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Primary/Transmission/Driveline/ClutchFind answers to general powertrain, primary and transmission. Have clutch issues and need suggestions? Post them here.
Recently I had the main & transmission fluid changed (Formula +) and immediately afterwards the 2000 Road King Classic will not always shift into 1st after stopping.
This happens more often if I coast to a stop in 3d gear. I experimented with coasting to a stop in 4th & 5th and the same problem occurs.
If I rev the engine, release the clutch slightly and pull back, or lean the bike to the right I can get it to shift to 1st.
I checked the transmission, after riding 15 mins and lifting to level, and found enough fluid. It does not appear to have been overfilled.
Any ideas as to why and recommendations for corrections would be appreciated.
I had this problem for 2 different reasons. I have Shotgun Shocks and the bike was lowered to far
putting tension on the primary.
And
I had changed my grips to a fatter grip, this prevented the clutch lever from being fully depressed.
Like TWIZ says, shift while still moving. OK to coast down say in 3 or whatever you are in using the engine as a brake but when you get to just before it's going too slow even will off the throttle, hit the clutch and shift it to low. The only shift is dog engagement. Gear teeth are always engaged. Some do each gear for safety. I do that only if concerned and speed of what is going on behind me.
The gear shift on these bikes is either a sliding 5 or 6 tooth dog engagement. To align, it must be spinning slowly. Car manual transmissions have serrations and sinc brake cones that engage every few degrees, so they shift stopped..
Last edited by Jackie Paper; Nov 12, 2019 at 09:33 AM.
will not always shift into 1st after stopping.
This happens more often if I coast to a stop in 3d gear. I experimented with coasting to a stop in 4th & 5th and the same problem occurs.
This has nothing to do with lubricant.
Get your downshifting done while still moving.
Ripsaw has you covered.
Last edited by Dan89FLSTC; Nov 12, 2019 at 08:51 AM.
I do normally engine brake. However, he downshifting solution doesn't address or explain why this problem now exists. The unexplained change may belie a hidden problem which concerns me.
Last edited by CAPTUSNESQ; Nov 12, 2019 at 11:32 AM.
Reason: missed thanking posters.
I do normally engine brake. However, he downshifting solution doesn't address or explain why this problem now exists. The unexplained change may belie a hidden problem which concerns me.
You said in post one that "This happens more often if I coast to a stop in 3d gear. I experimented with coasting to a stop in 4th & 5th and the same problem occurs."
What I am hearing is you are at a total stand still. Engine running, clutch in. In say 4 or 5 th gear. Why if it did shift in the past without say rocking the bike maybe a tad was probably indeed the oil.
Formula + is probably, in my opinion, the best year-round lub for slightly less noise when you shift especially into 1st on cold startups. It's actually not making enough windage in your clutch like and automatic torque converter does. Nothing is wrong. Just do like it says in the manual and quit costing to a stop in gear or rock it to downshift if you do.
Newer bikes are really bad about this do to Harley's new clutch when people want it to do what you want it to do. Not really designed to do that. Those dogs have to move almost 72 degrees to do that.
Now you could make them narrow and it would do what you want. But then you would have this.
Last edited by Jackie Paper; Nov 12, 2019 at 12:57 PM.
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Will not downshift to 1st after stopping.
