Neutral
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 158
Likes: 57
From: Sh*tty of Lost Angels
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 has 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 has the flow.....
I've never owned any other brand of motorcycle that "clunks" on gear shifts from 1st through 3rd the way this HD does, and especially the first shift into 1st gear. It's really obnoxious and sound very bad, mechanically to the guts inside the primary, clutch and gearbox, it can't be good for it.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 10,216
Likes: 224
From: Glendale AZ
Put some miles on those clutch plates and it'll lighten up. I used to click my peddle up to neutral on my RK as I was coming to a stop. Adjusting the clutch-plates became a useless endeavor on that bike. Most of the HDs I've had rarely required clutch adjustments, just clutch lever slack...
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 1,317
Likes: 728
From: Pennsylvania
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.
One of the bikes I rode while doing my research was a 21 Fat Boy 114. It put me back in the seat and took me down the road like nobody's business! For other, more important reasons (to me), I chose a Heritage instead - a 2019. There are so many factors that go into really enjoying a bike. You can't just search online and/or walk into a dealership and be stricken with excitement and sign the paper an hour later. That's a start but it has to be a feel. Like a pair of pants. Let's face it, we all have 4 or 5 pairs of jeans in our closet, the same size and style. Tell me some don't different. That did happen to me when I saw my 02 Wide Glide. Anyway...
Thread Starter
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Advanced
Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 78
Likes: 37
From: Roseville,CA & Grangeville,ID
I'm finding neutral about 50% of the time using the inward pressure trick that some have mentioned here. It's been raining almost every day here and dealing with the wife's medical appointments daily, so only rode it for 5-short rides (be easy on me, <50-miles on her).
One thing that concerns me is all the noise coming from everywhere (mainly the engine and exhaust). Coming from Japanese sports bikes for 50+ years never heard anything like it. I'm half deft from shooting and work but can still hear all the noise. Guess it's just something to get use too. My Father (WW2 pilot) and his brothers all rode Harleys and Indians until they passed, now I'm repeating their journey.
Thank you all for the input.
One thing that concerns me is all the noise coming from everywhere (mainly the engine and exhaust). Coming from Japanese sports bikes for 50+ years never heard anything like it. I'm half deft from shooting and work but can still hear all the noise. Guess it's just something to get use too. My Father (WW2 pilot) and his brothers all rode Harleys and Indians until they passed, now I'm repeating their journey.
Thank you all for the input.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 10,216
Likes: 224
From: Glendale AZ
I'm finding neutral about 50% of the time using the inward pressure trick that some have mentioned here. It's been raining almost every day here and dealing with the wife's medical appointments daily, so only rode it for 5-short rides (be easy on me, <50-miles on her).
One thing that concerns me is all the noise coming from everywhere (mainly the engine and exhaust). Coming from Japanese sports bikes for 50+ years never heard anything like it. I'm half deft from shooting and work but can still hear all the noise. Guess it's just something to get use too. My Father (WW2 pilot) and his brothers all rode Harleys and Indians until they passed, now I'm repeating their journey.
Thank you all for the input.
One thing that concerns me is all the noise coming from everywhere (mainly the engine and exhaust). Coming from Japanese sports bikes for 50+ years never heard anything like it. I'm half deft from shooting and work but can still hear all the noise. Guess it's just something to get use too. My Father (WW2 pilot) and his brothers all rode Harleys and Indians until they passed, now I'm repeating their journey.
Thank you all for the input.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 3,159
Likes: 2,202
From: College Station, TX
Getting more miles on it will likely help. And tell the service dept about the problems and noises when it has it's first service.
But, when shifting from neutral to 1st, pull in the clutch lever and hold it for about a minute and accelerate the engine slightly, letting to return to idle before trying to shift into 1st. And don't try to shift it like a sport bike, no speed shifting. Pull in the clutch and gently shift to the next gear and then accelerate.
Paul
But, when shifting from neutral to 1st, pull in the clutch lever and hold it for about a minute and accelerate the engine slightly, letting to return to idle before trying to shift into 1st. And don't try to shift it like a sport bike, no speed shifting. Pull in the clutch and gently shift to the next gear and then accelerate.
Paul
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Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 10,216
Likes: 224
From: Glendale AZ
Getting more miles on it will likely help. And tell the service dept about the problems and noises when it has it's first service.
But, when shifting from neutral to 1st, pull in the clutch lever and hold it for about a minute and accelerate the engine slightly, letting to return to idle before trying to shift into 1st. And don't try to shift it like a sport bike, no speed shifting. Pull in the clutch and gently shift to the next gear and then accelerate.
Paul
But, when shifting from neutral to 1st, pull in the clutch lever and hold it for about a minute and accelerate the engine slightly, letting to return to idle before trying to shift into 1st. And don't try to shift it like a sport bike, no speed shifting. Pull in the clutch and gently shift to the next gear and then accelerate.
Paul
Thread Starter
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Advanced
Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 78
Likes: 37
From: Roseville,CA & Grangeville,ID
Today I changed the trans and primary fluid along with adjusting the clutch, made a drastic improvement. I find neutral 90% of the time now verses <50% of the time.
Just need to get use to bike and stop comparing it to my bikes of the past. Take care and thank you for the input...
Just need to get use to bike and stop comparing it to my bikes of the past. Take care and thank you for the input...