T500 gear box shaft (input)
Moderators: oldjapanesebikes, H2RICK, diamondj, Suzsmokeyallan
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- On the street
- Posts: 22
- Joined: Fri Jan 31, 2020 3:18 pm
- Country: United Kingdom
- Suzuki 2-Strokes: T500
T500 gear box shaft (input)
Hi, the parts diagram shows the input shaft as one piece, but on the shaft on my bike there are 2 sleeves between 3rd and 4th gear which must mean the shaft has been built up. So...…. is it possible to split and re-build this shaft to make a good one out of a bad one.
I've just split my engine to do the oil level mod and check the condition of the gearbox and the only real wear / pitting is to 1st gear (one behind clutch bearing ???).
I planned buying a shaft with the probable shagged 4th and 5th gears (but with a decent 1st) and swapping the gears over.
Is this possible...any thoughts?
Thanks
Phil
I've just split my engine to do the oil level mod and check the condition of the gearbox and the only real wear / pitting is to 1st gear (one behind clutch bearing ???).
I planned buying a shaft with the probable shagged 4th and 5th gears (but with a decent 1st) and swapping the gears over.
Is this possible...any thoughts?
Thanks
Phil
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- Yeah Man, the Interstate
- Posts: 633
- Joined: Fri Aug 11, 2017 7:09 am
- Country: england
- Suzuki 2-Strokes: several gt250 ramairs
Re: T500 gear box shaft (input)
hi phil, if they're the same as the gt250 shafts, then yes. 2 of the gears on the 250 have a circlip affair that holds them in place. remove that and you can remove the gear
cheers, dd.

cheers, dd.
GTS250 road registered. TS250 engine, Ramair frame.
GT250 big bang road registered. Both pistons fire the same time. USD forks.
GT285 road registered. Overbored - 58mm and TS125 +2 pistons fitted.
GT10 road registered. '65 T10 engine, GT250 frame.
GT250 big bang road registered. Both pistons fire the same time. USD forks.
GT285 road registered. Overbored - 58mm and TS125 +2 pistons fitted.
GT10 road registered. '65 T10 engine, GT250 frame.
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- On the street
- Posts: 22
- Joined: Fri Jan 31, 2020 3:18 pm
- Country: United Kingdom
- Suzuki 2-Strokes: T500
Re: T500 gear box shaft (input)
Hi, no circlips on this shaft I can see.
I've attached a couple of photos.
The two right hand side gears (1st and 2nd ???) are machined as part of the shaft.
The other 3 gears must have been built onto the shaft because the 2 spacers in between rotate freely on the shaft.
Are the other gears pressed / keyed on the shaft??
Just wondering if anyone had stripped one of these shafts before.
Thanks
Phil
I've attached a couple of photos.
The two right hand side gears (1st and 2nd ???) are machined as part of the shaft.
The other 3 gears must have been built onto the shaft because the 2 spacers in between rotate freely on the shaft.
Are the other gears pressed / keyed on the shaft??
Just wondering if anyone had stripped one of these shafts before.
Thanks
Phil
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
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- Yeah Man, the Interstate
- Posts: 633
- Joined: Fri Aug 11, 2017 7:09 am
- Country: england
- Suzuki 2-Strokes: several gt250 ramairs
Re: T500 gear box shaft (input)
hi phil, if you get no joy on here, try this place https://ozebook.com/suzi/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; there's absolutely tons of stuff on the 500's, but whether it will sort you out only time will tell
cheers, dd.

cheers, dd.
GTS250 road registered. TS250 engine, Ramair frame.
GT250 big bang road registered. Both pistons fire the same time. USD forks.
GT285 road registered. Overbored - 58mm and TS125 +2 pistons fitted.
GT10 road registered. '65 T10 engine, GT250 frame.
GT250 big bang road registered. Both pistons fire the same time. USD forks.
GT285 road registered. Overbored - 58mm and TS125 +2 pistons fitted.
GT10 road registered. '65 T10 engine, GT250 frame.
