LCGB Forums

Hi all,

Anyone able to tell me the length of a new/good condition selector spring please? I've got various springs of various lengths but I don't know which are kickstart piston springs (long and tough), weak kickstart piston springs, nice condition (long'ish) gear selector springs and/or soft old short worn gear selector springs?! Currently, my gear selection if pretty nasty and I've a feeling that it is down to me putting in a kickstart piston spring in error

Ta

Adam

Really, before answering this, do be aware that you need to consider the compressed length which will be a factor of both the number of coils & material section.

Ultimately, it's the 'spring rate' that you should consider.

So 'my' answers are a nominal 12 mm compressed spring with about 11 complete coils (though some are less @ 10-1/2) & a section of Ø 1 mm

'Your' answer is about 25 mm free length, dependent upon manufacture

I have my favorite supplier but you certainly didn't ask that, either....

I dn't have any measurements Adam but I did re-assemble my gearbox on Sunday so the experience is still fresh in my mind My spring is an original Italian LiS one and with the spring and both ball bearings in place the balls were just beyond the outside circumference of the layshaft but were easily pressed inside the Jubilee Clip I use to hold them in place while manoeuvrings the sliding dog. Once the Jubilee Clip is in place it takes very little leverage with a couple of electrical screwdrivers to compress the balls enough to get the dog to slide over them if the makes sense? I reckon I would have struggled with a kick start piston spring

The gearbox has very nice feel, not too stiff and it doesn't jump out of gear

Thanks guys.

WT1 - Yep, not interested in supplier in this instance as I want to determine the difference between items that I already have, rather than source any others... but thanks.

Yes, I do appreciate the comments about different elements of spring characteristics but am pretty sure that the selection that I have will be used and/or NOS, gear selector and/or kickstart, but all standard factory spec, so aftermarket and/or uprated should not come into it.

Coaster - It seems as though you had to go to considerable lengths to fit yours, whereas I typically find I can manage by hand. Interesting to hear that yours functions reasonably though, not too tough.

Any more advances on length of standard components? Length of standard kickstart piston spring? Length of gear selector spring?

Thanks guys.

Adam

Hi Chaps,
When struggling with the springs and ball bearings I found that screwdriver bits fitted into the grooves and then it was easy to compress the springs.
Grandpa

Pretty sure I read on Restorations site that selector springs are 0.8 mm and kickstart 0.9 mm gauge, that's how I sort mine.

Wack wrote:Pretty sure I read on Restorations site that selector springs are 0.8 mm and kickstart 0.9 mm gauge, that's how I sort mine.

That's probably correct as what I have will almost certainly be the up-rated type, as I've not fitted standard to anything for years.

I've also never had a real battle in fitting the type of up-rated spring that I've given measurements on, as long as there are chamfers to aid fitting.

Wack wrote:Pretty sure I read on Restorations site that selector springs are 0.8 mm and kickstart 0.9 mm gauge, that's how I sort mine.

Ta

Adam_Winstone wrote:...Coaster - It seems as though you had to go to considerable lengths to fit yours, whereas I typically find I can manage by hand. Interesting to hear that yours functions reasonably though, not too tough.

My selector only has the minimal ramp so it won't ride over the balls without assistance.