Getting the bolt that holds the shifter on????

[rombi]

Makes sense that the bolt is at a bad angle. There is like little to no movement on the shifter but I will see if I can lift it so I can get a socket on it.

[ChrisLaw]

This is going to sound weird. If you keep some weight on the up stroke of the gear lever the remote (thats what we are looking at) will come down. (I hope) That should give you a bit more clearance, then you should be able to get a spanner on it to undo it.

Suzuki mad.

This is what I was going to suggest, I share the same shifter as you and I replaced my bolt with a SS socket head to make this whole job easier as well.

[themess]

One other suggestion: Start another thread, with a title asking for photos of a 1977 GS550E. Might be a big help. It would at least identify some owners of the same model, and one of them must have done this when changing their chain.

[TheBigRed]

Doesn't sound weird at all. The shifter lever has to have a position in which there is easy access to the bolt. Maybe rocking the chain a bit will allow moving the shifter lever into a position in which there is access. Or removing a cover, or both.

It would help to see a clear photo from another GS650E. And, I guess, that a GS550E would be very similar.

Ask and you shall receive!!

I just had to take mine off again yesterday to place a proper spacing washer on the counter shaft. So, I took the time to take a couple of pictures.

First shot is showing the proper angle of the shift linkage. From the pictures above I think someone did not properly install it correctly, or it wasn't tight enough and skipped a couple of teeth on the shaft.


Here is a picture with my 3/8" ratchet and socket on the bolt, showing that at the right angle it shouldn't be any trouble:


And Here it a picture with my 1/4" ratchet as well.


See if they give you any idea of how it should actually work..

Also as mentioned before, you can't just cut the head of the bolt off, as the shaft has a ridge that the bolt rides in and if you cut the head off you are sorry out of luck.

Also, for the one that mentioned removing the cover, you can't as the shaft goes through the cover, so to remove it would require breaking it or cutting it which would be even more costly.

Let me know if you want any more pictures and I'll see what I can do.

Amos

[rombi]

Got it off thanks/ I am still stuck with the big nut job. Trying to scroung the right size socket and a little luck trying to break it loose.

[TheBigRed]

Got it off thanks/ I am still stuck with the big nut job. Trying to scroung the right size socket and a little luck trying to break it loose.

You are looking at getting a 32mm socket, mine came as a 1/2 drive, so if you don't have a 1/2 ratchet, you'll probably have to pick that up as well.

As for breaking it loose, first check the "lock" washer, it should be bent over on one of the flats of the nut, bend it back flat. Then I would put the shift linkage back on (without the cover installed and for this you shouldn't have to put the bolt in) and shift it into gear and remove it. Then use the ratchet to break it loose.


If it hasn't been off in some time you may have some difficulty, but it should come off.

Hope that helps..