Downshift issues...normal?
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 110
Likes: 2
From: NC
Cool, thanks for the replies. Glad I'm not the only one. I may play around with some other fluids and see if it happens again. FWIW I saw no difference in anything by going to Redline. I was hoping but no dice.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 2,199
Likes: 282
From: Long Island NY
I drained out the Formula+ about 2500 miles ago and put in Redline Primary Oil hoping it would quiet things down in the primary. It hasn't, noise seems worse down there plus I do have shifting problems similar to what you describe. Seems to get caught up between gears while downshifting, have to let out the clutch a bit to get it to engage. I'll be changing back to Formula+ in 500 miles at the 10K service.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,867
Likes: 268
From: People's Republic of Boulder Colorado
I drained out the Formula+ about 2500 miles ago and put in Redline Primary Oil hoping it would quiet things down in the primary. It hasn't, noise seems worse down there plus I do have shifting problems similar to what you describe. Seems to get caught up between gears while downshifting, have to let out the clutch a bit to get it to engage. I'll be changing back to Formula+ in 500 miles at the 10K service.
I had rented a '15 Limited earlier in the year, and immediately noticed all the noise and shifting problems it had - nearly impossible to find neutral when stopped, clank-bang shifts etc. Also, after starting it in neutral and going to 1st, it sounded like I'd dropped a bowling ball onto a garbage can lid!
Mine was identical to the rental on the ride from the dealership to my shop. I had already ordered and received a Baker Attitude Adjuster and I installed it at 62 total miles after the bike had cooled to room temp. When I took the primary cover off, the chain had no slack and was super-tight, and it gets considerably tighter when the bike's hot. The super-over-tightened chain was trying to drive the tranny through the bound-up clutch freewheel bearing when the clutch is disengaged. Once the over tightening was eliminated, everything worked as it should have in the first place.
I also put Redline in the primary and tranny, but the manual adjuster is what made everything work right. No lubricant can do anything about that POS auto-adjuster that comes on these bikes.
And yes, it's a bit of a hassle to remove the primary cover at the service intervals to check the adjustment, but for me it's more than worth it.
Last edited by jpooch00; Aug 5, 2015 at 08:09 AM.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,867
Likes: 268
From: People's Republic of Boulder Colorado
If you're patient and follow all of the instructions, both in the service manual and those that come with the adjuster to the letter, you should have no problem.
I have to say, though, that I just couldn't make myself go to the torque spec of 12 ft. lbs. on those 1/4" cover screws! I went to ten and called it good. I'm not recommending this to anyone, but I just couldn't put that much force on those little screws!
Last edited by jpooch00; Aug 5, 2015 at 03:57 PM.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,878
Likes: 164
From: Northern California
If you are changing fluids anyway, I would recommend Spectro 6 speed HD full synthetic transmission fluid and Spectro full synthetic primary fluid. I learned about it from Baker. It's there top recommend fluids. Have been very happy with how it performs. My 14 Limited shifts very easy. A noticeable difference from syn3 that I was using. IMHO
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,599
Likes: 421
From: Lansing mi
I'm kind of glad to hear this, my 14 King is the same, and I have Red line in the trany. I think I will go back to the Harley Formula plus.
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2013
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From: Upper Providence Pa
I have all HD fluids in my bike and it does the same IF, I am not paying attention and stopping bike before returning to 1st gear. If downshifting while bike is moving there has never been an issue... Finding neutral, easy peasy if still rolling. Regardless of fluids used!!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
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I have all HD fluids in my bike and it does the same IF, I am not paying attention and stopping bike before returning to 1st gear. If downshifting while bike is moving there has never been an issue... Finding neutral, easy peasy if still rolling. Regardless of fluids used!!