I bought a Gem off an old chap a few years back and have been fighting it on and off ever since… for the first time i have finally got her running and took a trip out of the allotment shed…

The gears are horrendous. I can engage first and reverse, the cutters on or off, but it’s all very hit-and-miss.

The clutch lever does seem to work, of a fashion – but there’s a lot of clunking and jerking and it sounds terrible, so am worried i am causing it damage. The “push down clutch lever to operate reverse” doesn’t really seem to make any difference – just pulling up enables reverse to be engage….

The rotors used to turn and cut, but now stop on contact with ground.

I like to think that the bloke who had “restored it” (covered it in fresh orange paint an inch thick) know what he was doing as he had a load of machines. I really don’t want to be taking things apart… plus, it’s stuck in the middle of my allotment.

Are there some simple, first steps that I ought to be looking at – and if so, in what sequence should i focus…. adjustment of clutch control linkages?

Any hints or tips much appreciated.

Tim

The early Gems, had no Rotor Clutch Fibre Disc, It was the same principle as the wheels clutch ,Steel on Steel, If on tightening the rotor clutch bolts, you still have the rotor slipping on contact, it is probably oil leaking out of the chain drive case through a faulty oil seal, When I restored my Gem I made the mistake of following the workshop manual for the later mark, and sent off my clutch disk for a nice new Fibre friction disc to be bonded, when fitted, I could not fit the rotor as it was now too long! I had to chisel the fibre friction plate off, after someone explained it was not supposed to have one. If the main engine clutch is not right, you have plenty of allowances to use by tightening or slacken off the travel, all detailed in the workshop manual, which is a “Must”. Best of luck