Missing the shift to second

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Jul 22, 2005 | 04:52 PM

rpoteau

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Cruiser

Joined: Jun 2005

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From: Northville, MI

Missing the shift to second

Hey everyone,

Just wondered if anyone had some ideas as to why I am something hitting neutral instead of second. At first I chalked it up to "user error" but now that it is happening more frequently I am wondering if I need to make an adjustment or what. The only thing I can think of is that when I had my derby cover off on the primary I adjusted the clutch cable to make the lever a bit more stiff. Any thoughts????

Jul 22, 2005 | 06:23 PM

Anniesage

Road Master

Joined: Apr 2005

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From: Redmond, Washington

RE: Missing the shift to second

You know, I have had that problem alot - and it really is annoying and troublesome when one is either going through an intersection or going uphill. I had my dealer look at it and they said there wasn't anything wrong with anything - that I need to shift up more forcefully. So I have been attributing it to operator error - but it still bugs me because like you said, sometimes it works and sometimes it goes into neutral. I find that it happens more so after it has warmed up some miles - for me about 10-20 miles on average. Have had this problem since like 400 miles, and she had her 500 and 1,500 mile service - and they say that there still isn't anything wrong..........makes one wonder.

Jul 22, 2005 | 07:07 PM

AZFlyingDiver

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Joined: Jun 2005

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From:

RE: Missing the shift to second

Missing the upshift to 2nd seems fairly common (read about it on other forums) - I did it myself on my '05 Sporty, especially starting about 500 miles after breakin. I don't mis-shift anymore after just shifting more forcefully and haven't had a problem since. I'm at 3100+ miles now...

Jul 22, 2005 | 07:11 PM

HeatherC

Extreme HDF Member

Joined: Feb 2005

Posts: 14,849

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From: Fortville, IN

RE: Missing the shift to second

I ocassionally have this problem too. I'm sure it is just user error on my part!

It did seem to start after the 500 mile break in was over. Huh?

Jul 22, 2005 | 07:52 PM

monkyman

Outstanding HDF Member

Joined: Feb 2005

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From:

RE: Missing the shift to second

A freind of mine has a sportster, and I did the same thing when I rode it. He said it happened to him more often when he wears sneakers, if he wears a heavy boot with no flex in the toe area, it is much better. He just pulls up hard and got use to it.

Jul 22, 2005 | 08:54 PM

Ragin_Republican

Road Master

Joined: Mar 2005

Posts: 1,201

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From: s.e. Kansas

RE: Missing the shift to second

I wear boots when i ride. On the rare occasion that I didnt wear boots and wore my sneakers, I had that problem with hitting neutral instead of second. If you prefer softer topped shoes while riding, you might try to adjust your peg upwards a little to make it a shorter distance for lifting your toes to shift or stick your foot up further under the shift peg so that the shift peg is in the middle of the top of your foot and not in the area where your toes bend. [sm=icon_cheers.gif]

Jul 23, 2005 | 02:16 AM

Anniesage

Road Master

Joined: Apr 2005

Posts: 1,101

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From: Redmond, Washington

RE: Missing the shift to second

hey thanks - although I have never ever ridden with sneakers (knowing my luck I will get them melted onto the pipes for some unknown reason).. my boots are HD and Double H. Although they don't have the steel toe, they are very hard...guess I will just keep trying to shift harder and firmer and with authority!!