Heat affecting my gear shifting
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 179
Likes: 2
From: Maryland
Heat affecting my gear shifting
During the last 3 weeks, I've noticed that it's getting very hard to shift between first/second and second/third gears. It seems to get worse as the engine gets hotter, and seems to happen more when the temperatures are above 90 degrees (thus the engine is running hotter). It's also getting very hard to shift into neutral while the bike is running.
Clearly I need a clutch adjustment of sorts- but is this normal that it's happening more than hot? Is this a symptom of something else (oil breaking down)?
Clearly I need a clutch adjustment of sorts- but is this normal that it's happening more than hot? Is this a symptom of something else (oil breaking down)?
Hey had the same problem, check the freeplay (not the same as foreplay 
) at the clutch lever. Look close, you should only have about 1/8 inch of movement prior to feeling resistance.
Watch the clutch cable, it may also move, take that into account also when looking for free play.
Pull down the rubber boot on the clutch cable, use a 9/16 and a 1/2 inch wrench, loosen the lock nut and take all but 1/8 inch of free play from the cable. If you over adjust or make it to tight, the clutch will slip under acceleration, if that happens, readjust until it doesn't. But, if you are careful it will not.
Now if that doesn't help, then you need to remove the derby cover and adjust the clutch itself, for that you will need more instructions or a service manual.
My Heritage was doing the same thing, I could shift into neutral before the engine warmed up but after it was hot, couldn't do it without shutting it down first. After adjustment, no problem.
Hope this helps, ride safe.
) at the clutch lever. Look close, you should only have about 1/8 inch of movement prior to feeling resistance. Watch the clutch cable, it may also move, take that into account also when looking for free play.
Pull down the rubber boot on the clutch cable, use a 9/16 and a 1/2 inch wrench, loosen the lock nut and take all but 1/8 inch of free play from the cable. If you over adjust or make it to tight, the clutch will slip under acceleration, if that happens, readjust until it doesn't. But, if you are careful it will not.
Now if that doesn't help, then you need to remove the derby cover and adjust the clutch itself, for that you will need more instructions or a service manual.
My Heritage was doing the same thing, I could shift into neutral before the engine warmed up but after it was hot, couldn't do it without shutting it down first. After adjustment, no problem.
Hope this helps, ride safe.
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 179
Likes: 2
From: Maryland
Hey had the same problem, check the freeplay (not the same as foreplay ) at the clutch lever. Look close, you should only have about 1/8 inch of movement prior to feeling resistance.
Watch the clutch cable, it may also move, take that into account also when looking for free play.
Pull down the rubber boot on the clutch cable, use a 9/16 and a 1/2 inch wrench, loosen the lock nut and take all but 1/8 inch of free play from the cable. If you over adjust or make it to tight, the clutch will slip under acceleration, if that happens, readjust until it doesn't. But, if you are careful it will not.
Now if that doesn't help, then you need to remove the derby cover and adjust the clutch itself, for that you will need more instructions or a service manual.
My Heritage was doing the same thing, I could shift into neutral before the engine warmed up but after it was hot, couldn't do it without shutting it down first. After adjustment, no problem.
Hope this helps, ride safe.
) at the clutch lever. Look close, you should only have about 1/8 inch of movement prior to feeling resistance. Watch the clutch cable, it may also move, take that into account also when looking for free play.
Pull down the rubber boot on the clutch cable, use a 9/16 and a 1/2 inch wrench, loosen the lock nut and take all but 1/8 inch of free play from the cable. If you over adjust or make it to tight, the clutch will slip under acceleration, if that happens, readjust until it doesn't. But, if you are careful it will not.
Now if that doesn't help, then you need to remove the derby cover and adjust the clutch itself, for that you will need more instructions or a service manual.
My Heritage was doing the same thing, I could shift into neutral before the engine warmed up but after it was hot, couldn't do it without shutting it down first. After adjustment, no problem.
Hope this helps, ride safe.
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 454
Likes: 33
From: Here
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/prima...-easy-way.html
Adjust the clutch first (when cold), then adjust the cable.
Adjust the clutch first (when cold), then adjust the cable.
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 179
Likes: 2
From: Maryland
Thanks for all of the info- I started by adjusting my cable last night and it made a world of difference. I can now shift with ease, and I'm able to find neutral again. I'm not going to go inside the derby at this time, but that video was a great tool for if I ever need to go that far.
Club Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 145,895
Likes: 821
From: 40 miles Northeast of Indy..
Thanks for all of the info- I started by adjusting my cable last night and it made a world of difference. I can now shift with ease, and I'm able to find neutral again. I'm not going to go inside the derby at this time, but that video was a great tool for if I ever need to go that far.
Cbay.. adjusting your cable needs to be done to get the right amount of play in your cable, but-- it does not adjust your clutch pack at all...
you still need to adjust your clutch inside the primary.. usually a new bike needs it at the 1-5-and 10 k services.. then about every 10k or so thereafter to keep the clutch properly adjusted .
.
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Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 179
Likes: 2
From: Maryland
Cbay.. adjusting your cable needs to be done to get the right amount of play in your cable, but-- it does not adjust your clutch pack at all...
you still need to adjust your clutch inside the primary.. usually a new bike needs it at the 1-5-and 10 k services.. then about every 10k or so thereafter to keep the clutch properly adjusted .
.
you still need to adjust your clutch inside the primary.. usually a new bike needs it at the 1-5-and 10 k services.. then about every 10k or so thereafter to keep the clutch properly adjusted .
.
Just adjusting the cable did fix my issues of not being able to shift into neutral (when running) and very hard shifts. My cable was too far out with about 1/4" to 3/8" of free-play as opposed to the 1/8".
I just had my clutch adjusted at the dealer last November at my 5K service- and I'm at about 8K right now. I'd rather not open it up if it's not necessary.
Last edited by cbaywolf; Aug 11, 2015 at 12:02 PM.
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Tourer
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 454
Likes: 33
From: Here
The proper interval to adjust the clutch pack is determined by when shifting issues develop. It's not a time or miles issue, it's a wear issue.
The clutch cable doesn't really stretch that much. The cable develops slack because of wear in the clutch discs. To properly adjust the clutch you start with the clutch pack and then the cable.
The clutch cable doesn't really stretch that much. The cable develops slack because of wear in the clutch discs. To properly adjust the clutch you start with the clutch pack and then the cable.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 7,492
Likes: 103
From: Stuttgart, Germany
During the last 3 weeks, I've noticed that it's getting very hard to shift between first/second and second/third gears. It seems to get worse as the engine gets hotter, and seems to happen more when the temperatures are above 90 degrees (thus the engine is running hotter). It's also getting very hard to shift into neutral while the bike is running.
Clearly I need a clutch adjustment of sorts- but is this normal that it's happening more than hot? Is this a symptom of something else (oil breaking down)?
Clearly I need a clutch adjustment of sorts- but is this normal that it's happening more than hot? Is this a symptom of something else (oil breaking down)?
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