I couldn't get my bike in neutral when stopped, so I was
holding the clutch in to start it. My cantankerous friend who has been riding Harley's for 40 years yelled at me. He said that was hard on the clutch and I should hold the clutch in and rock the bike to pop it into N easy. By golly it works every time!

 

Ah yes, the elusive "neutral" gear. Hard to find, easy to enjoy.

+1 for the clutch adjustment (and regardless of what others say, do the adjustment at room temperature).

+1 for the fluid. Make sure there is not too much in the primary.

 

This one would pay for itself the first time you used it:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/DRUMMOND-ROUND...item25645078f4

One of these by the 2nd:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Boxford-Lathe-...item3f0a7d7b59
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/boxford-lathe-...item25644849e5


Or you can buy a new Chinese one from Harbor Freight or whatever equivalent you have over there for around $800:
http://www.harborfreight.com/8-inch-...the-44859.html

Really, everyone should have one. Handiest tool I ever bought. I've used to to repair the toilet ("Water Closet"), fab Mercedes parts, Harley parts, Lotus parts and build my Lotus 7 clone.

 

If you can't find neutral on a Harley is Wisconsin, there is no hope for the rest of us!

 

Not just you, was finally getting better at hitting it just right and then went for my first group ride on Sunday and I don't think I hit it first time once!! Nothing like performance anxiety!! Cheers, Kevin

 

Dr H, you're too kind! What I should have added earlier was:

....and the workshop in which to keep and use it.

I seriously looked into buying a Colchester Student many years ago, shortly before I discovered I was to be made redundant! So it never happened and I moved home and haven't had suitable facilities to buy once since. Hardly have space to garage my bikes!

 

Most bikes I see, that have a hard to find neutral...need a primary chain adjustment. People that adjust their own, seem to always get it too tight. To correctly adjust it, you have to find the tight spot on the chain...most people skip this step.

 

When I first got my 95 flstn I had a time getting into 1st what worked for me was to go to first and than up to neutral. Before I sold her I could even hit first every once and awhile with the heel shifter.

 

Graham, I forget you guys on that side of the pond are "space challenged."

My 6" Atlas-Clausing (Craftsman) lathe doesn't take up much room. About as much as a sewing machine. Tell the old lady to clear out a corner in the living room and you'll promise to vacuum after you use it.

Here's my shop:



The lathe is to the left, behind the black Europa. There's actually a blue Europa frame WIP where the Seven is in that pic now, and the seven is now to the right of the Esprit with the bikes to the left. I'm getting a bit cramped myself, but I still have room to pull a vehicle in for service. I think I have enough Loti for a while.

I once visited my grandfather's cousin in Barendrecht, NL. That was certainly cramped by our standards. He'd been renting the same house since 1936. "Over there is the field that the German paratroopers landed in."

 

Fella`s it sounds like I have some things to ck. Wish i had a little more time this morning and answer each of ya. All good info and time for me put on learning cap and get after it. I do appreicate it WP