Bad gears maybe?
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Stage II
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: las vegas
Bad gears maybe?
So after downshifting I noticed a lot of slack in my clutch lever and I couldn’t get the bike into neutral while the engine is running, only when I shut it off. After reading a bit I adjusted my lever and my cable. Now the slack is gone but when I put it in gear it starts creeping forward. I adjusted again and again but I couldn’t get it to stop creeping in first. Still can’t get it into neutral with the engine running either. When I put it into first the “clank” is even louder than usual and it is extremely difficult to put into 2nd or even third. Any help or suggestions would be appreciated, I also want to take the primary cover off again and dig deeper to see any apparent broken parts but I haven’t been able to find a break down image of what I’m looking for in there. I feel like this could be a really easy fix but I just don’t know what I’m looking for under the primary cover
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 3,072
Likes: 1,727
From: Dallas, Texas
Clutch adjustments are done on a cold engine. I don't know what you were reading, but it wasn't the right stuff. Ya got 2 options. 1 - get a FACTORY SERVICE MANUAL and read it. 2 - search "Sportster clutch adjustment" on You Tube. FYI - there is a measured amount of slack in the clutch adjustment.
Thread Starter
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Stage II
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: las vegas
Clutch adjustments are done on a cold engine. I don't know what you were reading, but it wasn't the right stuff. Ya got 2 options. 1 - get a FACTORY SERVICE MANUAL and read it. 2 - search "Sportster clutch adjustment" on You Tube. FYI - there is a measured amount of slack in the clutch adjustment.
I didn’t specify but I did it the next day after looking that exact thing up on YouTube and adjusted it based off of that, the guy on YouTube had an 883 as opposed to my 1200 but I’m not sure if that makes a big difference.
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,952
Likes: 903
From: South Florida (Ft Myers area)
Definitely get a manual if you can.
A good resource for parts and assembly Ronnie's Harley-Davidson's Harley Davidson Street Bike Parts Finder (onlinemicrofiche.com)
Maybe try a different video and readjust it. You didn't mention which video you watched.
Could be just sticking clutch plates, low fluid, too much fluid, wrong/old fluid, among other things. How does it roll around by hand with the clutch pulled in and in gear?
Definitely pop it open and have a look.
A good resource for parts and assembly Ronnie's Harley-Davidson's Harley Davidson Street Bike Parts Finder (onlinemicrofiche.com)
Maybe try a different video and readjust it. You didn't mention which video you watched.
Could be just sticking clutch plates, low fluid, too much fluid, wrong/old fluid, among other things. How does it roll around by hand with the clutch pulled in and in gear?
Definitely pop it open and have a look.
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 905
Likes: 206
From: Minneapolis
although I've only owned one Evo sporty, I've owned over 40 iropnheads and 20 shovels over my lifetime - doubt it is "gears" causing those symptoms - sounds like plates or clutch discs - but if you brought it to my shop I would over adjust the cable so it was very tight - almost until the clutch slipped a little in 1st gear - and I would see if that cures the lurching and dragging - did you say what year the bike is? some bikes have the pawl carrier and some have a drum - the pawl carriers are what I had in all my bikes and these can wear - the roller hats wear out - and sometimes the carrier comes loose - if you overtighten it and the bike no longer drags or lurches it is most likely in the clutch basket. I really doubt you will find broken parts in there - it is very easy to pull the primary cover and have a look - how much travel do you have on the clutch pull at the basket/prressure plate?
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 338
Likes: 82
From: England
There is a spring plate in the middle of your clutch pack, sometimes called a grenade plate, that has a tendency to fail. It can cause symptoms like irregular clutch lever free play, difficulty in changing gear, finding neutral etc.
If the slack in your cable came on in a short period of time, then it might be the cause of your issue. If it is the problem then adjusting your clutch freeplay will not work
There is likely a multitude of posts on here regarding it and how they repaired it.
Youtube is bound to have videos on how to diagnose, take apart and solve the issue in a variety of ways. Depends on how handy you are with a spanner.
Google "Sportster grenade plate"
If the slack in your cable came on in a short period of time, then it might be the cause of your issue. If it is the problem then adjusting your clutch freeplay will not work
There is likely a multitude of posts on here regarding it and how they repaired it.
Youtube is bound to have videos on how to diagnose, take apart and solve the issue in a variety of ways. Depends on how handy you are with a spanner.
Google "Sportster grenade plate"
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Road Master
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 1,211
Likes: 330
From: Hamilton, Ontario
So after downshifting I noticed a lot of slack in my clutch lever and I couldn’t get the bike into neutral while the engine is running, only when I shut it off. After reading a bit I adjusted my lever and my cable. Now the slack is gone but when I put it in gear it starts creeping forward. I adjusted again and again but I couldn’t get it to stop creeping in first. Still can’t get it into neutral with the engine running either. When I put it into first the “clank” is even louder than usual and it is extremely difficult to put into 2nd or even third. Any help or suggestions would be appreciated, I also want to take the primary cover off again and dig deeper to see any apparent broken parts but I haven’t been able to find a break down image of what I’m looking for in there. I feel like this could be a really easy fix but I just don’t know what I’m looking for under the primary cover
This sounds exactly like what I went through. I am no tech but is sounds like the grenade plate has gone "boom". If you are not handy I would get it to a tech sooner rather then later. I had the same problems and took an 8 hours trip and destroyed my clutch to the tune of $2500. If it is the spring plate you will have little pieces of brass swimming around in your clutch messing everything up and getting stuck in gears.
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