Tranny jumping into neutral
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Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2007
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Tranny jumping into neutral
I posted this under the Transmission etc section, but thought I would post here as well.....
I have an '86 FLHTC with a 5 speed. 51000 miles. Recently I have had the tranny jump out of 1st gear when taking off, into a false neutral. Neutral light does not come on, so it is not going to a true neutral.
It is not just on an initial take off, although this is the most common occurrence. I have had the bike jump into the "neutral, even after riding in 1st. I can pull in the clutch, come to a complete stop, and then when I release the clutch to take off, it will drop the gear.
Any suggestions?
Thanks in advance
I have an '86 FLHTC with a 5 speed. 51000 miles. Recently I have had the tranny jump out of 1st gear when taking off, into a false neutral. Neutral light does not come on, so it is not going to a true neutral.
It is not just on an initial take off, although this is the most common occurrence. I have had the bike jump into the "neutral, even after riding in 1st. I can pull in the clutch, come to a complete stop, and then when I release the clutch to take off, it will drop the gear.
Any suggestions?
Thanks in advance
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,854
Likes: 20
From: Eagle River WI
Just for starters check the shift lever out of the trans Is it sloppy? If it is you have to tighten it If thats the problem we'll walk you through the procedure If it's tight you have to address the trany internals
HDF Community Team
Joined: Dec 2005
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From: NC USA
There is a vertical lever that is clamped to a shaft on the side of your transmission, just in front of the starter if looking down on the left side. It has a 1/4 allen head bolt that is notorious for getting lose, allowing play in the linkage/shaft assembly.
These transmissions, as with anything mechanical, can fail, but are considered bullet-proof by most people. 99 times out of a hundred, that lever being loose on the side of the transmission is the cause of a problem with shifting.
These transmissions, as with anything mechanical, can fail, but are considered bullet-proof by most people. 99 times out of a hundred, that lever being loose on the side of the transmission is the cause of a problem with shifting.
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Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2007
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With the tranny in 1st, there is no play on the lever coming out of the tranny in relation to the lever sliding in and out of the tranny ie left to right . There is plenty of play as far as the shifting motion ie backwards and forwards.
Make sense ?
Make sense ?
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Cruiser
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HDF Community Team
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 5,421
Likes: 2,621
From: NC USA
There is a recessed allen screw with a locknut just in front of that lever/shaft that adjusts the forks to proper travel, but I honestly doubt it would help that problem, considering it's run this long without a problem. To be honest, I've never been into my transmssion (or one like it) and though I'm confident I could totally re-do it, I don't have any good answers as to exactly what is wrong with yours.
Typically a whine is gear clearance problems and/or bearing noise due to a worn bearing. Jumping out of gear is generally a fork and/or gear worn problem. If it's just started it, maybe you've caught it in time that the shifting mechanism can be re-worked without great expense, but you''ll likely have to go into it.
Again, I've little experience on these trannys, hopefullly someone who has, will see the thread can give you a beter idea of what you may be looking at.
Good luck and keep us posted.
Typically a whine is gear clearance problems and/or bearing noise due to a worn bearing. Jumping out of gear is generally a fork and/or gear worn problem. If it's just started it, maybe you've caught it in time that the shifting mechanism can be re-worked without great expense, but you''ll likely have to go into it.
Again, I've little experience on these trannys, hopefullly someone who has, will see the thread can give you a beter idea of what you may be looking at.
Good luck and keep us posted.
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Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2007
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Appreciate the input.
No noticeable noise from the tranny. The only other "issue" with it, sometimes on upshift, and it is usually under heavy accel, the shift will miss 4th going from 3rd, hit a false neutral, and then on the next shift, go into 5th.
This started happening before the 1st gear problem, so it may be related.
Pulled plenty of metric trannys apart, but never a HD.
I guess I now have a winter project
No noticeable noise from the tranny. The only other "issue" with it, sometimes on upshift, and it is usually under heavy accel, the shift will miss 4th going from 3rd, hit a false neutral, and then on the next shift, go into 5th.
This started happening before the 1st gear problem, so it may be related.
Pulled plenty of metric trannys apart, but never a HD.
I guess I now have a winter project
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,854
Likes: 20
From: Eagle River WI
Grab that shifter lever coming out of the trans does it wiggle left and right (to the left side of the bike to the right side of the bike) Do this in neutral If tight then it's time to go inside the trany It sounds like the shifter spring (internal ) is OK