No Clunk
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,784
Likes: 92
From: Michigan
BTW, ATF did nothing for the clunk in that bike either.
I just finished checking the rod clearance for the clutch pull and it was .085. the books says .080 minimum clearance so well within specs there.
The clunk is what it is I guess just seems a lot more than on previous bikes.
Last edited by Just Me; Jun 21, 2015 at 04:19 PM.
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 1,057
Likes: 10
From: SF Bay area
Curious if you tried Mobil 1 ATF? I tried various other types... Type F, Dexron, etc. with poor results. Mobile 1 and Redline high temp syn ATF worked well for me.
That was all about the cold start klunk. For the warmed up klunk, I found a marked improvement using 7 ounces of Lucas non-syn oil stabilizer in the trans with Bel-Ray V-Twin gear oil. Trans temp went down 20 degrees when hot also. The tranny fluid thins when hot & the Lucas helps offset that.
That was all about the cold start klunk. For the warmed up klunk, I found a marked improvement using 7 ounces of Lucas non-syn oil stabilizer in the trans with Bel-Ray V-Twin gear oil. Trans temp went down 20 degrees when hot also. The tranny fluid thins when hot & the Lucas helps offset that.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 20,880
Likes: 33,837
People lets keep in mind you are sitting inches away from a big v-twin motor that has no sound insulation and you are going to hear all kinds of noise from metal part working together. It is what it is.
You're not in your wife's sound proof car with the jukebox blaring.
You're not in your wife's sound proof car with the jukebox blaring.
Last edited by zoozoo; Jun 21, 2015 at 05:55 PM.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 2,199
Likes: 282
From: Long Island NY
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 335
Likes: 5
From: Vermont
I run Redline transmission shock proof and the Redline Primary oil in my 14 SGS. The clunk is still there. The only way to stop it from clunking is to pull in the clutch, rock the bike back and forth with the motor running and then put it into gear. Then it goes in smoothly. If you don't rock it, then it still clunks. For those of you that say your bike doesn't clunk at all, are you rocking it? Or does it always go into gear with zero clunk?
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 713
Likes: 97
From: Castle Rock, Colorado
IUOE ROB; Thanks for the feedback. The dealer carriers RL primary @ $18.95, and of course you must buy two. They know it's for the primary, says so, but still 32 oz. you'd think they'd make it 38 oz. Oh yeah the bottom line again, rip-off'd again.
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 779
Likes: 31
From: Earth
I'm always worried that no clunk means it's not fully in gear..... I've even been known to put it back in neutral and into first again to make sure..... My old Road Star popped out of 1st into neutral almost too easy. I'm ok with the way my Street Glide works. The EITMS being on is the most annoying sound mine makes. It's embarrassing but I'd rather put up with that than overheat......
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 2,199
Likes: 282
From: Long Island NY
You're welcome...yeah, I now have 26 ounces left, it's either use Red Line for my next service and buy one additional quart or I just paid $35 (price of 2 qts.) to change the primary fluid. Oh well...
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 9,741
Likes: 1,599
From: Danbury CT
Just FYI, Shell Rotella T in my primary in both bikes. As good as anything else at 1/3 the price. Very quiet in my 06 & great in the 09. It clunks when the revs are high (cold) & is like butter when I hold the clutch in for 3-4 seconds.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 9,741
Likes: 1,599
From: Danbury CT
No Clunk
So I walk into a supply shop today and on the shelf is red line primary for $15.99 a Qt. I scratch my head and decide let's give this a try. Came home and drained the Rotella T and put in the red line. Took the bike out for an hour and absolutely no difference. Doesn't shift any smoother although I have no complaints to begin with. When it wants to make a clunk it does and when it wants to click in smoothly it does. The red line made absolutely no difference and its almost three times the price. I think my clutch and primary with the compensaver is running really well and between the Rotella and the red line I don't feel or hear any difference. For those of you that find red line to be the save all I don't buy it. It's not any worse but its not any better. They both work well.