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Finding neutral

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Old Jun 16, 2023 | 08:01 AM
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Default Finding neutral
Reading through the owner's manual for a 1995. FLSTF, I noticed this:


I have probably owned 10 or 15 motorcycles in my life. I have never heard of this before.
 
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Old Jun 16, 2023 | 08:52 AM
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It may be easier to put in neutral from 1st but you can definitely put into neutral from 2nd as well. Way back in December of 1994, I occasionally had difficulty finding neutral on my 95 but after a few short weeks of riding it wasn’t a problem….
 
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Old Jun 16, 2023 | 09:05 AM
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Interesting. It is easier to go from first to neutral as you often go right by neutral into first if you are shifting down from 2nd gear. On the HD I've just gone down into first and up to neutral and can't really ever think of a time when I tried to find neutral from second. I'll have to try it.
 
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Old Jun 16, 2023 | 09:09 AM
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Originally Posted by dirt rookie
Reading through the owner's manual for a 1995. FLSTF, I noticed this:


I have probably owned 10 or 15 motorcycles in my life. I have never heard of this before.
Apparently, you have never owned a 5-speed big twin with the early design shift drum...

I never had any reason to try to find neutral from second gear, when I come to a stop the transmission is in first gear.
 
Last edited by Dan89FLSTC; Jun 16, 2023 at 09:15 AM.
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Old Jun 18, 2023 | 07:25 AM
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I tried this on my 98 yesterday and it shfited fine from second into neutral at a stop. So maybe the later years transmissions where a bit different.
 
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Old Jun 18, 2023 | 09:32 AM
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The newer design shift drum came out on Softails in model year 2000.

The remaining models got the new shift drum in model year 2001.

 
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Old Jun 18, 2023 | 10:46 AM
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Originally Posted by Dan89FLSTC
Ap

I never had any reason to try to find neutral from second gear, when I come to a stop the transmission is in first gear.
I often coast into my parking spot in neutral. Not with an evo, but I do find it a common practice for me.

Some year evos also you could adjust this I believe.
 
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Old Jun 18, 2023 | 10:49 AM
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Originally Posted by Rounders
I often coast into my parking spot in neutral. Not with an evo, but I do find it a common practice for me.

Some year evos also you could adjust this I believe.


 
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Old Jun 27, 2023 | 07:02 PM
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Originally Posted by Dan89FLSTC
Apparently, you have never owned a 5-speed big twin with the early design shift drum...

I never had any reason to try to find neutral from second gear, when I come to a stop the transmission is in first gear.
It would be nice when trying to get into neutral and it clicks into second instead. I found a quick blip of the throttle helps click into neutral.
 
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Old Jun 27, 2023 | 07:07 PM
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Originally Posted by dirt rookie
Reading through the owner's manual for a 1995. FLSTF, I noticed this:


I have probably owned 10 or 15 motorcycles in my life. I have never heard of thirs before.
Still that way in 04 on my Softail. It will go but very easy to overshoot it.

It probably says that since it may first appear in neutral and jump to low. Sure would not want that to happen.

If you look at the cam plate, you will see why.

 
Last edited by Jackie Paper; Jun 27, 2023 at 07:09 PM.
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