Quaife 5 speed conversion

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pete.v

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I plan on rebuilding my gearbox this winter. The gears are worn, bushes getting sloppy and the the shafts are not too great anymore.

I am not looking for racing gears but Quaife has a 5 speed kit Road type for the AMC shells. This seems to be a viable option for me due to the amount of parts I wish to replace. They also have to option of a reversed cam plate. Would this give me a 1 down 4 up situation?

Has anyone done or know anyone who has done this type of endeavour?
http://www.quaife.co.uk/shop/products/qmca1h
 
Hi there,

Yes I did it. I had the 5 speed along with reverse camplate (reverses shift pastern) and strengthened shell. After about a year I decided to go back to 4 speed as I really did not need the 5 (I had 21 tooth). The only thing I kept was the shell and I still have it in the bike. My original gearbox shell was cracked between the 2 bearings. I think from a cool factor the 5 speed was good, but unless on the track you probably won't like it. Not sure what others think?

Cheers-Jerry
 
Jerry Doe said:
Hi there,

Yes I did it. I had the 5 speed along with reverse camplate (reverses shift pastern) and strengthened shell. After about a year I decided to go back to 4 speed as I really did not need the 5 (I had 21 tooth). The only thing I kept was the shell and I still have it in the bike. My original gearbox shell was cracked between the 2 bearings. I think from a cool factor the 5 speed was good, but unless on the track you probably won't like it. Not sure what others think?

Cheers-Jerry
Click to expand...

Hey there, JD. Whats happening? How ya been?
I sort of agree with ya. The torque of a Norton for around the town riding is pretty awesome.
What did you do with the kit?
 
Theres 3 sets of ratios there .

With a nastie combat cam , or 3S , getting the clutch in clean , takes some attention .
Standard cam it pulls like a tractor , you just ' let the clutch in ' .

Summer time bike ??

Getting out of the greasey toll gates in winter , trying not to upset the blokes eardrums , stalling likely , or wheelspin . ( we call this a hash action :lol: )
Thing ran 23 teeth , a 30 % lower 1st would have made life easier , and wheelstands available on demand in first . Without getting all intense or going stoopid .

Classic Racer mag has ads for two types of 5 million dollar high strength race gearsets , 5 & 6 speed . If youre rich uncles recently . . Er .

These things have nasty drum index cams , to speed up the shift .


SO , The ' Cam Plate ' type , is traditional period spec , Quaife was Available to order :lol: .Fitted to 72 yellow bikes usually .

The CAMPLATE is available west or east . as in Mirror pattern , for maintaing Norton pattern with Gearlever Reversed .


A lower first would get you up the back lawn to the shed easier, less likely to knock over the shrubbery . :D
 
Why change from the racing change 1 up 3 down, this is the way Nortons has been, I like it and have no troubles going to other gear changes on other bikes but alway perferr the Norton change, alot smoother in my opion.

Ashley
 
ashman said:
Why change from the racing change 1 up 3 down, this is the way Nortons has been, I like it and have no troubles going to other gear changes on other bikes but alway perferr the Norton change, alot smoother in my opion.

Ashley
Click to expand...
I hear that. When at a stop light waiting in neutral and i see the light is getting ready to change, I pull in the clutch and lift the lever with my heel. I look about to see if anyone noticed that subtle but cool move. I would miss that.

I am just thinking that a complete kit may be more cost effective than trying to buy it all piece by piece. A stock kit with all the gears, shafts and bushes would be attractive but all i have seen is either the RGM close ratios setup or the Road ratio Quaife 5 speed that include shafts. I understand why of course.
 
I bought the Quaife Surtees five speed for my Vincent 1360 engine. Now it probably only needs 3 gears with the available torque, but the Quaife gives you a very smooth shifting box and costs no more than the standard 4speed Vincent cluster, which is a slow shifting affair.
In the case of the Norton 4 speed, you already have a great shifting unit and the five speed is just one more gear to shift, I wouldnt bother with a five speed either.

Glen
 
I don't have a Quaife 5 speed, but for the street I thought the deeper 1st gear would allow you to run a 23 or bigger counter shaft sprocket, leaving 5th as an overdrive. Still have a pretty good get-away gear, yet reduce the cruising RPM. IIRC correctly, the AMC gearbox 4th and the Quaife 5th are both 1:1.
 
JimC said:
I don't have a Quaife 5 speed, but for the street I thought the deeper 1st gear would allow you to run a 23 or bigger counter shaft sprocket, leaving 5th as an overdrive. Still have a pretty good get-away gear, yet reduce the cruising RPM. IIRC correctly, the AMC gearbox 4th and the Quaife 5th are both 1:1.
Click to expand...
Thanks, Jim. These are all good things to concider.
 
I've purchased 2 with the strengthened shells, one was for a Triton and the other in Commando,
I only bought the second one coz I was so pleased with the first, I can remember commenting to my mates after fitting the first one ," its like riding a Honda 4"
meaning that the ratios were close together which made for smooth riding,
I know from previous comments on this forum that not everyone likes them , I do , to the extent that 2 years ago I considered producing my own, but gave the idea away as I believe there would be to many comebacks with guys abusing them and blowing trannies, of course any breakages by abuse would come back to me the supplier, i dont need that. shame they are so expensive.
 
