Thought I'd post here since I posted on the Dyna forum and didn't get a response. Thought maybe the bike is a little old for for most of what the posts are about.

About a month ago I bought a 98 Dyna and with the weather we've had here in Milwaukee, really hadn't had a chance to try it out. When I bought it I started it up and I looked it over pretty good but couldn't test drive it. It was a really good deal so I didn't want to pass it by.

Got it out this weekend and it ran real good. Changed the engine oil and trans oil, but not the primary becuase I didn't have the right torx size to open the cover yet. Only problem I had was sometimes coming from 2nd to 1st it wouldn't go. What I found out was if I lightly touch the shift slightly upwards, then I could press down and it would go into 1st fine. I got sort of used to it, but figured that's not the way it's supposed to work.

Any thoughts?? I thought I read something once about some detent spring that could either be broken or weak, but I can't find anything on that now that I need it.

Thanks in advance. [align=right] [/align]

 

usually you can just let out slightly on the clutch and it will shift too. This is pretty common on most bikes I would think. Just need the gears to line up before they will go from one to another at a stop... shouldn't be anything to worry about.

 

Is there any binding in the shift lever? Take the shift rod off and see if the lever rotates smooth. I had binding in mine when I did my forward controls, made shifting difficult. I had to lighty sand the bronze bushing and coat with grease. Was all better then.

 

Make sure that shifter rod on the trans isn't loose If it is let us know We'll walk you through the tightening sequence

 

Thanks for the advice. I will give those options a shot. I was hoping to change the primary oil this weekend and that way I can see if I see anything obvious. Not sure if I still will be doing that, it's suppose to snow here now on Saturday. That is simply wrong for this time in April....

 

The other suggestions are great - check that everything is just right first. Another suggestion is gear-change technique. I apply light pressure to the gear lever before pulling in the clutch lever, so the gear changes as I am pulling in the clutch. I found I had to do that many years ago on a BMW twin and now do it with all my bikes!

The spring problem you mention, which my bike suffered, is a broken gear-lever return spring, which returns the lever to the rest position. You would be left in no doubt if it had broken! I think they were a problem with earlier models than yours and you should be OK.

 

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