Modification of Honda Shadow VT750 Chain Drive to Shaft Dr..

On Jan 12, 6:40�pm, "David T. Ashley" <d....RemoveThis@e3ft.com> wrote:
> I have my eye on a Shadow 750 with chain drive. �I know that the Aero, for
> example, has shaft drive. �Is it mechanically possible (and easy) to modify
> a chain drive to a shaft drive when other nearly identical bikes from the
> same manufacturer have shaft drive?

No, it would not be easy, nor cost effective to convert a chain drive
motorcycle to shaft drive. You would have to take the whole engine
apart to change the transmission countershaft, you might also have to
change some transmission gears. You would need a different swing arm
and probably a different frame. You would need a different wheel and
the final drive unit.

The best approach to your situation would be to just buy the shaft
drive bike you want, or buy a chain drive bike and do the endless
cleaning and adjustment of the chain, or do a belt drive conversion.

http://www.scootworks.com/shop.cgi/page=partsh.htm/SID=1200193754.32354
 >> Stay informed about: Modification of Honda Shadow VT750 Chain Drive to Shaft Dr.. 

In article <sIGdnQGJx5W35xTanZ2dnUVZ_tCrnZ2d DeleteThis @giganews.com>,
"David T. Ashley" <dta DeleteThis @e3ft.com> wrote:

> I have my eye on a Shadow 750 with chain drive. I know that the Aero, for
> example, has shaft drive. Is it mechanically possible

If you've watched enough Monster Garage, Monster House, This Old House,
HomeTime, Mythbusters, and Junkyard Wars, you'd know that anything is
mehcanically possible.

> (and easy)

If you missed the subtle message presented in American Chopper, you'd
think it was easy.

> to modify
> a chain drive to a shaft drive when other nearly identical bikes from the
> same manufacturer have shaft drive?

Without drop-in replacement parts for similar bikes, such as the Honda
Revere and the Honda Hawk, I wouldn't do it. If you want shaft drive
that much, buy a bike with shaft drive.

--
Timberwoof <me at timberwoof dot com>
faq: http://www.timberwoof.com/motorcycle/faq.shtml
It's easy to say a war is so important your neighbor should go fight it for you.
 >> Stay informed about: Modification of Honda Shadow VT750 Chain Drive to Shaft Dr.. 

On Jan 12, 7:24�pm, "David T. Ashley" <d....TakeThisOut@e3ft.com> wrote:

> a)What is the "belt gateway" cited for the Shadow 600 (involves cutting the
> swingarm)? �What is a belt gateway?

The Shadow's swingarm has an upper brace that has to be cut so the
endless rubber belt can be installed. On the stock bike, the chain can
be threaded through the brace and the master link can be riveted.
>
> b)Why does the 600 apparently need to have the swingarm cut but the 750 not
> require this?

The 750 doesn't have the upper brace. But you probably have to unbolt
the swingarm to install the belt.

http://demo.motorsportdealers.com/modules/oemparts/partsimage.gifx?t=2...0112210
VT600 swing arm

http://demo.motorsportdealers.com/modules/oemparts/partsimage.gifx?t=2...0112211
VT750DCA swing arm
 >> Stay informed about: Modification of Honda Shadow VT750 Chain Drive to Shaft Dr.. 

In article <660jo3hvmt3dtenm6oovmp4lsvt8u8d1r6 RemoveThis @4ax.com>,
Alan Moore <alan.s.moore RemoveThis @comcast.net> wrote:

> On Sat, 12 Jan 2008 21:40:43 -0500, "David T. Ashley" <dta RemoveThis @e3ft.com>
> wrote:
>
> >I have my eye on a Shadow 750 with chain drive. I know that the Aero, for
> >example, has shaft drive. Is it mechanically possible (and easy) to modify
> >a chain drive to a shaft drive when other nearly identical bikes from the
> >same manufacturer have shaft drive?
> >
> >Thanks.
>
> Possible, definitely. But talk to the manufacturer of the models in
> question to find out how much modification is required. I have a
> moderately well appointed machine shop, and I don't think I'd try
> this.

With a moderately appointed machine shop, plenty of spare time, and a
spare bike, I'd try it.

--
Timberwoof <me at timberwoof dot com>
faq: http://www.timberwoof.com/motorcycle/faq.shtml
It's easy to say a war is so important your neighbor should go fight it for you.
 >> Stay informed about: Modification of Honda Shadow VT750 Chain Drive to Shaft Dr.. 