Hi Pvisseriii

On my road bike I fitted the Quaife close ratio 4 speed. Never had problems with the stock box, just wanted to close up the gap between 2nd & 3rd. After running 5 speeds on the race bike, I would definately fit a 5 speed to a revvy 750 road bike.
If you do! you wont go back.
Chris
 
Chris said:
just wanted to close up the gap between 2nd & 3rd. Chris
Click to expand...

Didn't the Commandos come from the factory with a new gearset for 1974 that did this?
 
When I had the five speed quaife I also had rearsets, reverse cam, megacycle cam radiused followers, 2 x MK2 amal 34MM with ported head etc etc. It was fun for a while, then I purchased a Triumph sprint ST and at that point wondered why I did all that. I rode the norton with this setup for a long time and it was fun in the local mountains but sucked around town. Finally I decided to de-tune and go back to stock cam and gearbox (except for shell) and now have the single carb setup and roadster look (I am thinking about selling my interstate tank/side panels and seat). I am extremely happy with the way my bike runs and feels, but I had to do all those performance upgrades just to see how it was. I think the only change I want to make now is go back to twin carbs, but too lazy to do it! For me its all about easy starting (pazon) and so long as it does 80 all day (it does) I am fine.

One thing about the quaife shell: I remember I had to grind it a bit to make it fit in the cradle (where bolt lugs are).

My good friend Ron Fraturelli has the 5 speed internals. I swapped it all for something, but can't remember what it was. Getting old.

Anyway I am heading out on bike right now- Have fun

Here is how my bike looks right now. Can't wait to power up in a few mins- cya later




Cheers-Jerry
 

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The 850 got a taller 2nd ratio, more likely d/t noise regulations, but was one of the best factory upgrades I did on Peel for great passing/racing gear and a good bit less risk to downshift to 2nd and not skip tire out if not on throttle or clutch feathering. 5 sp would be nice if hobby was staying in power band but below redline in twisty conditions when too fast for 2nd yet too slow for normal 3rd ratio to pull hard immediately. Otherwise with good torque tune, like in past Peel. I'd often start off in 2nd and skip 3rd to hit 4th for normal-ish riding range. Cdo are so board range power unless trying for max G's on cam constantly, another gear or 2 is just something else to distract from lovely thoughtless flowing Commando.

Would be really cool if Norton had come up with infinitely variable automatic.
 
Man, you sound a lot like me, trying whatever is out there just to see how it works for you, keeping some and leaving the other.

I have sent Quaife a message asking for a quote. May I ask what you paid for this at the time you got it? I am assuming that it is the same thing i am looking at. http://www.quaife.co.uk/shop/products/qmca1h

Jerry Doe said:
When I had the five speed quaife I also had rearsets, reverse cam, megacycle cam radiused followers, 2 x MK2 amal 34MM with ported head etc etc. It was fun for a while, then I purchased a Triumph sprint ST and at that point wondered why I did all that. I rode the norton with this setup for a long time and it was fun in the local mountains but sucked around town. Finally I decided to de-tune and go back to stock cam and gearbox (except for shell) and now have the single carb setup and roadster look (I am thinking about selling my interstate tank/side panels and seat). I am extremely happy with the way my bike runs and feels, but I had to do all those performance upgrades just to see how it was. I think the only change I want to make now is go back to twin carbs, but too lazy to do it! For me its all about easy starting (pazon) and so long as it does 80 all day (it does) I am fine.

One thing about the quaife shell: I remember I had to grind it a bit to make it fit in the cradle (where bolt lugs are).

My good friend Ron Fraturelli has the 5 speed internals. I swapped it all for something, but can't remember what it was. Getting old.

Anyway I am heading out on bike right now- Have fun

Here is how my bike looks right now. Can't wait to power up in a few mins- cya later


Cheers-Jerry
Click to expand...
 
unless Quaife have changed their policy, the 5 speed was not available from them, I think you have to purchase from Mick Hemmings , or maybe some other distributor
 
A TTI box from New Zealand is about $5000 ( Australian) with the aluminium shell. Based on the Quaife. THe direction of the shift is easily changed on any gearbox by simple refitting one of the levers, and rerouting the linkage. The reason Norton boxes are one up, three down is that when push starting your bike in a race you use first gear, then when y ou step over your foot pushes the change into second.
 
In case you didn't know, Andover Norton now has complete gearboxes for 750 and 850 Cdo's. Made using the original drawings, and modern materials as req'd. Three units available; one with a low second gear for early units up to 306590, one with a higher second gear, and gearboxes for electric start Mk111s. $2,650.00 (approx.). I know this thread is about the Quaife gearbox, but I figured someone might want to know that these are available. Saw a pic and small article in current Motorcycle Classics magazine, Sept/Oct issue page 86.
 
Snorton74 said:
In case you didn't know, Andover Norton now has complete gearboxes for 750 and 850 Cdo's. Made using the original drawings, and modern materials as req'd. Three units available; one with a low second gear for early units up to 306590, one with a higher second gear, and gearboxes for electric start Mk111s. $2,650.00 (approx.). I know this thread is about the Quaife gearbox, but I figured someone might want to know that these are available. Saw a pic and small article in current Motorcycle Classics magazine, Sept/Oct issue page 86.
Click to expand...
Absolutely. Thanks, snort.
 
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