Downshift issue on quick decel
Thread Starter
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6th Gear
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 13
Likes: 3
From: Orlando, FL
I believe what you're experiencing may be related to the slip and assist clutch. Just googled slip and assist clutch and found this:
Harley says it provides significantly more torque-handling capacity, is designed for improved engagement grip, and provides minor slippage during downshifting to reduce shock to the power train,
https://www.motorcycle.com/features/...ip-assist.html
Harley says it provides significantly more torque-handling capacity, is designed for improved engagement grip, and provides minor slippage during downshifting to reduce shock to the power train,
https://www.motorcycle.com/features/...ip-assist.html
Short answer, I dipped, sipped and blipped and the suspected downshift issue is a nonissue. Blipping to sync is the key with a little clutch handle action at times. Thanks for the feedback.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,609
Likes: 6,439
From: Honah Lee
Brakes are the best deal compared to engine, transmission and clutch. Just ride it down and brake. Engine is very tolerable of that and the weight pushing is not really lugging. Just be ready near 2K or so to clutch in, holding it in and grab the lower gears so you end up going in low at stop. You should always be looking ahead if you truely need to stop in a hurry. I seriously doubt you will be able to get out of a fool running over you.
Learn to drive looking both in front of you and way down the road. You won't need what you discribe.
Learn to drive looking both in front of you and way down the road. You won't need what you discribe.
Last edited by Jackie Paper; Sep 22, 2019 at 03:13 PM.
Club Member
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 11,590
Likes: 8,418
From: Inland NW
Well I know its been awhile since my OP but Ive been trying to work through some of the feedback shared here. What Ive found is theres nothing wrong with the bike. Its the user. Short answer, I dipped, sipped and blipped and the suspected downshift issue is a nonissue. Blipping to sync is the key with a little clutch handle action at times. Thanks for the feedback.
Short answer, I dipped, sipped and blipped and the suspected downshift issue is a nonissue. Blipping to sync is the key with a little clutch handle action at times. Thanks for the feedback.Brakes are cheap, too, in the big picture.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 4,584
Likes: 918
From: coast to coast
My ‘18 Heritage can go from 6th to 1st with one lever pull, but on our ‘19 RKS it’s exactly like you describe...can’t really go more than one gear down before the shifter feels like it’s floating unless I let out the clutch lever and re-engage.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,609
Likes: 6,439
From: Honah Lee
Are you saying, on a 2019, you cannot pull in clutch and hold it in, down shift one gear, lift on shifter to reset paw and hit the shifter down again and it will not shift another gear down?
Mine does unless I come to a stop in 3,4,5,6 then you have feather the clutch to get it to get it to step down to 1st.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 4,584
Likes: 918
From: coast to coast
On the RKS I can only shift down one gear (maybe two) without letting out the lever between shifts.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,609
Likes: 6,439
From: Honah Lee
I bet it has something to do with that new design clutch. Transmission needs to spin to shift. Usually, on the old-style clutch, there is always an oil drag between plates to drag transmission. Someone said the new clutch design was made to eliminate 1st gear clunk engagement when cold. Like the primary auto chain adjuster, some things Harley's pantie wast side of engineering needs to leave alone.
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Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 46
Likes: 17
From: PA
I'm glad to hear that others are having similar downshift issues. Here is what my 17 CVO has been doing since new before I found a solution. About 20 percent of the time it will not downshift more than one gear at a time without letting the clutch out between gears. I could step on the shift lever to go for another gear while the clutch lever is keep pulled in and it will not catch the next lower gear. The shift lever goes down but there is no clunk going into the next lower gear. This will happen in any gear going from 5th to 4th, 4th to 3rd, 3rd to 2nd, or 2nd to 1st. My dealer says there is nothing wrong with it.
I have owned Harleys since 1968 and none have ever experienced this issue. It seems to be related to the shifter pawl inside the transmission not engaging the next detent on the shifter drum. I also noticed that my shifter shaft going into the transmission is looser than most.
What I found that fixes it, is to add a 1/2 diameter by 3 inch long return spring to the lever on the transmission shaft. It helps to take up the looseness in the shaft bearing and allows the pawl to reach just a little further to catch the next shifter drum detent. With the external spring I can downshift multiple gears rapidly without feathering of letting out the clutch between gears.
I have owned Harleys since 1968 and none have ever experienced this issue. It seems to be related to the shifter pawl inside the transmission not engaging the next detent on the shifter drum. I also noticed that my shifter shaft going into the transmission is looser than most.
What I found that fixes it, is to add a 1/2 diameter by 3 inch long return spring to the lever on the transmission shaft. It helps to take up the looseness in the shaft bearing and allows the pawl to reach just a little further to catch the next shifter drum detent. With the external spring I can downshift multiple gears rapidly without feathering of letting out the clutch between gears.