-
- On the street
- Posts: 22
- Joined: Fri Jan 31, 2020 3:18 pm
- Country: United Kingdom
- Suzuki 2-Strokes: T500
Re: T500 gear box shaft (input)
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Suzuki-T500- ... 4298617425" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Looks like this listing answers my question.
It appears other gears are simply pressed / shrunk onto the shaft.
Phil.
Looks like this listing answers my question.
It appears other gears are simply pressed / shrunk onto the shaft.
Phil.
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- To the on ramp
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- Joined: Fri Nov 07, 2008 3:01 am
- Location: Tallinn, ESTONIA
Re: T500 gear box shaft (input)
Those spacers were used on early T500's and disappeared later on. 3th, 4th and 5th gears are just press fit (not keyed).
You're on the safe side with 10 ton press, don't even try a 3 arm puller.
You're on the safe side with 10 ton press, don't even try a 3 arm puller.
1x T500 Cobra (1968)
4x T500K (1973)
4x T500K (1973)
- jabcb
- Moto GP
- Posts: 4310
- Joined: Mon Dec 13, 2010 4:32 pm
- Country: USA
- Suzuki 2-Strokes: 69 T350 thru 75 GT750
- Location: southwestern Pennsylvania
Re: T500 gear box shaft (input)
Are the early & later T500/GT500 transmissions interchangeable?argo1974 wrote:Those spacers were used on early T500's and disappeared later on. 3th, 4th and 5th gears are just press fit (not keyed).
You're on the safe side with 10 ton press, don't even try a 3 arm puller.
Just bought a complete used 75 T500 transmission for my spares collection.
Have a 69 T500 that didn’t run when I bought it -- tranny condition is TBD. Can a use the 75 tranny in the 69?
BAS (Bike Acquisition Syndrome) - too many bikes but have room for more
Suzuki:
GT750 2x75
GT550 72 & 75
GT380 72
T500 69 project & 73 project
T350 69 & 71
Honda 85 CB650SC & 86 CB700SC
09 Triumph Bonneville SE
Suzuki:
GT750 2x75
GT550 72 & 75
GT380 72
T500 69 project & 73 project
T350 69 & 71
Honda 85 CB650SC & 86 CB700SC
09 Triumph Bonneville SE
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- To the on ramp
- Posts: 206
- Joined: Fri Nov 07, 2008 3:01 am
- Location: Tallinn, ESTONIA
Re: T500 gear box shaft (input)
They are all interchangeable throughout the T500/GT500 production run from 1968 to 1976. Later transmissions are more durable because of updated parts.
E. g. Suzuki used higher quality steel for some gears.
E. g. Suzuki used higher quality steel for some gears.
1x T500 Cobra (1968)
4x T500K (1973)
4x T500K (1973)
- jabcb
- Moto GP
- Posts: 4310
- Joined: Mon Dec 13, 2010 4:32 pm
- Country: USA
- Suzuki 2-Strokes: 69 T350 thru 75 GT750
- Location: southwestern Pennsylvania
Re: T500 gear box shaft (input)
Thanks. Knew about the T500 tranny oil level fix but didn’t know they also improved gear durability.
BAS (Bike Acquisition Syndrome) - too many bikes but have room for more
Suzuki:
GT750 2x75
GT550 72 & 75
GT380 72
T500 69 project & 73 project
T350 69 & 71
Honda 85 CB650SC & 86 CB700SC
09 Triumph Bonneville SE
Suzuki:
GT750 2x75
GT550 72 & 75
GT380 72
T500 69 project & 73 project
T350 69 & 71
Honda 85 CB650SC & 86 CB700SC
09 Triumph Bonneville SE
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- On the street
- Posts: 46
- Joined: Wed Sep 23, 2020 10:33 am
- Country: Finland
- Suzuki 2-Strokes: 1973 T500
Re: T500 gear box shaft (input)
Don't know how relevant this still is but I stripped three of these shafts to make one good one just heated it up with a hot air gun and pressed apart and back together no keys and the rotational position of the gears does not matter when assembling. Def. recommend a 10ton press my 6 ton was making some awful noises 
