atc70 shifting issue

[cybrman]

I recently bought my 5 yr old son his first trike - 1979 atc70.
It has a problem shifting through the gears.

Goes into and out of first no problem. If you try to shift to 2nd it doesn't wanna go, unless you give the gear shifter a flick upward first, then it shifts into 2nd. Same thing going from 2nd to 3rd and then back to neutral.

I can hear something clicking when I pull up between gears. The posts I've read about similar issues reference a detent spring on the shifter lever, and so I'm thinking this may be my situation too.
I tried to download the atc70 manual for a look-see but it won't let me download it though. Says it will cost 21cents. I think damn I was willing to go as high as a buck lol.

For an experienced rider this shifting issue is not a problem as it is real easy to flick it up or down as you go through the gears and back to netural but my 5 yr old doesn't stand a chance at understanding this just yet.

Am I on the right track- detent spring?
How can I download the manual?

Thanks very much.
Rick aka cybrman

P.S. - Great site!! I will be a frequent visitor as I am an obsessive compulsive. All it takes is the first trike and it won't be long before I own a dozen.

[Mr. Richard]

IF ITS THE DETENT ,, its an easy fix,,,, but i wouldn't ride it , the end piece is floating around in there and will mess things up if it goes between the gears,,,,,

[cybrman]

Let me clarify....
The bike rides just fine, no unusual noises coming from transmission.
The clicking I was referring to was when I was playing with the shift lever going through the gears.
For example , push down and I'm in first. If I try and push down again it won't go into second and stays in first. But if I give it a tap up it sounds like something engages like a spring. Now when I push down it goes into second. Then if I push down again it won't go to third. But if I give it a tap up it sounds like something engages and then if I push down it goes to third. If I had the engine running, after each movement the bike still moves forward fine, never pops out of gear, though sometimes if it won't go into gear it is in between and acts like in neutral, and a simple push either way goes into the respective gear.
I don't thinnk there is much probability of causing further damage by riding the bike, though I may be wrong. I'm hoping you thought the clicking was constant in which case I understand the concern.
Anyway thanks for the feedback. I guess I'm gonna check out that spring. I saw a picture of another model and it looked like I can access the spring without taking the case apart? Is that true?
Thanks
Rick aka Cybrman

[Mr. Richard]

WELL IF YOUR GETTING FALSE NEUTRALS DON'T RIDE IT,,,
there is a peice in the transmission that is a common failure,, it will end up between the gears sooner or later,, them you will have a bent shaft or worse,,, here is a picture of the peice , its behind the clutch cover,, pretty easy to get to ,, i have changed several of these that have been broken,,,
http://i22.tinypic.com/161lxg7.jpg

[cybrman]

Thanks for the heads up. I guess I been lucky for the past week we been riding it around the yard. Getting ready to go take er apart and check it out.
I found the part called a shift drum stopper at beatrice cycle so if thats it, I can order about $500.00 worth of wish list stuff along with it...man you can get carried away quick.

[TravEX]

Yeah, hehe, the 70's are an addiction. I go to DRATV.com for 2 or 3 parts and end up with 10 quickly! It's worse than a trip to Wal-Mart! LOL