Sooooo I'm reluctant to ask this because I'm afraid of how much the answer might cost.

Few years ago when I got my bike, I found a "hidden neutral" in between 4th and 5th gear.

The other day I found it again between 2nd and 3rd.

This only happens when I accelerate/shift quickly. I'm betting its because I don't pull my foot all the way back when shifting. I'm wondering if it might also be because of a bent fork? Maybe clutch might be going bad? I'm planning on changing my transmission and primary fluids this weekend, so I can check for shavings then.

While I have salivated over getting an OD6 and King Kong Klutch from Baker, its not in the budget right now....and if I'm going to do it I'd like to do it with that 124" kit from S&S as well as other various aftermarket parts. (I like to window-shop/dream about stuff I can't afford...and plan for when my turn comes up for the powerball jackpot). But theres no way I could afford any of that right now.

02 FXD stock tranny/clutch.

Any ideas or is it just user error?

 

I've never had a trans pop in between gears on any of my hogs. I don't really have much of an opinion on your troubles, but I can say my trans wont do that even with a soft pull. Maybe some slight clatter going in but never get stuck in between. That being said, a lazy foot is never good to practice anyhow. If this is happening easy or frequently I'd say your trans is worn or problematic??? In any event, definitely not "normal". Hopefully someone else on here can shed a bit more light on this subject for you. Cross your fingers and wait for some more replies lol. Good luck!

 

I'm hoping I can find an answer...until then I'm gonna be REALLY conscious of my shifting.

 

This would be a likely clutch adjustment issue. May not be getting the clutch full disengaged and may seem like neutral but is more slipping during loads. Work from easy to hard. May be good idea outside of just adjusting to look at clutch plates and check for wear and stack height in spec.

 

Sometimes just changing the tranny oil can make a gearbox behave. Cheap and, at worst, won't hurt anything. I've heard good things about Redline brand's V-Twin transmission oil, but most folks have another brand/etc they swear by..
.

 

Or me trying to be quick isn't pulling it back far enough.....

I'll refrain from stating what I use so not to start [yet another] great oil debate.

 

Know what ya mean about oil/lubes. Have read so MANY threads on here

As an FYI I have some Redline Heavy on order myself..... Good luck - hope it's not serious.

 

Once again I'm amazed of incompetence of posters on these forums.
Have you ever taken a motorcycle gearbox apart and tried to understand how it works? Have you taken any gearbox apart and tried to understand how it works?
Have you succeeded with any of above?
If not, why are you posting here, in this thread?
If you have inevitable urge to post on the internet there is Facebook and other sites for BS, why reply to a technical question which requires some knowledge?
There is a neutral between all gears, the gearbox could not function otherwise. That neutral is not designed to be used as a neutral, but it is there.

 

instead of running your mouth about what some have suggested, answer the op question to the exact science of his problem or stfu. This should be moved to the trans tech side then .

 

I have had that problem.and when I pulled out the tranny I found the end bearings wear really f'd up.The shafts where moving side to side nearly a quarter inch.Caused 4th gear to become "neutral".But before that happened I did experience a "neautal" effect between 4th and 5th on light shifts.I replaced the tranny.Though the trannies are pretty friggen bullet proof I'de have to say the outer race on the end bearings must have been defective,soft,or a bad run.I had expected to find ground down or broken dogs,dawgs,whatevers.I don't know all the technical jargon but I can rip that **** apart and fix it!The rest of the tranny was fine,looked new,very slight noticeable wear.Happened at about 50 thousand miles.




... and you might ask why did I replace the tranny with just bad bearings? because I found a whole friggen pull out brand new tranny on ebay for 400 bucks.Hell of a lot easier to slide that puppy right in in one piece rather than strip mine down and rebuild it which if I recall required a press to get the shafts off the bearings.