were caused by incorrect adjustment and the lever/rod being interfered with by contacting the frame or exhaust.

I would be very surprised if the splined shaft is an issue. Replace it, with a new bolt, new lock nut and then ensure that the linkages can operate as they should.

Rod

[Vagrant]

http://www.guzzipower.com/CalShiftMod-Jeff_B.html
assuming the link works this will make it better than any Jap trans.

[BigDave in PA]

Sounds to me like an owner neglect of maintenance problem. 

[Wayne Orwig]

If I had trouble shifting, I would investigate BEFORE it left me stranded.....  :BEER:

[cwiseman]

Bolt your shift lever back on, then remove the plate on the side of the frame so you can access the linkage. A coue of swivels and the right size allens so you can tighten up the linkage. That will help a bunch, I also suggest replacing the bushing on the shifter with a brass one supplied by board member Lee Bruns. Once all the slop is gone it will shift much better. I also always preload the foot lever before pulling in the clutch for buttery smooth shifts.

[cruzziguzzi]

I started having trouble far enough from new-purchase to know it was not a design/dealer assembly problem but early enough to trip my "oh yeah, it's a new Guzzi" sensors.

Couple-three queered shifts led me to look into it.

Dis-assembly, clean, inspect and reassembly was 25,000 miles ago. No issues to date.

The mods that folk perform are good ideas and had I the knowledge of them and the time, I would not have reassembled the original components but as I in fact have, they seem to be working just fine now.

Diminshed respect for the bike? Hey, it's not like it spontaneously combusted its final drive or ate a valve/holed a piston through a rush to production. ~;

Todd.

[Richard Tasmania]

Thanks for those of you who helped by giving constructive advice. I now know that the lever had slipped on the spline before I bought the bike. I had always been trying to adjust the outer rod with limited success. Taking advice from the helpful people on this forum, and following other online advice, I have now repaired the bike and it is much better than the day I bought it.
The bike was missing gears from the day I bought it. Perhaps that is why the bloke sold it. I assumed it was a problem in the gearbox.
cwiseman, I have a friend who is a fitter and turner, I will ask him to make a brass bush. Now that I have followed the good advice on this forum there is no play back and forwards, just sideways from that point.
I was really worried about how to access the linkage.  I was considering removing the swing arm or alternatively the air box and the cover plate below. Both major jobs. cwiseman, thanks for the tip about the side plate removal. I also took off the accessory plug (cigarette lighter) and this allowed more light to see what was happening. It was all in all a much simpler job than it original seemed and when the new part arrives it will only take an hour or two to replace.

I replaced the allen screw with a hex bolt. I removed the battery and side covers for accessibility. I cut a slight amount off the lever to allow it to close further. I moved the bolt down to the lower hole.  A new lever has been ordered ($106 and 4 weeks delivery). After a short test ride today the bike does not miss any gear. It changes almost as easily as the V7.
This is a great forum. I appreciate helpful advice. It's great when people who don't know each other can support others. Thanks.