having trouble downshifting into first gear. readjusted the clutch and changed the tranny fluids help a little. my next step is to take off the top of the tranny and adjust the shift linkage???? any suggestions?

 

How new is the bike and how many miles on it, if it's fairly new you should probably let the dealership dig into it? by the way, welcome to the forum.

 

Is this happening when coming to a stop at a light?

Make sure you downshift to first before coming to a complete stop, or you will need to slightly let out the clutch while revving it a little to pop it in first sometimes.

 

Did this just start happening, if so, what was just done to the bike?

 

I noticed that...glad I'm not crazy.

 

just bought the bike a 1998 dyna with close to 100k on it. i can get it into first once in awhike but i've got to kick it pretty hard.

 

Ive noticed the same with my 2006 Bob. At first it would go into first fine but sometimes when comming to an intersection I have to let out the clutch like you said and it goes into first. Is there any adjustment that fixes this?? This does not seem normal to me?

 

If you have a manual, perform the shifter pawl/gear engagement adjustment procedure. If you look at where the shifter goes into the tranny, there is a jamnut and allen headed screw above and behind the shifter.

Basically, you shift into third gear and check that there is equal spring tension both forward and backward when moving the gear shift lever. If it is not equal, then your shifter pawl is not centered in the transmission and it will cause hard shifting.

I had to do this to my wife's 98 Softail before I could get the bike to shift into neutral again.

 

If you have to let out the clutch a bit to get it to shift, you need to properly adjust your clutch. Something isn't adjusted right between the adjuster in the primary and the cable adjustment.