Gear Box overhaul 1974 Commando

I'm overhauling the gear box and the numbers matching box had the Portuguese lay shaft bearing, but the shell did not suffer the crack often found between the bearings. I did find, however, a crack in the kick start shaft just above the pawl. Is this a time bomb waiting to explode or also common and the part can remain in service? Thanks for your replies!

If it were me, I'd replace it and along with the kick start pawl. That crack looks to be propagating.

I would replace it as a matter of course, try and determine why it failed, and while taking it apart have a good look at any other parts of that mechanism

It needs replacing. more common on 850s. About $300 from AN. I have a few I'm hording for myself.

Jonez69 said:

I'm overhauling the gear box and the numbers matching box had the Portuguese lay shaft bearing, but the shell did not suffer the crack often found between the bearings. I did find, however, a crack in the kick start shaft just above the pawl. Is this a time bomb waiting to explode or also common and the part can remain in service? Thanks for your replies!
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Very common problem and it's best to change it. They cost a small fortune from AN with duties and tariffs today. I have one new one pre-tariff and I may have a good used one. As others have mentioned, look at the other parts, especially the pawl - they are not very expensive. Email me.

Yes to all the above .
Also inspect the first gear interior ratchet gear cuts for rounding and slippages . No sense just replacing the pawl to a worn interior .
Replace 1 st gear bush , delicate item . If you order in a new 1 st. gear note that it comes with the bush installed and pressed in .

Replace the kickstart spring whilst you have it apart. Not expensive. In fact a good idea to replace all the springs in the box, they are now 50yrs old if original.
The gearchange and pawl springs can be replace without having to undo the gearchange stop plate, so keeping the indexing of the gearchange intact. When renewing the kickstart spring, stone off the sharp edge on the end of the spring that engages with the hole in the shaft, this prevents the spring scoring the shaft as you install it