Quick summary:
I lowered the oil level in the primary, and now finding neutral is easy.

Longer version:
The manual and web show different versions of how high to run the oil in the primary. Here’s two examples




So on the latest oil change I went with the lowest oil level, maybe a bit lower. It is a pain to measure since you cannot see this, you have to play with zip ties and the like as a dipstick.

There’s a chain splashing oil in there, so there shouldn’t be any problems if I’m actually a little lower than correct.

Finally, neutral can be found just as easily as a Honda! Yay!

Just that little bit of excess oil was enough to make the clutch plates drag. Now, the clutch disengages with much less drag.

Seems like the primary is quieter too.

 

Very interesting!

 

Thanks for sharing that. I'm doing my first primary change on this bike soon, so this is helpful.

 

And remember, it’s with the bike perfectly vertical not on the side stand.

 

I would assume that your using trans oil and not engine oil?

Thanks

 

Oddly enough I found this true on my 09 EG. I changed the primary using a full quart of Redline primary. I started having trouble finding neutral and my local wrench cautioned about overfilling. For my bike about 27-28 oz works well.

 

Did you find that the Redline worked better once you had the correct level? I know on my dirt bike the clutch does not disengage well if its overfilled either. Its a two stroke and has a
separate trans.

 

I believe Harley sells a transmission/primary oil that can be used in both places. Manual transmission oil, because of the synchros (yellow metal), is OK also but gear oil has additives that go hard on "yellow" metal. I believe the copper windings in the stator qualify as yellow metal so gear oil is not a good choice in the primary.

 

This thread is quite interesting, over the years of following these forums many new to HD will pop a question about their clutch and not being able to find neutral or shifting seems problematic. Too many will answer "ahh just dump a quart of oil in the primary and call it good", well it's not good and the OP has discovered this and the correct oil levels. As far as I can tell both drawings show the correct levels with a straight line at the bottom of the clutch pack/spring diaphragm, as long as the bike is vertical. Props to the OP on figuring out the solution and when one has a problem with their bike please state year/model and that should help everybody in the future. Have a nice weekend and remember those who have fallen to protect this country.

 

Gear oil. GL-4 is safe for all bushing and bearing type transmissions. GL-5 is not safe for most bushings. One of my bikes has bronze bushings, I have to use GL-4 in it.

My '07 FXDB really clunked into first gear when cold and not nicely when warm When cold and I put it in first, it would chirp the wheel on the dirt where I park sometimes. Was running the Harley dino primary oil, 1 quart. Then I learned about only going to the lip of the clutch pack. What a change. Much better!

Last primary change I went with the BelRay dino primary oil filled to the bottom of the clutch pack. Seems to go through the gears better than with the HD brand.

Tom