finding neutral....
finding neutral....
Hello,
My bike is a modified softail from '87, with open primary and dry clutch.
My problem is that I cannot find the neutral with the engine running, stationary or driving. With the engine off, I can find neutral, but it feels like it's a fine touch of the shifter.
The clutch is not dragging and the oil in the transmission case is bel-ray 85W140.
I know this is a common problem, but what do you guys recommend to do/check? Should I change the oil with a thinner one, like 80W90?
Thank you in advance
Marcel
My bike is a modified softail from '87, with open primary and dry clutch.
My problem is that I cannot find the neutral with the engine running, stationary or driving. With the engine off, I can find neutral, but it feels like it's a fine touch of the shifter.
The clutch is not dragging and the oil in the transmission case is bel-ray 85W140.
I know this is a common problem, but what do you guys recommend to do/check? Should I change the oil with a thinner one, like 80W90?
Thank you in advance
Marcel
Last edited by marcelm; Mar 14, 2026 at 03:17 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 7,736
Likes: 1,524
From: Coromandel Peninsula New Zealand
Start from ground zero with the clutch adjustment, including collapsing all the adjustment out of the cable.
If that don't fix it then you need to play with the adjuster on the side of the tranny, near the top. It is the shifter pawl adjuster.
Also, I once fixed a 1967 Sporty, that nobody could fix, by swapping out the cable for one with a proper steal outer sheath, rather than a plastic one.
If that don't fix it then you need to play with the adjuster on the side of the tranny, near the top. It is the shifter pawl adjuster.
Also, I once fixed a 1967 Sporty, that nobody could fix, by swapping out the cable for one with a proper steal outer sheath, rather than a plastic one.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,544
Likes: 6,419
From: Honah Lee
Maybe this will help. Almost 100 answers and counting...
You are finding it from first as it's designed to do?
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/2014-...e-neither.html
You are finding it from first as it's designed to do?
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/2014-...e-neither.html
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 2,504
Likes: 150
From: ct
After making the adjustments that these guys are telling you to do also keep in mind that neutral is always easiest to find immediately after pulling in the clutch versus waiting five or 10 seconds and then trying to put it in neutral.
Club Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 15,430
Likes: 7,124
From: Beyond Fucital
Trending Topics
Thank you for the replies,
I have just installed BDL open belt and dry clutch. Before, I had the stock system, for an '87 softail. With the stock system, I could find neutral only from 1st gear -> neutral, with engine on, but it was ok.
With the BDL kit, I ride only 5 km, but not possible to find neutral with engine on, whether I'm in 1st or 2nd gear. With engine off, there is no problem
The adjusting screw, on the left side of the tranny, is half turn back, after bottoming out.
The free play at clutch lever is around 2 - 3 mm.
When I pull the clutch, the bike completely stops. But, maybe there is some clutch dragging that will not make the bike to move foreward, but will make hard to find the neutral...
As I saw into other posts, I'm thinking of lengthening the gear shift lever on the gearbox with about 1 inch. In this way, the search for neutral will be smoother, more precise.
I have just installed BDL open belt and dry clutch. Before, I had the stock system, for an '87 softail. With the stock system, I could find neutral only from 1st gear -> neutral, with engine on, but it was ok.
With the BDL kit, I ride only 5 km, but not possible to find neutral with engine on, whether I'm in 1st or 2nd gear. With engine off, there is no problem
The adjusting screw, on the left side of the tranny, is half turn back, after bottoming out.
The free play at clutch lever is around 2 - 3 mm.
When I pull the clutch, the bike completely stops. But, maybe there is some clutch dragging that will not make the bike to move foreward, but will make hard to find the neutral...
As I saw into other posts, I'm thinking of lengthening the gear shift lever on the gearbox with about 1 inch. In this way, the search for neutral will be smoother, more precise.
Last edited by marcelm; Mar 16, 2026 at 05:52 AM.
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HDF Community Team
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 5,404
Likes: 2,605
From: NC USA
Thank you for the replies,
I have just installed BDL open belt and dry clutch. Before, I had the stock system, for an '87 softail. With the stock system, I could find neutral only from 1st gear -> neutral, with engine on, but it was ok.
With the BDL kit, I ride only 5 km, but not possible to find neutral with engine on, whether I'm in 1st or 2nd gear. With engine off, there is no problem
The adjusting screw, on the left side of the tranny, is half turn back, after bottoming out.
The free play at clutch lever is around 2 - 3 mm.
When I pull the clutch, the bike completely stops. But, maybe there is some clutch dragging that will not make the bike to move foreward, but will make hard to find the neutral...
As I saw into other posts, I'm thinking of lengthening the gear shift lever on the gearbox with about 1 inch. In this way, the search for neutral will be smoother, more precise.
I have just installed BDL open belt and dry clutch. Before, I had the stock system, for an '87 softail. With the stock system, I could find neutral only from 1st gear -> neutral, with engine on, but it was ok.
With the BDL kit, I ride only 5 km, but not possible to find neutral with engine on, whether I'm in 1st or 2nd gear. With engine off, there is no problem
The adjusting screw, on the left side of the tranny, is half turn back, after bottoming out.
The free play at clutch lever is around 2 - 3 mm.
When I pull the clutch, the bike completely stops. But, maybe there is some clutch dragging that will not make the bike to move foreward, but will make hard to find the neutral...
As I saw into other posts, I'm thinking of lengthening the gear shift lever on the gearbox with about 1 inch. In this way, the search for neutral will be smoother, more precise.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 19,900
Likes: 8,007
From: poway
Thank you for the replies,
I have just installed BDL open belt and dry clutch. Before, I had the stock system, for an '87 softail. With the stock system, I could find neutral only from 1st gear -> neutral, with engine on, but it was ok.
With the BDL kit, I ride only 5 km, but not possible to find neutral with engine on, whether I'm in 1st or 2nd gear. With engine off, there is no problem
The adjusting screw, on the left side of the tranny, is half turn back, after bottoming out.
The free play at clutch lever is around 2 - 3 mm.
When I pull the clutch, the bike completely stops. But, maybe there is some clutch dragging that will not make the bike to move foreward, but will make hard to find the neutral...
As I saw into other posts, I'm thinking of lengthening the gear shift lever on the gearbox with about 1 inch. In this way, the search for neutral will be smoother, more precise.
I have just installed BDL open belt and dry clutch. Before, I had the stock system, for an '87 softail. With the stock system, I could find neutral only from 1st gear -> neutral, with engine on, but it was ok.
With the BDL kit, I ride only 5 km, but not possible to find neutral with engine on, whether I'm in 1st or 2nd gear. With engine off, there is no problem
The adjusting screw, on the left side of the tranny, is half turn back, after bottoming out.
The free play at clutch lever is around 2 - 3 mm.
When I pull the clutch, the bike completely stops. But, maybe there is some clutch dragging that will not make the bike to move foreward, but will make hard to find the neutral...
As I saw into other posts, I'm thinking of lengthening the gear shift lever on the gearbox with about 1 inch. In this way, the search for neutral will be smoother, more precise.
Also make sure that the springs slip nicely into their holes. They can be tight which makes the pressure plate move unevenly.