Helping a friend with his '81 FX Shovel 4 speed. He tore down the bike to re-gasket and paint. So it's re-assembled and running. Problem is there's no tranny action. You can "throw" the lever even without the shifter hooked up and there's nothing going on. Just sits in neutral. No clunk or shift type feeling either running or shut off. Clutch in or out makes no difference either.

I assume the top has to come off but not exactly sure what came loose. It drove into the garage before the teardown.

Anyone run into this?

 

Sorry man that is a turtle top transmission and I am not familiar with those. Try posting in the shovel head section you may get better results.

 

I rebuilt my 5 spd tranny for my 05 softail deluxe a year ago.
I know it isn't the same, but I remember watching a youtube video of a shop class instructor teaching kids on an old 4 speed harley trans tear down and rebuild, and I think the fundamental parts are the same as mine. It sounds like the drum inside the tranny isn't getting engaged to turn. The drum has cam channels that move dogs which engage the shafts and gears and change the gears. There's a pawl and pawl spring that engages a fitting on the end of the drum, turning it. It's probably stuck in one position,not springing back. If you have a genuine service manual for the bike, you'd probably see it right away from trans section pics.