Neutral…where are you?
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Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
From: California
Neutral…where are you?
So I'll try to make this quick, but provide the pertinent information.
I have a 1996 Road King FLRHI, only has 38 miles. Long story but bought from a collector, it's in great shape.
So I was riding around today, going through the break in process, and neutral is really hard to slide into.
I've had several bikes, and this one is giving me the hardest time. It just skips right over it. Funny thing is if I'm off the bike, and off holding the clutch in and shift by hand it's much easier to find.
So I thought maybe I was being heavy footed, so I sat on it and played with it for a bit and couldn't get it to drop in going between first and second or vice versa except for one in ten tries.
Thoughts? Is this common in these models and I just need to find the sweet spot? Does it just need to break in?
I have a 1996 Road King FLRHI, only has 38 miles. Long story but bought from a collector, it's in great shape.
So I was riding around today, going through the break in process, and neutral is really hard to slide into.
I've had several bikes, and this one is giving me the hardest time. It just skips right over it. Funny thing is if I'm off the bike, and off holding the clutch in and shift by hand it's much easier to find.
So I thought maybe I was being heavy footed, so I sat on it and played with it for a bit and couldn't get it to drop in going between first and second or vice versa except for one in ten tries.
Thoughts? Is this common in these models and I just need to find the sweet spot? Does it just need to break in?
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 247
Likes: 9
Congrats on the new to you bike. Have you checked the clutch adjustment?
Let's face it this bike has sat a long time the clutch plates are probably a little
sticky. If you have not done so, I would change all the fluids and ride it.
How old are your tires??? Take it easy and give it a few miles. Also, fresh fuel, check
lines -oil and fuel. Sitting that long is not a good thing but all should be good if you do the necessary maintenance. I'm sure others will chime in. Welcome and good luck.
Let's face it this bike has sat a long time the clutch plates are probably a little
sticky. If you have not done so, I would change all the fluids and ride it.
How old are your tires??? Take it easy and give it a few miles. Also, fresh fuel, check
lines -oil and fuel. Sitting that long is not a good thing but all should be good if you do the necessary maintenance. I'm sure others will chime in. Welcome and good luck.
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 1,057
Likes: 10
From: SF Bay area
Get read for the "experts" to tell you you don't know how to shift.
My advice is to try thinner fluid in the primary... free the clutch disks up a bit. In my experience, Formula+ is the worst thing you could run in there as far as easy shifting and finding neutral.
My advice is to try thinner fluid in the primary... free the clutch disks up a bit. In my experience, Formula+ is the worst thing you could run in there as far as easy shifting and finding neutral.
Fluids will help.
Changing to Red Lind Syn. Primary fluid in the primary and a quality gear oil in the trans will help.
By quality, I mean either Amsoil SevereGear 75w-110, Bel Ray, Red Line with Shockproof, or something similar.
Changing to Red Lind Syn. Primary fluid in the primary and a quality gear oil in the trans will help.
By quality, I mean either Amsoil SevereGear 75w-110, Bel Ray, Red Line with Shockproof, or something similar.
Amsoil what?
20w50 in the engine is good.... If they put 20w50 in the primary, while it won't hurt anything, it's not the best for "finding neutral" and "smooth shifting"
Amsoil now makes a primary specific fluid, that I haven't tried, but wouldn't be against.
They also make a tranny fluid, but I have been satisfied with their 75w-110 in mine for years.
20w50 in the engine is good.... If they put 20w50 in the primary, while it won't hurt anything, it's not the best for "finding neutral" and "smooth shifting"
Amsoil now makes a primary specific fluid, that I haven't tried, but wouldn't be against.
They also make a tranny fluid, but I have been satisfied with their 75w-110 in mine for years.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,510
Likes: 23
From: Connecticut
Kraken wrote:
[[ So I thought maybe I was being heavy footed, so I sat on it and played with it for a bit and couldn't get it to drop in going between first and second or vice versa except for one in ten tries. ]]
On pre-2002 big twins, you can't "click down" from second to get to neutral.
You have to go down to first gear, then "click up" to find neutral.
I believe with the 2002 models HD modified the transmission to permit going down from second into neutral.
[[ So I thought maybe I was being heavy footed, so I sat on it and played with it for a bit and couldn't get it to drop in going between first and second or vice versa except for one in ten tries. ]]
On pre-2002 big twins, you can't "click down" from second to get to neutral.
You have to go down to first gear, then "click up" to find neutral.
I believe with the 2002 models HD modified the transmission to permit going down from second into neutral.