On Sat, 12 Jan 2008 21:40:43 -0500, "David T. Ashley" <dta.RemoveThis@e3ft.com> wrote:

> Is it mechanically possible

Yes. Practically anything is mechanically possible.

> (and easy)

Of course not.

And you left out:

>inexpensive

ROFL

> to modify
>a chain drive to a shaft drive when other nearly identical bikes from the
>same manufacturer have shaft drive?

All you have to do is jack up the paint and roll a shaft drive bike under it,
and let it back down.

--
Jack
 >> Stay informed about: Modification of Honda Shadow VT750 Chain Drive to Shaft Dr.. 

On Sat, 12 Jan 2008 21:40:43 -0500, "David T. Ashley" <dta.RemoveThis@e3ft.com>
wrote:

>I have my eye on a Shadow 750 with chain drive. I know that the Aero, for
>example, has shaft drive. Is it mechanically possible (and easy) to modify
>a chain drive to a shaft drive when other nearly identical bikes from the
>same manufacturer have shaft drive?

If you have to ask - no.



>
>Thanks.

--
Click here every day to feed an animal that needs you today !!!
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/

Paul ( pjm @ pobox . com ) - remove spaces to email me
'Some days, it's just not worth chewing through the restraints.'
'With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine.'
HVAC/R program for Palm PDA's
Free demo now available online http://pmilligan.net/palm/
 >> Stay informed about: Modification of Honda Shadow VT750 Chain Drive to Shaft Dr.. 

On Sat, 12 Jan 2008 21:55:03 -0500, Jack Hunt <jhunt1x RemoveThis @tds.net> wrote:

>On Sat, 12 Jan 2008 21:40:43 -0500, "David T. Ashley" <dta RemoveThis @e3ft.com> wrote:
>
>> Is it mechanically possible
>
>Yes. Practically anything is mechanically possible.
>
>> (and easy)
>
>Of course not.
>
>And you left out:
>
>>inexpensive
>
>ROFL
>
>> to modify
>>a chain drive to a shaft drive when other nearly identical bikes from the
>>same manufacturer have shaft drive?
>
>All you have to do is jack up the paint and roll a shaft drive bike under it,
>and let it back down.

That's a pretty funny mental image


--
Click here every day to feed an animal that needs you today !!!
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/

Paul ( pjm @ pobox . com ) - remove spaces to email me
'Some days, it's just not worth chewing through the restraints.'
'With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine.'
HVAC/R program for Palm PDA's
Free demo now available online http://pmilligan.net/palm/
 >> Stay informed about: Modification of Honda Shadow VT750 Chain Drive to Shaft Dr.. 

>"???????" <RhiannonX.RemoveThis@gmail.com> wrote in message
>news:67847f23-4080-43a1-bd86-39c08db9296c@m34g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
>On Jan 12, 6:40?pm, "David T. Ashley" <d....RemoveThis@e3ft.com> wrote:
>
>The best approach to your situation would be to just buy the shaft
>drive bike you want, or buy a chain drive bike and do the endless
>cleaning and adjustment of the chain, or do a belt drive conversion.
>
>http://www.scootworks.com/shop.cgi/page=partsh.htm/SID=1200193754.32354

Thanks to everyone for the insight about the difficulty.

Just one question about the belt drive link you provided above:

a)What is the "belt gateway" cited for the Shadow 600 (involves cutting the
swingarm)? What is a belt gateway?

b)Why does the 600 apparently need to have the swingarm cut but the 750 not
require this?

Thanks.

--
David T. Ashley (dta@e3ft.com)
http://www.e3ft.com (Consulting Home Page)
http://www.dtashley.com (Personal Home Page)
http://gpl.e3ft.com (GPL Publications and Projects)
 >> Stay informed about: Modification of Honda Shadow VT750 Chain Drive to Shaft Dr.. 

On Sat, 12 Jan 2008 21:40:43 -0500, "David T. Ashley" <dta.DeleteThis@e3ft.com>
wrote:

>I have my eye on a Shadow 750 with chain drive. I know that the Aero, for
>example, has shaft drive. Is it mechanically possible (and easy) to modify
>a chain drive to a shaft drive when other nearly identical bikes from the
>same manufacturer have shaft drive?
>
>Thanks.

