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Not 100% certain if I have a problem here or not, but I'm gonna put my money on "I do". I have a '77 Ironhead. When the bike's off and still (no rocking etc). I can go through the gears without using the clutch lever. Shifting through gears when not moving. I'm hoping it's an easy fix, maybe just something with my adjustment(?) or, from what I understand, if it's the transmission, would I just be better off taking the bike out to the pasture and put a round through 'er? Was a strong running bike until one of my oil lines popped off from a connecter, resulting in my front piston smacking against a valve. Nothing more than a little "dent" in the piston. But, being it's been stroked, those piston heads are 4 times as much as stock, so that's another "suck it" that I gotta deal with.. But without getting off topic, if anyone can shed some light on this shifting issue, I'd be much
appreciative!
Last edited by Monkee72; May 9, 2024 at 08:46 AM.
Reason: Need to add info about bike
No `77 XL had a right hand shifter shaft ( `74 is last year for that )
I`m having trouble understanding what your transmission concern actually is ?
That jockey lever certainly provides plenty of leverage to move the shift forks
Last edited by eighteight; May 9, 2024 at 09:52 AM.
I'm gonna take a shot at it. You can shift through all the gears up and down with no clutch WITH THE ENGINE OFF, THIS IS NORMAL. NOT a 77, 77's were the first year of dedicated left shift, right brake. Where you think the shifter is, is actually where the brake pivot shaft comes out of the camcover on a 77 or 78. I can not think up any issue with an oil line coming off that would cause a dropped valve, oil does not hold the valve in place. Valves are held into the heads with valve keeper locks.
So from what I just read, ya don't really know that year bike it is. No explanation as to exactly what the trans issue is and what does a dropped valve have to do with the trans?
THIS is a 77 XLH, note brake peddle on right
Last edited by TexasScooterTrash; May 9, 2024 at 10:22 AM.
So, there year thing has me all messed up, too. Dude said it was a '77. The vin, according to Sportsterpedia, says '77, but the title says '72. I'm gonna go with '72 then,big they didn't use the right side after '74. But anyways, what I have happening is, sitting on the bike, not running or moving, I can go into first though fourth and still find neutral, but never needing to use the clutch lever. I'm just curious because before I go throwing more money at it, if it's a transmission thing, I'm not sure which direction I'm willing to go with it. I've only heard nightmares about after cracking the case open.
Texas, no I got all off topic for a minute. But I'll start from the beginning, and please let me know what it could be that happened, for real, I'm not being a smarta$&. So, last year I was riding and the bike had begun to bog so I pulled over, I'd looked down at the engine and saw oil all over and then a !BANG!, like something that shouldn't have happened happened. I'd shut it down. And saw where one of the hose clamps was securing an oil line had loosened and the line was spewing oil all over. I got it home and removed everything, down to where I could see the pistons, etc. and in the front cylinder the piston was "crushed" on the one side on top. Enough to where it cracked one of the rings into about 25 pieces. I recovered all, or hope I did, then got all new stuff and put everything back together. Then I noticed this deal with the shifting. If it's no big deal, then cool. I have a '99 Fatboy that won't shift unless your rocking, etc. but the Ironhead doing it completely still, just had me wondering if that was a bigger problem or not.
The only reason I noticed it shifting when off was because once I got the front piston taken care of, when I wanted to get into the back one, I wanted to make sure it was in neutral so I could raise it up. I know I'm not coming off any brighter than a black crayon in a basement, but it's just an array of stuff that's caught my atttention
As stated by Architech - ARE YOU TRYING TO BREAK IT? FYI transmission is mounted in the crankcase on a trap door. 4 bolts hold it in. NO CASE SPLITTING. To quote you "I know I'm not coming off any brighter than a black crayon in a basement, but it's just an array of stuff that's caught my atttention." YEP, thanks for admitting it, I AGREE!
Texas, I definitely appreciate the help and insight I've received from you all. There's those that are here to assist those of us that aren't as "gifted" in the world of wrenching. I'm especially glad that I was able to come here with a question and, while providing what "I" thought was clear from my original post, just led to responses of b.s. and smacktalk. I guess if this were an internet gangster site, you would be at the top of the tough guys. But, hey, it's the only place you can talk out of you neck and not worry about catching a boot up your backside. So, you go ahead and live your REAL life as a henpecked "yes boy" to your old lady and then get on here and be a big guy. Enjoy your day. And hey, have dinner ready by 5!
I'm having a hard time understanding what you are asking, and maybe others are too. So with the motor off you can pull the clutch and go thru the gears. OK, that's good. Is there anything else? How does it work with the motor running? That's where a dragging clutch would cause clunkiness and difficulty finding neutral. Does it shift OK when riding? Are you having any of those problems? Adjusting the clutch according to the Harley service manual would be the first step. Pulling the transmission (and primary and clutch) should be your last resort.
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Transmission concerns (shifting)
