I have 3 evos an all of them are the same way,99FXSTB,91FLTCU,94FLSTF an its ether shut em down or do it buy hand while running.i have had twin cam 88s go in smooth,96" scooters also go in smooth, evos NATURE OF THE BEAST.

 

Yep, it's almost always a dragging clutch.

 

guys you cant compare evos with your twin cams, evo is a different bread of beast.

 

No differene in the transmission gear-sets whether it be an EVO or a TC...in the 5-speed family that is. The 5-speed gear-sets are practically the same animal.

One trick you may try that has often helped for me and on other peoples bikes. Adjust the lower-end (through the derby cover) by the book. The book specification for the cable slack (barrel adjuster) at the perch is 1/8-to-1/4 inch I think. This is not gospel and can be tinkered with. Adjust the barrel to have practically no slack at the perch to make sure you getting all the lift out of the mechanism in the tranny case.

Fluids will make a difference as well. I tried to use one of the highly advertised 20/50 synthetic motor oils in a 97 once and got as far as the end of the driveway and came back home to drain that crap out. It simply would not shift at all. Redline (bubble-gum) is real good stuff.

 

I did put redline in the FLTCU and it didn't change a thing but I do need to adjust the clutch on it.

 

If you have .080 of travel at the pressure plate and a new cable and still can't find neutral while running...then throw the shift drum away and get one of ours.

 

I have a 97 lowrider and had the same problem talking with others guys who also have owned low riders of the same year or so they all have had the same problem. I would have to hand shift into neutral or rock the bike and play with the shifter. I just converted my bike to a belt drive primary and now she shifts into neutral just by looking at the shifter

 

Twin cam here, so may not apply exactly, but I had a similar scenario with a FLHTCU that sat for 3 to 4 years without running (what a shame) when I bought it.

After changing fluids and adjusting the clutch a few times, I went to synthetic ATF fluid in the primary. Problem solved, I was able to find neutral as I should, and it just shifted better in general. I am still running the ATF after 5k miles, and she still shifts great and the fluid is holding up well with no burned odor or discoloration.

There are debates all over the place of using ATF in the primary, so I am not trying to start off another debate, I am just saying what worked well for me. I agree with an earlier poster that the clutch plates seemed sticky after sitting for years, and fresh Formula + and also Syn 20W50 did not improve the sticky feeling in my case, but the ATF did make a noticeable difference.

Also, on the Twin Cam, the Service manual says not to overfill the primary, as this will make the bike hard to find neutral and shift hard. Don't know about the EVO, but fill level may be an issue as well.