Modied gear lever for a disabled motorcyclist
Modied gear lever for a disabled motorcyclist
(OP)
Hi
I'm designing a hand gear shift to replace a foot shift for a disabled motorcyclist, similar to this:

I have an issue with vibration though, as there is a lot of backlash in the gear shaft and the shift lever oscillates about two inches in each direction. The gentleman I am building this for has difficulty in catching the moving lever. I've tried using springs and/or dampers but that makes the lever too hard to shift. Has any one an idea on how I can keep the lever from moving without making it too hard for the rider to change gear?
Thanks you
I'm designing a hand gear shift to replace a foot shift for a disabled motorcyclist, similar to this:

I have an issue with vibration though, as there is a lot of backlash in the gear shaft and the shift lever oscillates about two inches in each direction. The gentleman I am building this for has difficulty in catching the moving lever. I've tried using springs and/or dampers but that makes the lever too hard to shift. Has any one an idea on how I can keep the lever from moving without making it too hard for the rider to change gear?
Thanks you





RE: Modied gear lever for a disabled motorcyclist
Dan - Owner
http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com
RE: Modied gear lever for a disabled motorcyclist
Other than that, reducing clearance is of great importance and increasing stiffness near any joints is important. Reducing mass far away from the pivots/joints also helps.
For example, if parts are carefully reamed to size instead of drilled very small clearances can be achieved. Making the pivots longer allows thicker parts, which increase leverage and increase stiffness. And using steel for high stiffness near pivots, but bolting on aluminum levers. For example - the item shown could lose almost half the vibrating weight by replacing the part of the shifter above the bend with a similar thickness of aluminum. This would significantly reduce the torque from vibration at the pivot.
If you look at the taper in the thickness of a leaf spring stack you can see the progression of material to resist the force applied.
RE: Modied gear lever for a disabled motorcyclist
You don't ride along with your foot resting right on the gear change lever at all times but just make contact up and down when you need to. Try and copy that.
Couldn't you make an electric solenoid type actuator which works off a push button or buttons?
Remember - More details = better answers
Also: If you get a response it's polite to respond to it.
RE: Modied gear lever for a disabled motorcyclist
You could buy one- depending on the motorcycle in question. If it's a sportbike there is is most likely an off-the-shelf kit.. they're not all that expensive.
TransLogic is my personal favorite (I'm not affiliated, just used their product a few times) but there are many companies building these kits.
http://www.translogicusa.com/powershifters.php
RE: Modied gear lever for a disabled motorcyclist
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P.E. Metallurgy, Plymouth Tube
RE: Modied gear lever for a disabled motorcyclist
you might want to have this post moved to the Motorcycle Engineering forum, may get more exposure
RE: Modied gear lever for a disabled motorcyclist
Have you looked at a ball detent assembly?
RE: Modied gear lever for a disabled motorcyclist
I've already tried out a solenoid shifter but the rider has difficulties operating the clutch and pressing the correct button simultaneously.
RE: Modied gear lever for a disabled motorcyclist
Is there anything else the rider can do while riffing worth both hands and squeezing the clutch lever? Squeeze a button with his or her knee? Blow or suck on a tube in the helmet? Pre choosing up or down and then using the clutch lever to do both actions?
Remember - More details = better answers
Also: If you get a response it's polite to respond to it.
RE: Modied gear lever for a disabled motorcyclist
There is an automatic (centrifugal) clutch which is available for dirt bikes but the name of it escapes me right now.
For drag racing applications there is what they call a "slider" clutch which is basically centrifugal engagement. (Don't use a "lockup" - that's not the kind you want.) The slider clutches will ordinarily be calibrated to engage at high engine RPM and aren't designed for street use, but perhaps something could be adapted.
RE: Modied gear lever for a disabled motorcyclist
Did you put shifter controls on the same side as the clutch handle? They should be on the throttle side.
RE: Modied gear lever for a disabled motorcyclist
RE: Modied gear lever for a disabled motorcyclist
https://rekluse.com/
https://rekluse.com/faq/
If the rider has to hand shift, this would free up the clutch hand to be able to do so.
RE: Modied gear lever for a disabled motorcyclist