In preparation for changing sprockets and chain I just opened up the sprocket housing...

And hoo-boy! is there a lot of gunk in there! Any tips for
a) getting the housing super-clean and
b) keeping it that way?

When I changed my sprocket, got an old screwdriver and scooped all the old crud out (there was a lot ), then spray gunk and an old rag to clean the rest then wd40 for that nice finish (not that anyone will see it except you).
To keep it clean you'll have to remove the cover now n again to clean it, maybe combine it with a yearly/winter clean?

Cheers Derek,
Having seen what it's like, I'll definitely be cleaning it out on a regular basis! Gotta get hold of some molybdenum disulfide as well.

yeah, basicaly just scrape it right out, time n patients and wd40 i used, think i used some degreaser too but watch out where you spray it, dont know if theres anything that can be fudged by it , i sprayed it onto a plate brush pole (kitchen plate cleaner thing lol) and went mad.

Well I've cleaned it out, but after re-attaching the cover and adjusting the clutch cable I can't get through the gears properly!

Sometimes it'll only shift down to 1st and refuse to go up from neutral, other times it'll get up to 5th but no further.

Is this a classic case of 'clutch not disengaging?' I've been using the Haynes guide for clutch cable adustment.

did you remove the gear change linkage by any chance?

Make sure part number 9 on this link: http://www.cmsnl.com/honda-vfr400r3-199 ... _0800.html is still in there.

Cheer guys, got it sorted in the end.

Well what was it in case anyone else has this problem?

failed thread