Sportster "skipping" in first gear

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Sportster "skipping" in first gear

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Harley Davidson Forum >> General Harley Davidson Tech Forums >> Primary/Transmission/Driveline/Clutch >> Sportster "skipping" in first gear

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Sportster "skipping" in first gear - 5/17/2008 4:16:55 PM

Workinman

Posts: 3
Joined: 5/17/2008
Status: offline

I posted this over in the Sportster section, but thought I would put it here too.
Thanks for any help.
Hey guys, (and gals)
I have an odd one here. I recently added a 2002 Sportster Custom to the stable and I'm having a problem with the transmission that I can't quite figure out. Hopefully someone here has experienced this and can steer me in the right direction. Here goes...
Sometimes when I put the bike in gear and take off, it "slips" a couple of times almost like it's missing a few teeth off of first gear. However, it doesn't do it every time, and nothing I do seems to make it do it, or not do it. In other words, it doesn't matter if I put the bike into first firmly, or softly, and it doesn't seem to matter whether I go into first from neutral or from second gear. Sometimes it will skip, and sometimes it won't. If I had to guess, I would say it probably does it a little more when it's cold, but it still does it when it's hot.
I have adjusted the clutch, and the primary, and checked everything I can think of. I also have removed the forward controls, so the shifter is directly on the shift shaft now.
Is there a way to "adjust" the shifting mechanisim on these bikes? I don't have a service manual for the bike yet, so I don't know where else to look.
Thanks for any help you can give. I'm open to any and all suggestions.

Thanks,
Chris

Post #: 1

RE: Sportster "skipping" in first gear - 5/18/2008 9:48:05 AM

G Rod

Posts: 116
Joined: 7/12/2007
From: Cave City, Ky.
Status: offline

Sounds to me someone(previous owner) tried to stomp the tranny out of it. I have seen bent shifter forks cause that on metric bikes, not going all the way in gear.

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Gary
2007 FXSTC
V&H BSS+Fuelpak
SE Air Cleaner
Amsoil
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(in reply to Workinman)

Post #: 2

RE: Sportster "skipping" in first gear - 5/19/2008 1:59:37 PM

KBFXDLI

Posts: 8071
Joined: 2/4/2006
From: Cleveland, Ohio USA
Status: offline

The transmission is foot-operated by the gear shifter lever,

which transmits the force through a gear shifter shaft. The

shifter shaft actuates a pawl and a shifter fork drum. The

shifter fork drum moves shifter forks, which slide a series of

shifter clutch gears, on the mainshaft and countershaft, into

and out of mesh with the other gears.

This is the description of the shifter mechanism from the 2005 xl service manual which is probably similar to your setup. My guess is you have a problem with this system. I would first look at the shifter shaft & pawl. Then the shifter drum & forks. While it is possible you have teeth missing on a gear, I doubt that is the issue. Somebody probably just banged on this mechanism and it needs adjustment or some new parts. You could have a fork that is worn and not engaging the gear all the way all the time. Get a service manual if you are going to dig into it.

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06 FXDLI

Our contest is not only whether we ourselves shall be free, but whether there shall be left to mankind an asylum on earth for civil and religious liberty. Sam Adams

(in reply to G Rod)

Post #: 3

RE: Sportster "skipping" in first gear - 5/28/2008 6:31:57 AM

Tiggy

Posts: 165
Joined: 12/20/2006
Status: offline

I have exactly the same problem. Spoken to a few mechanics and they seem to think its a breathing problem from the carb, coupled with the fact that in first gear there is very little work for the motor to do( sorry I dont know the technical term). Its not anything to do with the gear shift as it would happen all the time. This is what puzzled me. Why could I go days with no problem then 3 or 4 times in one ride. I had a hypercharger fitted and recently tuned again but it still jumps in first occassionally.

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2000 XLH883 Stage I with Hypercharger in UK