Neutral question on 5 speed
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,601
Likes: 189
From: east texas
OLD NEWS FLASH. When harley built the balanced twin cam motor for the softails in 2000 they tried to use the original trans that was in the evo bikes. But it was really difficult to shift. They (engineers?) discovered that the vibrations coming from the evo motor was allowing the tranny to shift a lot easier than it would with the smoother running tc.
Solution to finding neutral on an evo bike. Rev the motor a bit. You'll be surprised at how much easier it is to go to neutral.
Also the trans is designed to go to neutral only from first gear. Down shift to first and bring it up.
Hope that helps.
Solution to finding neutral on an evo bike. Rev the motor a bit. You'll be surprised at how much easier it is to go to neutral.
Also the trans is designed to go to neutral only from first gear. Down shift to first and bring it up.
Hope that helps.
also theer is a "neutral" between all the gears .
just that there is a "detent between first , and second , to hold the "shifter drum "
designed ..in the forties , never changed ..do your research
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 858
Likes: 1
From: Kentucky
all three holes had an oil change 2 months ago
Last edited by strongwood; Jun 8, 2011 at 09:46 PM.
Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 654
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver Island, BC
OLD NEWS FLASH. When harley built the balanced twin cam motor for the softails in 2000 they tried to use the original trans that was in the evo bikes. But it was really difficult to shift. They (engineers?) discovered that the vibrations coming from the evo motor was allowing the tranny to shift a lot easier than it would with the smoother running tc.
Solution to finding neutral on an evo bike. Rev the motor a bit. You'll be surprised at how much easier it is to go to neutral.
Also the trans is designed to go to neutral only from first gear. Down shift to first and bring it up.
Hope that helps.
Solution to finding neutral on an evo bike. Rev the motor a bit. You'll be surprised at how much easier it is to go to neutral.
Also the trans is designed to go to neutral only from first gear. Down shift to first and bring it up.
Hope that helps.
Mine's not a balanced EVO, but you are correct about that. Just rev it up slightly just above idle and it slips right into neutral.
-
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,706
Likes: 14
From: Near Frankenmuth, MI
Why do you shift to neutral in the first place? You do this at every stop?
IMHO ... I wait until I'm close to a stop and down shift to first. I ALWAYS leave it in first at stops of any kind. If you are alert you can save your life by having the bike "ready to go" in case of any accident issue.
Setting at a light or stop in neutral may relieve some strain on your clutch hand for the duration of the light but you are several steps from getting the bike in motion by stopping and fumbling for neutral.
You need to change your (bad) habit of being more occupied by shifting to neutral than being prepared for the dangers of stopping your bike in traffic.
Save shifting to neutral for when the bike is shut off and you need to start it, or roll it somewhere to park it.
IMHO ... I wait until I'm close to a stop and down shift to first. I ALWAYS leave it in first at stops of any kind. If you are alert you can save your life by having the bike "ready to go" in case of any accident issue.
Setting at a light or stop in neutral may relieve some strain on your clutch hand for the duration of the light but you are several steps from getting the bike in motion by stopping and fumbling for neutral.
You need to change your (bad) habit of being more occupied by shifting to neutral than being prepared for the dangers of stopping your bike in traffic.
Save shifting to neutral for when the bike is shut off and you need to start it, or roll it somewhere to park it.
Last edited by JohnnyC; Jun 9, 2011 at 12:55 PM.
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 358
Likes: 1
I agree 100% with JohnnyC.
That being said, I have a 2010 Road King and it's kind of a crap shoot getting it in N when I pull into the garage after a ride. Sometimes it pops right in and sometimes I'll spend several minutes trying to get it while it bounces from 1st to 2nd.
I've found rolling backwards a little bit while trying to shift to N works pretty well.
That being said, I have a 2010 Road King and it's kind of a crap shoot getting it in N when I pull into the garage after a ride. Sometimes it pops right in and sometimes I'll spend several minutes trying to get it while it bounces from 1st to 2nd.
I've found rolling backwards a little bit while trying to shift to N works pretty well.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,718
Likes: 11
From: Punta Gorda,FL
I agree with leaving it in gear when it is running. The only time I put mine in neutral is when I'm starting it.
Tom
Tom
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,145
Likes: 2
From: Ontario East
And why would you want to???? I hope you have checked back here to read what others have had to say about that practice. I'll just say," Don't! Leave it in 1st so you can get the hell away from anyone who wants to park in the same spot you are currently occupying."
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,011
Likes: 292
From: Pennsylvania
The problem could be corrosion under the shifter lever. pull the shifter off . Clean the rust off and relube it. Put it back together.
This is what I did when my bike had trouble shifting last month. It fixxed the problem.
This is what I did when my bike had trouble shifting last month. It fixxed the problem.