gearbox camplate reversal?

Satan's Aardvark · Apr 9, 2022

Swapping from LS gearchange to RS gearchange bikes is never a problem for me, but the Norton shift pattern always gets me after riding other bikes. While I've got the gearbox apart for a rebuild, is it as simple as reversing the camplate and taking care to reindex it? No major traps?

Cheers

jan nelder · Apr 10, 2022

buying the alternative camplate from Andover.

gforce · Apr 10, 2022

In my experience, reversing a standard plate doesn't work properly.

As @jan nelder says though, a reversible one is now available from Andover:

https://andover-norton.co.uk/en/shop-details/23241

This wasn't available when I did mine so I ended up doing it the hard way.
...I didn't realize at the time that they are glass hard, so it was a real ball ache.

Satan's Aardvark · Apr 10, 2022

Glad I asked, thanks, camplate ordered

ashman · Apr 10, 2022

If you can get use to a right foot gear change surely you can get use to changing the Norton the right way, the proper way one up three down, the way it should be, but then that's my opinion, I have no problem with left to right gear change as I know which bike I am riding at the time and when I first rode my Norton from only riding Honda dirt bikes it only took me a close incounter just around the corner from the dealers to learn the gear change and a little while after to train the brain to know which way is which and in my opinion the Norton's have got it right and the rest got it wrong.

Ashley

marshg246 · Apr 10, 2022

ashman said:
If you can get use to a right foot gear change surely you can get use to changing the Norton the right way, the proper way one up three down, the way it should be, but then that's my opinion, I have no problem with left to right gear change as I know which bike I am riding at the time and when I first rode my Norton from only riding Honda dirt bikes it only took me a close incounter just around the corner from the dealers to learn the gear change and a little while after to train the brain to know which way is which and in my opinion the Norton's have got it right and the rest got it wrong.

Ashley

So, you think little bitty Norton knew more than Triumph, BSA, et. Al. You be crazy

Kidding aside, I've ridden MANY more miles right shift one down and 3/4 up British bikes. I have to think about shifting on my Nortons. I've had people who are used to left shift tell me it's hard to shift Triumph but easy to shift Norton. My theory is that muscle memory doesn't come into play when you switch sides but does when you stay on a side but switch direction.

BTW, downshifting by lifting up - not logical, IMHO! When slowing pressing down with your left foot and lifting up with your right?

ashman · Apr 10, 2022

Like I say its my opinion and have rode and owned many British and Japanese bikes as well my modern Triumphs in the last 49 years and find the Norton shift is the best and on my Norton its the smoothest, but its up to what works with each other and of course its your own bike to do what work for you, to me its just easier to train your brain to know what bike you are riding and what shift patten it has, why change something that works so well, same as some want to change a right shift to left, make no sense to me be easier to buy the right bike in the first place.
I owned my Norton the longest of all my bikes (46 years now) I would not of kept it if I couldn't get use to the right gear change.

marshg246 · Apr 10, 2022

ashman said:
Like I say its my opinion and have rode and owned many British and Japanese bikes as well my modern Triumphs in the last 49 years and find the Norton shift is the best and on my Norton its the smoothest, but its up to what works with each other and of course its your own bike to do what work for you, to me its just easier to train your brain to know what bike you are riding and what shift patten it has, why change something that works so well, same as some want to change a right shift to left, make no sense to me be easier to buy the right bike in the first place.
I owned my Norton the longest of all my bikes (46 years now) I would not of kept it if I couldn't get use to the right gear change.

I understand and if I could have afforded it, I would have bought an 850 in 73 when I first rode a friends. In 1968 I bought a Triumph 500 which was stolen in 1970. Then I built a basket case Triumph 500 in 1971 and still have it. So, I've ridden Triumph for 54 years. BTW, why 500 rather than 650? Insurance back then cost more than double for larger than 500cc for an 18 year old.

gforce · Apr 11, 2022

@ashman slightly different for me. All my right change bikes are Nortons, so one up three down

...except one, which has rearsets, and a reversed pedal instead of a linkage.
By changing the camplate, it meant I could keep the one up three down layout, which I really like.

The MK3 is the other way round, but because the gear change is on the other side, it really doesn't challenge my little brain.
...to date, I have never stood on the brake instead of changing gear either, so I count myself lucky there!

Anglophile · Apr 11, 2022

gforce said:
@ashman
...except one, which has rearsets, and a reversed pedal instead of a linkage.
By changing the camplate, it meant I could keep the one up three down layout, which I really like.

A reverse cam plate would be great with the cNw rear sets…..just gotta convince my wife.

gearbox camplate reversal?

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