I don't know about a shaft drive conversion but I believe they can be
converted to a belt drive.
http://www.scootworks.com/shop.cgi/page=partsh.htm/SID=PUT_SID_HERE

Considering the value of the bike, is it worth the investment? Why not
just look for a similar bike that is a shafty.


--
See Ya On The Road

2000 Yamaha Venture Millennium
2004 HD Road King
 >> Stay informed about: Modification of Honda Shadow VT750 Chain Drive to Shaft Dr.. 

David T. Ashley wrote:
> I have my eye on a Shadow 750 with chain drive. I know that the Aero, for
> example, has shaft drive. Is it mechanically possible (and easy) to modify
> a chain drive to a shaft drive when other nearly identical bikes from the
> same manufacturer have shaft drive?

You won't be able to wheelie or countersteer anymore if you do!
 >> Stay informed about: Modification of Honda Shadow VT750 Chain Drive to Shaft Dr.. 

>"???????" <RhiannonX RemoveThis @gmail.com> wrote in message
>news:6b5e52f6-79c1-41ae-a755-4fd7f6295b15@v29g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
>On Jan 12, 7:24?pm, "David T. Ashley" <d... RemoveThis @e3ft.com> wrote:
>
>> a)What is the "belt gateway" cited for the Shadow 600 (involves cutting
>> the
>> swingarm)? ?What is a belt gateway?
>
>The Shadow's swingarm has an upper brace that has to be cut so the
>endless rubber belt can be installed. On the stock bike, the chain can
>be threaded through the brace and the master link can be riveted.
>>
>> b)Why does the 600 apparently need to have the swingarm cut but the 750
>> not
>> require this?
>
>The 750 doesn't have the upper brace. But you probably have to unbolt
>the swingarm to install the belt.

Thanks.

The URLs you provided didn't work for me, but I did find diagrams at one of
the online parts places. I found it interesting.

I had never realized that (due to the topology), the chain on the VT600 has
to be installed "in place" (i.e. you can't start with a chain that is
already a continuous loop).

Interesting stuff, man. Interesting stuff.

--
David T. Ashley (dta@e3ft.com)
http://www.e3ft.com (Consulting Home Page)
http://www.dtashley.com (Personal Home Page)
http://gpl.e3ft.com (GPL Publications and Projects)
 >> Stay informed about: Modification of Honda Shadow VT750 Chain Drive to Shaft Dr.. 

"Polarhound" <polarhound DeleteThis @comcast.net> wrote in message
news:2rqdnXBIOdQMPhTanZ2dnUVZ_tjinZ2d@comcast.com...
> David T. Ashley wrote:
>> I have my eye on a Shadow 750 with chain drive. I know that the Aero,
>> for example, has shaft drive. Is it mechanically possible (and easy) to
>> modify a chain drive to a shaft drive when other nearly identical bikes
>> from the same manufacturer have shaft drive?
>
> You won't be able to wheelie or countersteer anymore if you do!

I don't understand your comment. From a layman's point of view (mine), you
should be able to do wheelies with a shaft-drive bike, and also the steering
shouldn't be changed (gyroscopic forces come from the wheels, not very much
from the chain).

--
David T. Ashley (dta@e3ft.com)
http://www.e3ft.com (Consulting Home Page)
http://www.dtashley.com (Personal Home Page)
http://gpl.e3ft.com (GPL Publications and Projects)
 >> Stay informed about: Modification of Honda Shadow VT750 Chain Drive to Shaft Dr.. 

"David T. Ashley" <dta DeleteThis @e3ft.com> wrote in message
news:h_CdnaN2YMoxMRTanZ2dnUVZ_uCinZ2d@giganews.com...

>> You won't be able to wheelie or countersteer anymore if you do!
>
> I don't understand your comment. From a layman's point of view (mine),
> you should be able to do wheelies with a shaft-drive bike, and also the
> steering shouldn't be changed (gyroscopic forces come from the wheels, not
> very much from the chain).

He's referring to the old wive's tale - or rather, old
biker's tale - that "shafties can't wheelie." Complete
nonsense, of course - as you're thinking, put enough
torque in the right place, and sure enough, the front
wheel will come up. Doesn't matter if that torque gets
there through a chain, a shaft, a belt, or by magical
little elves holding hands.

Bob M.
 >> Stay informed about: Modification of Honda Shadow VT750 Chain Drive to Shaft Dr..