I just bought a new 2015 fat boy lo a month ago. I cannot find neutral with toe up from first. It always goes into second no matter what and I even have to put plenty pressure for it to more up. I have only succeeded by using heal down method and even this way it gives me trouble. To get into neutral with toe up I need to turn bike off. Is this normal? Advice appreciated.

 

Neutral is sometimes hard to find. Just practice and try different levels of pressure. Also, on my bike, I find it easier to get into neutral when I only engage the clutch halfway.

If you can do it successfully with the heel shift, you should be able to find the sweet spot with the toe with practice. But you could also just give up on the toe and exclusively use the heel to pop into neutral.


Question for you...how often do you find yourself even needing to get into neutral?

 

Take it back to the Dealer and have the clutch adjusted.

 

Is it hard all the time? Just after start-up? At normal operating temperature? Sitting on a level surface in first gear with the clutch lever pulled in, does the bike try to creep forward a little bit?

Could be you just need to get used to how a Harley tranny feels, or your clutch could be dragging, which would need an adjustment.

 

No, it is not normal. H D's can be difficult if clutch not properly adjusted and the correct amount of oil in the primary/chaincase compartment. As others have said, take it back to the dealer. Don't except the answer, "that is normal".

 

Since you mention it takes a good amount of pressure for it to move up I would contact the dealer. I had a similar issue when I bought my 2010 FXDC but since the break-in period it's been as smooth as butter. It definitely is a bit more tricky when the bike is cold but not as hard as difficult as it seems to be for you.

 

On my heel toe shifter I find it easier to put my foot on top of both shifter arms to be able to find it easy

 

This is the correct answer, the number 1 reason for not being able to find neutral is clutch drag. A clutch adjustment is a simple procedure, perform it cold. At the lever beware of too much freeplay at the clutch cable ferrule; too much freeplay and the clutch can drag no matter how accurately you adjust the clutch pack. Most new HD's I've seen on the dealer's floor have more clutch cable freeplay than they need which could cause the clutch to drag making neutral difficult to find...

 

I once heard an old time biker, when someone complained that he was having trouble finding neutral, say "Some things aren't meant to be easy."

 

I had the same problem on a new Electra Glide. For me, the answer was a combination of breaking in the tranny and using different fluid. At about 5k miles the whole bike seemed to start loosening up and the 6 speed got much better. Also at 5k i put in Redline shockproof transmission fluid. The problem is now solved.