Trouble Finding Neutral
Stage III
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Stratford CT
Neutral HELP !!!
It is very difficult to find Neutral on my 2018 Harley Fatboy. The dealer said I need to have the bike warm up. I rode over 50 miles yesterday and it will not go into Neutral. He also said the bike needs to be broken in. It has 700 miles on it. Finally he suggested, shut the bike off, turn the ignition back on and find it. Any help would be great!
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 1,143
Likes: 433
From: Menifee, CA
It is very difficult to find Neutral on my 2018 Harley Fatboy. The dealer said I need to have the bike warm up. I rode over 50 miles yesterday and it will not go into Neutral. He also said the bike needs to be broken in. It has 700 miles on it. Finally he suggested, shut the bike off, turn the ignition back on and find it. Any help would be great!
However, if you are a seasoned rider with lots of experience on several motorcycles, then you will know whether you've got an actual problem with the transmission and its shift linkage. Shifting problems are usually associated with adjustments. How high you have to lift your toe to make the lever actuate the gears. Making small changes to the lever height can really matter. This takes mucho experimentation. At over 2 years and 35k miles on my 2018 RGU I am STILL making adjustments to the thing to make it better. And, if you ever go in for service and the tech removes your shift lever to access something else, expect to have to go through the adjustments again, because he probably will make no effort to put it back exactly where it was.
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 1,215
Likes: 595
From: Living in a van down by the river
It is very difficult to find Neutral on my 2018 Harley Fatboy. The dealer said I need to have the bike warm up. I rode over 50 miles yesterday and it will not go into Neutral. He also said the bike needs to be broken in. It has 700 miles on it. Finally he suggested, shut the bike off, turn the ignition back on and find it. Any help would be great!
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 860
Likes: 262
From: CA
Before you do anything remove the derby cover and check the primary fluid level. Proper fill is when the bike is upright the fluid should just barely touch the clutch basket. If it's over filled it makes finding neutral much harder. If it's over filled (primary) check the transmission fluid level, if it's low then you have the typical fluid transfer problem.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 13,674
Likes: 11,462
From: State of Confusion
yours is fine, close enough and not an exact science
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 163
Likes: 37
From: New Jersey
Mind is hard to find as well, but usually works better going from 2nd than 1st. You have to basically tap it down gently and finesse it. It also helps if you give it a slight rev as you do it.
I dont think the oil makes any difference. I had the same issue using the oil that came with the bike and the gear oil that I put in after the 1000 mile service.
I dont think the oil makes any difference. I had the same issue using the oil that came with the bike and the gear oil that I put in after the 1000 mile service.
Cruiser
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 199
Likes: 80
From: Innerkip, Ontario
Replacing the sloppy stock shifter linkage with one that has Heim Joints made a big improvement in finding neutral.
I then replaced my tranny and primary fluid with Formula +
I wouldn't have thought that would make such a difference over 20W50 Synthetic, but it did!!!
Shifting into first gear after startup is also much quieter and smoother now with the Formula +.
I then replaced my tranny and primary fluid with Formula +
I wouldn't have thought that would make such a difference over 20W50 Synthetic, but it did!!!
Shifting into first gear after startup is also much quieter and smoother now with the Formula +.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 13,674
Likes: 11,462
From: State of Confusion
Replacing the sloppy stock shifter linkage with one that has Heim Joints made a big improvement in finding neutral.
I then replaced my tranny and primary fluid with Formula +
I wouldn't have thought that would make such a difference over 20W50 Synthetic, but it did!!!
Shifting into first gear after startup is also much quieter and smoother now with the Formula +.
I then replaced my tranny and primary fluid with Formula +
I wouldn't have thought that would make such a difference over 20W50 Synthetic, but it did!!!
Shifting into first gear after startup is also much quieter and smoother now with the Formula +.
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 1,215
Likes: 595
From: Living in a van down by the river