Neutral
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 804
Likes: 237
From: TN
With new bikes the clutch can be draggy. A couple of things you can do easily. To run the clutch in, you drop it into first, apply the front brake and slowly let the clutch out and let it slip a little, do that a couple of times, don’t stall the engine, or try starting out in 2nd gear at an intersection/light a couple of times, that’s all it should take. Make a note of where the clutch starts to engage, and your free play, mine had to be adjusted a couple of times under 1k.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 5,276
Likes: 4,055
From: central Fl
i have no problem finding neutral. but one of my buds wanted to ride my fatboy and he has a 21 roadking. i couldnt wait to see how the roadking drove. i used to have a roadking and miss it very much. first shift i could Not get it past neutral when shifting. then had to really push it hard to get past neutral into 2nd gear. not that way on my fatboy. but not hard to find either.
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 158
Likes: 57
From: Sh*tty of Lost Angels
I found it a lot easier to find neutral after the last service with HD putting in their Heavy gear oil 70w-140 synthetic in the transmission and primary, 2018 Sport Glide with 15k miles.. Maybe this works for you at your 5000 mile service too.
Last edited by Astro Glide; Mar 6, 2023 at 10:08 PM.
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 952
Likes: 528
From: Richmond TX
Maybe I got lucky or maybe it's the miles. Actually, not that many around 16k. I adjusted the clutch cable a couple of times but what really helped was going through the whole procedure starting with the clutch itself. It is tougher to go down from 2nd, but coming up from 1st it's almost like it's a Suzuki, neutral is there every time whether rolling or stopped.
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Advanced
Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 78
Likes: 37
From: Roseville,CA & Grangeville,ID
I plan on adjusting the clutch at the first service (~1K-miles). I'm going to use HD tune-up kit for the first service. On a not related topic any idea what the spark plug gap and torque is?
Can't find any service manuals available online and the dealer says not out yet for a 2023.
I'm a retired mechanic, ex-dirt and street racer since the 70's.
Can't find any service manuals available online and the dealer says not out yet for a 2023.
I'm a retired mechanic, ex-dirt and street racer since the 70's.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 4,798
Likes: 5,889
From: Knoxville
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Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 158
Likes: 57
From: Sh*tty of Lost Angels
I plan on adjusting the clutch at the first service (~1K-miles). I'm going to use HD tune-up kit for the first service. On a not related topic any idea what the spark plug gap and torque is?
Can't find any service manuals available online and the dealer says not out yet for a 2023.
I'm a retired mechanic, ex-dirt and street racer since the 70's.
Can't find any service manuals available online and the dealer says not out yet for a 2023.
I'm a retired mechanic, ex-dirt and street racer since the 70's.
I gap at .030" and only check plugs if hard to start or I see a lot of the wrong colored carbon exhaust on the inside of my tailpipe after a decent 30 minute freeway run. Fuel injected and a proper tune eliminate a lot of these problems.
Torque should be the same as in 2022. Use factory plugs with a fat electrode, you need that fat spark to ignite a lot of fuel initially to fill that fat 4 inch bore.
Last edited by Astro Glide; Mar 8, 2023 at 01:14 AM.
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 471
Likes: 311
From: FL winter, northern MI summer
The spark gap and torque is in your owner's manual also, it's in the Specifications section towards the front. On page 34 of my manual, but mine is a 2021, should be close. .03-.04 gap, and 89-133 inch pounds torque.
My neutral was pretty much non-existant. The dealer re-adjusted the clutch, no help. I adjusted it to both ends of the spec, and in between. I changed out the primary oil to Red Line and that seemed to help. It is getting better, at 14,000 miles, but most times slams into gear if I do find neutral and then go to first. I just start it in gear, the slamming can't be good on the compensator. I think some clutches just take a lot longer to break in that others. I've learned to go with the flow.....
My neutral was pretty much non-existant. The dealer re-adjusted the clutch, no help. I adjusted it to both ends of the spec, and in between. I changed out the primary oil to Red Line and that seemed to help. It is getting better, at 14,000 miles, but most times slams into gear if I do find neutral and then go to first. I just start it in gear, the slamming can't be good on the compensator. I think some clutches just take a lot longer to break in that others. I've learned to go with the flow.....