So what’s the story with the 1st gear grind? My father has two Harleys and I’ve noticed it on them as well. When your coming up to a stop and your downshifting through the gears SOMETIMES from 2nd to 1st the gears grind and it doesn’t want to go into first. If your firm with your shift it will clunk right in but if you just tap it sometimes it grinds.

 

Take the excess free play out of your linkage, don't dog your downshift, make sure the clutch is all the way in, and adjusted properly.

 

Bounty has good advice, but I've never noticed any of my EGC's having this problem. When they get hotter, they shift a little clunkier, but never any problem getting them in the next gear (up or down). I use my heel shifter a little more when the bike gets hot to get a more positive shift, but even when it gets clunkier it works fine.

 

Between 2nd and 1st gear is a pposition called neutral. If you lightly tap the shifter on the way down, the transmission shifts into neutral. Unless you firmly dpress the shift lever, it is possible to have the transmission in neutral but have the teeth grind because it is not centered in neutral.

I hope this doesn't sound like I am saying dumb question and dumb answer. I changed my gear lube from Syn3 HD oil to Mobil 1 75-90 gear oil and have much easier shifts and am able to locate neutral better.

 

When my motor's cold I will get grinding when trying to go into 1st from neutral if I try to ease it in. I discovered by watching other Harley riders that you've got to push down smartly and assertively on the lever. After about five minutes the clutch is warmed up and doesn't require this method, but I've found that getting good, clean gear changes requires a smart and complete action all the way up and down the process. If I get lazy, I sometimes get false neutrals. Despite the clunky sounds, I've been told that the Harley trans is just about bullet proof.

 

Thanks everyone. I was having the same issues but wasn't sure how to explain it or if I was just getting used to riding a harley.

 

Thats pretty much nature of the beast. My sportbikes did the same thing. I never drop down to first unless I'm stopped. Some transmission engineer will chime in but in laymans terms.... shaft go round and round at high velocity and selecting big lower gear make something go clunk or grrrrrrrr. Doesn't sound healthy. But you have nothing to worry about...

lp

 

The Harley stomp! Mine to, especially when it's cold. M1 75W90 helped alot over Syn3[:'(]. I still get it occasionaly when downshifting while moving but that's my dumba**[:@]