I have a 98 Road King Classic that I just picked up this past winter and this is my first Harley. Today on the way home I was sitting at a long light and was going to shift it into neutral while I waited. It's not something I normally do so I don't know if it's always been like this or not. But, while sitting in 1st gear I could not get the shifter to come up to neutral. It felt like if I pulled much harder the shifter might break.

Has anyone else experienced this or have any ideas?

Thanks

 

First off, did you try rolling it forward or back and then shift? Also, check the amount of oil in your primary to see if its overfilled. Just a few ideas to check.

 

Have you checked your lubricant levels? Gear lube? Primary lube? Have you adjusted your clutch? Clutch cable? Do you have the service manual?

 

I did try rolling forward and back to take any pressure off but to no avail. I just had a full service performed with all fluids changed. There are no issues shifting when the motor is off. It shifts through all the gears fine with no issues just doesn't seem to want to go into neutral while running.

I don't have the Harley manual but do have the Clymer manual.

I had thought about checking the clutch cable but didn't know that fluid levels could cause this issue. I will double check them as well.

 

Check the clutch adjustment and cable tension.

 

If the clutch adj is correct, there's probably too much oil in the primary. Only needs 1.13L...oops I mean one quart for our American Bros.

 

Not sure if this may lesson some of your worries, but my bike is in tip top shape mechanically and it has always been very difficult to get into neutral while running.

 

It is easier to shift into neutral while the bike is running with a heel shifter. That said I took my heel shifter off years ago. I very rarely shift into neutral while the bike is running.
Tom

 

I'm bewildered as to how often I see this issue posted. I've never had a problem on my 08 Heritage. A gentle nudge up from 1st every time gets me there. Took the heel shifter off when I bought it. Maybe my Harley is bwoken

 

I'm going with the overfilled primary on this one.