Hard to push?
Thread Starter
|
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 10,858
Likes: 5,421
From: My own little slice of heaven
Hard to push?
New to Sportster. Everything feels right when riding and shifting but it seems very hard to push while in gear but clutch is pulled in. Much easier when in neutral. Is this normal?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,593
Likes: 6,435
From: Honah Lee
Yes. Even when pulled in, the clutch drive and driven disks oil stick to each other like a wet flat plate on a smooth countertop. Also, the actual splines and serrations of the disk are quite snug on the clutch hub, so they do not always separate evenly. Since a Harley transmission gears need to spin so the drive dogs can drop in to engage correct ratio of a gear shift, this is part of the wet clutch design.
However, since I am afar by the internet. Make sure oil level is correct, correct oil and clutch is correctly adjusted by book.
However, since I am afar by the internet. Make sure oil level is correct, correct oil and clutch is correctly adjusted by book.
Last edited by Jackie Paper; Jun 4, 2019 at 04:54 PM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,755
Likes: 253
From: Northern Los Angeles area.
My 2007 XL1200L has always been like that.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 68,021
Likes: 3,276
From:
Yes..
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 6,058
Likes: 1,819
From: Kalifornia
Trending Topics
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 4,607
Likes: 3,312
From: Virginia
I've had two 1997 883's, a 2002 1200 and a 2006 1200. All four are harder to push around if they are in gear and the clutch is pulled in compared to having the bike in neutral. Also I can feel the bikes pull just slightly when I first start them up with the bike in gear and the clutch pulled in. All of the clutches have been adjusted per the book. So I think it's normal.
As a side note, if you ever leave your heated grips turned on and kill your battery in a parking garage, roll down the ramp in neutral to pick up speed, then shift into 2nd and release the clutch to bump start it. If you try to roll down the ramp in 2nd gear you will not get up enough speed, and pushing a sportster up the ramp, even in neutral, to try again sucks.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 1,713
Likes: 299
From: SC
I've had two 1997 883's, a 2002 1200 and a 2006 1200. All four are harder to push around if they are in gear and the clutch is pulled in compared to having the bike in neutral. Also I can feel the bikes pull just slightly when I first start them up with the bike in gear and the clutch pulled in. All of the clutches have been adjusted per the book. So I think it's normal.
As a side note, if you ever leave your heated grips turned on and kill your battery in a parking garage, roll down the ramp in neutral to pick up speed, then shift into 2nd and release the clutch to bump start it. If you try to roll down the ramp in 2nd gear you will not get up enough speed, and pushing a sportster up the ramp, even in neutral, to try again sucks.
As a side note, if you ever leave your heated grips turned on and kill your battery in a parking garage, roll down the ramp in neutral to pick up speed, then shift into 2nd and release the clutch to bump start it. If you try to roll down the ramp in 2nd gear you will not get up enough speed, and pushing a sportster up the ramp, even in neutral, to try again sucks.
I'm guessing that you're speaking from experience.
