1986 Fat Cat questions

[darrel632]

I bought an 86 Fat Cat for parts, managed to get it running but it won't shift into gear, everything in the right side is there, is there a particular setup to get everything to engage? Auto clutch is ok everything else seems ok and I really don't want to split this thing in half to find I'm missing some weird little techinque to set up the shifting mechanism.
Thanks for any forthcoming help.
Darrel

[Dirtcrasher]

Darrel, I'm not sure what side the external gearshift linkage (meaning not a "splitting the case" issue) is on that motor but I imagine it's on the left side. Look at a parts fiche and see where it is. MANY gearshift issues are NOT in the center case, but merely an issue under one of the side covers, whichever side advances what your foot is doing and holds it in a selected gear. Take THAT sidecover off and inspect.

I've bought many a machine "must have a bent shift fork" or "tranny is blown" to open it up and find a broken pin, spring, bolt etc etc and they were all very easy to fix. For you to say it does nothing, no gears at all, I'm fairly confident in telling you it's a simple issue that can be fixed fairly easily.

Like I said, look at a diagram or better yet, the service manual and take that cover off. Lots of times at that point I have someone spin the rear tires while I pop the shift lever back on and shift it while watching whats happening. Some shift drums have a center bolt and just a dowel pin holding the "star" to the drum; You'll find a holding lever against that star somewhere. I have seen that bolt come loose and the pin shear, thus never rotating the drum internally.

Let us know what you find.

[darrel632]

Auto clutch is on the right, shifter is on the left, a rod runs through the transmission for shifting, you can spin the chain and see nothing in the transmission (rightside) move, It feels like it shifts down (towards neutral) and doesn't shift up towards the gears, I guess the next step is tear the leftside covers off and see what I can see.

Darrel

[WIkid500]

Doesn't Honda run an all downward push to upshift the gears on their auto shifts? 1-5 you press down, and pull up for neutral.

[MNATC]

Nope, Honda eventually changed (when I'm not sure) to a standard motorcycle pattern on the auto clutches, first down, rest up. Messed with me the first time I started up the motorcycle from riding the BR all winter. Kept trying to click down for second. The shift pattern should be on the left side cover near the shifter.