Worth double checking the shifter linkage is not binding. First to second is the longest travel. Disconnect the rod and make sure everything moves freely.

 

Do you mean the foot lever or the lever on the tranny itself? Looks like I need to take the inner primary to get to that one...no?

Just finished a 700 mile 3 day ride, still missing shifts, sometimes between 3rd and 4th as well which seems weird as there is no neutral there.

Also shifts really hard in the morning when cold, which makes the problem worse. Takes at least an hour to warm up to the point where shifting seems somewhat normal. Running Lucas 75-140w v-twin gear lube, checked the level today and seems fine and the oil is clean. Belray chaincase oil in the primary. Linkage is good, replaced the forward heim joint a few weeks ago as it was a little sloppy.

 

If you replaced the heim joints on your shift linkage and didn't notice the shift arm on the trans was loose and wobbly then you are prob OK. The pinch bolt for the arm on the tranny is tightened with a 1/4" allen wrench. I use a allen socket and a short ext accessed from just under the linkage arm reaching down 2" between the tranny and inner primary. No need to pull the primary covers to tighten it. Its a grade 8 allen head 5/16/24 X 1 1/4 bolt. Even though they're grade 8 they still stretch and the arm gets sloppy.

 

Was having some hard shifting and missing shift issues on my 2000 FXDL for a while. Turned out to be a damaged clutch basket and a broken clutch plate. Once repaired it shifts perfectly.

 

Thanks for the suggestions, I'll report back with results in a couple days. Right now I'm trying to diagnose my neighbour's Street Glide that suddenly quit running during a ride.

 

K... Street Glide is fixed, ended up being pinched CKP leads, they were squashed under the regulator mounting bracket.

As far as my shift problem, bike's behaving normally the last few days, including an all day ride Saturday. Difficulty seems to be related to cold weather, and we've had none of that lately except a little cool down at night. This is gonna suck later on as I'm a year-round rider, including sub-freezing winter months.

 

You may need a shifter pawl adjustment, if nothing else works.