Hard Clunk when put in gear ??
Banned
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,706
Likes: 7
From: Woodstock, Ont , Can
The clunk is caused from sticky clutch plates, as in the oil keeping them stuck together until you shift it into gear, even if the adjustment is correct. Atf or, any lighter oil will improve plate disengagement.
Just put on a Rivera Pro clutch, and with atf even in a cold shop it only makes the normal click from the trans when it goes into gear. First time I thought it was a fluke, since the stocker did this one in a thousand times too. It repeated it over and over. Absolutely amazing how this new clutch completely disengages, compared to the Harley unit. I can even push it around in gear now with the clutch pulled in.
Ron
Just put on a Rivera Pro clutch, and with atf even in a cold shop it only makes the normal click from the trans when it goes into gear. First time I thought it was a fluke, since the stocker did this one in a thousand times too. It repeated it over and over. Absolutely amazing how this new clutch completely disengages, compared to the Harley unit. I can even push it around in gear now with the clutch pulled in.
Ron
May our Moderator Rest in Peace
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 11,386
Likes: 35
From: Rochester, NY
In order to void the warranty the maker (HD in this case) has to "PROVE" that whatever you put into it was the primary cause for whatever damage might have occured and I imagine that would be kind of hard to do if you using anything like the better brand name oils.
As far as the 'clunking' goes, part of the 'problem' is that after the bike has been sitting for a while and gets cold the clutch plates are partly sitting in an oil bath.
Now when you fire it up the primary side of the tranny is happily spinning along with the engine, just the way it should.
But if your like most of us you hop on the bike, pull the lever, and stab the shifter peg without giving the tranny enough time to stop spinning. With that extra oil trying to pretend its a crappy torque converter or just sticking together its pulling the primary side of the tranny along with it a little longer than your used to.
There's real no mechanical connection, so its not a serious problem, unless the bike lurches, then you may well have a real clutch adjustment issue.
But once you get moving and go though a couple of gears any excess oil gets tossed out and things go back to 'normal'. Without the extra oil in the pack the primary side of the tranny slows down and stops quicker, so no more clunk.
If you want to test it quick, next time you fire it up cold Try pulling the lever and counting to ten. Odds are that its either not going to clunk or its going be very slight.
It will still clunk if you just grab the lever and stab the peg without giving the input shaft the few seconds it needs to stop. But normal relaxed operation will give it more than enough time to stop so you don't get the clunk.
Last edited by In Memoriam Citoriplus; Feb 9, 2010 at 08:17 AM.
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 263
Likes: 0
From: atlanta ga.
If you want to test it quick, next time you fire it up cold Try pulling the lever and counting to ten. Odds are that its either not going to clunk or its going be very slight.
It will still clunk if you just grab the lever and stab the peg without giving the input shaft the few seconds it needs to stop. But normal relaxed operation will give it more than enough time to stop so you don't get the clunk.
It will still clunk if you just grab the lever and stab the peg without giving the input shaft the few seconds it needs to stop. But normal relaxed operation will give it more than enough time to stop so you don't get the clunk.
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 227
Likes: 0
From: Southern AZ
There is a 100% surefire way to fix this clunking sound. It;s really easy. Get on your bike and warm it up real good. As you ride slowly increase the RPM's and them slow down when you see a Honda or Yamaha dealer. Stop there. Look thru their oil rack and when you find nothing that will help trade your bike in on a rice burner which will sound like a sewing machine. Problem solved. All the Harley big boys will continually to enjoy the positive engagement of their gears passin you on the highway. I've said enuf.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,190
Likes: 5
From: Eastern Washington
Give the guy a break. He said harder than normal. I think he knows that there will always be a clunk sound when putting it in gear, but there is a difference to a "normal" sound and one that is caused by clutch being out of adjustment
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 157
Likes: 0
From: Rogers AR
I switched to Spectro in the transmision and made lots of diffrence in my 08 Fatboy and I would definately get the syn 3 out of the transmision and get weather redline or what get something in there other than motor oil...I like the spectro for shifting too but thats my opinion...holding in the clutch lever when cold for 10 seconds or so when its running does help alot and I think when you get the syn 3 out and get something more suited for the tranny will help...primary oil helps too I use redline primary oil there but I think the main thing is make sure your clutch is adjusted properly and try a few different ideas to see which works in your bike best...
Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 764
Likes: 0
From: South Florida
Im running the SYN 3 in all 3 holes... 
Looks like im gonna to be dropping my Shotgun Shock to do an tranny oil change.
This is a topic that always get out of hand as far as what fluid to use in what hole.
Update: I adjusted the cable, and the clunk seems to have reduced a significant amount. I'm still going to change from the SYN 3, but also going to keep messing around with it until I find the sweet spot.
Looks like im gonna to be dropping my Shotgun Shock to do an tranny oil change. This is a topic that always get out of hand as far as what fluid to use in what hole.
Update: I adjusted the cable, and the clunk seems to have reduced a significant amount. I'm still going to change from the SYN 3, but also going to keep messing around with it until I find the sweet spot.
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Novice
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
I'm new to riding Harleys, but have been riding on and off for 30+ years. When I took a 2007 Harley Fatboy for a test run last year and experienced the distinct clunk when changing gears and that Harley rumble, I bought it.
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 238
Likes: 5
From: West Chester, PA
Thanks for the link BennieSG. Good how-to video series.