Longer Shift Rods

AchyGrappler · May 19th, 2017, 07:42 PM

Hey all,

I'm working on some rear set relocation brackets for my 2004 pregen track bike and have just about finished them up. Does anyone know of some way to extend the shift rod or of a shift rod around 6.25 inches long from some other bike that I could get? Everything I have found is in SAE for the Harley crowd. Thanks.

Z1R rider · May 19th, 2017, 07:58 PM

What I did for mine was to cut the rod in half and weld in a piece of 1/4" rod the length I needed, then painted and reinstalled.

AchyGrappler · May 19th, 2017, 09:14 PM

That would give me an excuse to get a welder. I also need to weld nuts onto the back of the plate for the OEM rear sets to bolt into...

tgold · May 20th, 2017, 04:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AchyGrappler

That would give me an excuse to get a welder. I also need to weld nuts onto the back of the plate for the OEM rear sets to bolt into...

I've done this exact thing.

After about 20 years of telling myself I would love to have a TIG welder I finally bought a DC200 from Eastwood and I've been having a ball with it for about 3 years now. My latest project has been welding-in aluminum mounts to put my R3 motor in an FZR400 frame.

Having a welder allows so much more flexibility in building race bikes. I say: Go for it!

Z1R rider · May 20th, 2017, 04:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AchyGrappler

I also need to weld nuts onto the back of the plate for the OEM rear sets to bolt into...

I just drilled and tapped the plate I made, I used 1/4" aluminum. I did over tighten a couple of the bolts and they started to strip, so I used longer bolts and put a nut on the backside.

AchyGrappler · May 20th, 2017, 05:16 AM

That Eatwood looks like a nice welder, but I need a solution I can execute in a week and a half before I go to Buttonwillow for another track day. Besides I've never tig welded and I probably have to get new phones this week so welder money is otherwise spoken for.

I had thought about just tapping the plates, but felt better having the extra meat of a captive nut with the 3/16" plate I'm using.

Triple Jim · May 20th, 2017, 06:17 AM

I can't remember... is it right and left hand threaded like a turnbuckle, or both right? McMaster-Carr has a pretty good selection of threaded rod, including high strength metric.

AchyGrappler · May 20th, 2017, 07:07 AM

The shift shaft side is left hand, the lever side is right Han. Both are M6x1.0 thread. If I had a Harley different length rods are a dime a dozen with 1/4-20 threading.

Why can't we just use metric for everything? It would be so much easier.

Triple Jim · May 20th, 2017, 07:21 AM

McMaster-Carr has M6x1 left hand dies, but they're $29 plus shipping. With some 6mm rod and a M6x1 right hand die, you could make them about any length you wanted. Not cheap, but cheaper and quicker than a welder.

AchyGrappler · May 20th, 2017, 12:03 PM

I went with about $3.50 using some metric screws and a M6 coupler. A little Locktite and some jamb nuts in the right spot and all is good.

Don't know why the pic is inverted, but you get the idea.

Triple Jim · May 20th, 2017, 12:20 PM

Looks good from here.

cbinker · May 20th, 2017, 01:14 PM

i picked up one of these:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/252298729129...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

GregS · May 20th, 2017, 07:22 PM

Just buy a dirt bike shifter and reverse it, nice direct connection and no rods needed. Only drawback is you're stuck with GP shift, but I prefer it anyway.

cbinker · May 20th, 2017, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GregS

Just buy a dirt bike shifter and reverse it, nice direct connection and no rods needed. Only drawback is you're stuck with GP shift, but I prefer it anyway.

thought about that, but the shift rod was cheaper, and not sure about the amount of damage to the tranny in the event of a crash.

Triple Jim · May 20th, 2017, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GregS

Only drawback is you're stuck with GP shift, but I prefer it anyway.

That's the first change I make to any motorcycle I buy, reversing the shift pattern. The first time I did it was around 1979 before it was called "GP shift" because it seemed to make much more sense to me, and I've loved it ever since.

AchyGrappler · May 20th, 2017, 07:52 PM

A dirt bike shifter, what an elegant idea I it's simplicity. I shall do that as well! I think I can adapt my plate for a BMX peg also...

Cheers for that idea.

GregS · May 20th, 2017, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AchyGrappler

A dirt bike shifter, what an elegant idea I it's simplicity. I shall do that as well! I think I can adapt my plate for a BMX peg also...

Cheers for that idea.

You are most welcome

You can also use dirt bike stands in the hollow foot pegs, much easier than messing with regular stands

AchyGrappler · May 21st, 2017, 03:11 AM

I did the triangle stand at my last track day using the swinarm pivot hole. So easy to move the back aroud without having to drag my rear stand too.

