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Basically this.
There's lots of factors for the elusive neutral problem. Fluid level, fluid type, clutch adjustment, wear, primary chain tension, etc. Also, a bike that's been sitting will have "stiction". The plates will stick together hydraulically. Lots of people will hold the clutch in while backing out of the garage to break them loose to avoid the 1st gear clunk being so bad.
Make sure you have your clutch adjusted for proper back off at clutch behind derby cover. Loosen cable just a turn or so. Now go behind derby at clutch. When it's at zero play, make sure . Pull clutch lever as you find zero play. You will fill it. Then 3/4 turn cold from that zero play back out and lock nut.
Now do freeplay at lever to just about 1/16" max.
Now put the right oil in transmission and primary. Formula + non detergent gear oil. With bike level, use dip stick for transmission and to the bottom edge of the clutch diaphragm spring for primary.
Forget the ****ing amount. Do it to the proper level.
Now it will find netural, coming up from first.
Last edited by Jackie Paper; May 6, 2022 at 05:54 PM.
PS. I tried to make my post more understanding. See YouTube also.
Do your second new post over in the new member area.
Welcome from North Beach, FL., USA!
Just in case you have not done this.
Add a Signature Line in your USER set up for your bike year, model, and all the letters that Harley recognizes it with so others see at the bottom of all your post. This enables others to know your exact model if you ever ask a question.
And an Avatar of your favorite shot in the USER set up for the small picture others will see in the top left corner of your post.
If you are just changing you primary fluid drain it and add one quart!!!! If you tore it down and put in all new clutch plates and a new sprocket then add the 38 oz
Thanks for the input. In an earlier post, vtbigdog references a video that shows to fill to the bottom of the clutch plate. Brakeless posted an image from a HD manual showing the same thing. I think I'll not try to use a specific # ozs. I'll simply fill to the bottom of the clutch plate, which should always be the right amount.
If you are just changing you primary fluid drain it and add one quart!!!! If you tore it down and put in all new clutch plates and a new sprocket then add the 38 oz
Forget about how many ounces it takes, just make sure the level is correct.
Go back and look at the picture that brakeless posted.
This is very simple stuff...Don`t make it complicated.
This is the correct level for primary lube on all Big Twin wet clutches (which means mid `84 and later).
Last edited by Dan89FLSTC; May 6, 2022 at 09:09 PM.
Just checked primary oil level vs bottom of clutch plate. It was overfilled by 4ozs. Will drive/test bike when not raining, which is likely tomorrow. If my oil level adjustment doesn't fix the neutral problem, clutch adjustment will be next. Thanks again for all the advice, video and diagram!
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