May 19th, 2017, 07:58 PM	#2
Z1R rider ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Roger Location: Mitchell, South Dakota Join Date: Apr 2014 Motorcycle(s): 1978 Z1R, 1999 EX250 Posts: A lot. MOTY - 2018, MOTM - Oct '16	What I did for mine was to cut the rod in half and weld in a piece of 1/4" rod the length I needed, then painted and reinstalled. __________________________________________________

May 19th, 2017, 09:14 PM	#3
AchyGrappler Motorbike Obsessed Name: Me Location: SoCal Join Date: May 2015 Motorcycle(s): 2004 Kawasaki EX250, 2004 Yamaha FZ1, 2006 Honda CRF 450 Flat Track Race Bike Posts: 133	That would give me an excuse to get a welder. I also need to weld nuts onto the back of the plate for the OEM rear sets to bolt into... __________________________________________________ My race Ninja build and more motorcycle content. My Motorbike Obsessions

May 20th, 2017, 05:16 AM	#6
AchyGrappler Motorbike Obsessed Name: Me Location: SoCal Join Date: May 2015 Motorcycle(s): 2004 Kawasaki EX250, 2004 Yamaha FZ1, 2006 Honda CRF 450 Flat Track Race Bike Posts: 133	That Eatwood looks like a nice welder, but I need a solution I can execute in a week and a half before I go to Buttonwillow for another track day. Besides I've never tig welded and I probably have to get new phones this week so welder money is otherwise spoken for. I had thought about just tapping the plates, but felt better having the extra meat of a captive nut with the 3/16" plate I'm using. __________________________________________________ My race Ninja build and more motorcycle content. My Motorbike Obsessions

May 20th, 2017, 07:07 AM	#8
AchyGrappler Motorbike Obsessed Name: Me Location: SoCal Join Date: May 2015 Motorcycle(s): 2004 Kawasaki EX250, 2004 Yamaha FZ1, 2006 Honda CRF 450 Flat Track Race Bike Posts: 133	The shift shaft side is left hand, the lever side is right Han. Both are M6x1.0 thread. If I had a Harley different length rods are a dime a dozen with 1/4-20 threading. Why can't we just use metric for everything? It would be so much easier. __________________________________________________ My race Ninja build and more motorcycle content. My Motorbike Obsessions

May 20th, 2017, 01:14 PM	#12
cbinker Track Clown Name: Chris Location: Kingman, AZ Join Date: May 2012 Motorcycle(s): '08 250R, 21 MV F3 800, Kawasaki 400 build Posts: A lot. MOTM - Sep '15	i picked up one of these: http://www.ebay.com/itm/252298729129...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT __________________________________________________ TEAM ALFALFA www.apexassassins.com

May 20th, 2017, 06:17 AM	#7
Triple Jim Guy Who Enjoys Riding Name: Jim Location: North Carolina Join Date: Jul 2016 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250 Posts: A lot. MOTM - Oct '18, Aug '17, Aug '16	I can't remember... is it right and left hand threaded like a turnbuckle, or both right? McMaster-Carr has a pretty good selection of threaded rod, including high strength metric.

May 20th, 2017, 07:21 AM	#9
Triple Jim Guy Who Enjoys Riding Name: Jim Location: North Carolina Join Date: Jul 2016 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250 Posts: A lot. MOTM - Oct '18, Aug '17, Aug '16	McMaster-Carr has M6x1 left hand dies, but they're $29 plus shipping. With some 6mm rod and a M6x1 right hand die, you could make them about any length you wanted. Not cheap, but cheaper and quicker than a welder.

May 20th, 2017, 12:20 PM	#11
Triple Jim Guy Who Enjoys Riding Name: Jim Location: North Carolina Join Date: Jul 2016 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250 Posts: A lot. MOTM - Oct '18, Aug '17, Aug '16	Looks good from here.

May 20th, 2017, 07:22 PM	#13
GregS ninjette.org member Name: Greg Location: San Antonio Join Date: Dec 2014 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 300, GSXR-750, Ducati M1100 Posts: 185	Just buy a dirt bike shifter and reverse it, nice direct connection and no rods needed. Only drawback is you're stuck with GP shift, but I prefer it anyway.

May 20th, 2017, 07:52 PM	#16
AchyGrappler Motorbike Obsessed Name: Me Location: SoCal Join Date: May 2015 Motorcycle(s): 2004 Kawasaki EX250, 2004 Yamaha FZ1, 2006 Honda CRF 450 Flat Track Race Bike Posts: 133	A dirt bike shifter, what an elegant idea I it's simplicity. I shall do that as well! I think I can adapt my plate for a BMX peg also... Cheers for that idea. __________________________________________________ My race Ninja build and more motorcycle content. My Motorbike Obsessions

May 21st, 2017, 03:11 AM	#18
AchyGrappler Motorbike Obsessed Name: Me Location: SoCal Join Date: May 2015 Motorcycle(s): 2004 Kawasaki EX250, 2004 Yamaha FZ1, 2006 Honda CRF 450 Flat Track Race Bike Posts: 133	I did the triangle stand at my last track day using the swinarm pivot hole. So easy to move the back aroud without having to drag my rear stand too. __________________________________________________ My race Ninja build and more motorcycle content. My Motorbike Obsessions

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