Hard to get into neutral?
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,165
Likes: 33
From: Acworth
2 things that can cause "hard to find neutral" once it is broke in are:
1) clutch out of adjustment- clutch not fully disengaged.
2) primary over serviced.
If I know I'm stopping, I usually shift into neutral while rolling, just before I come to a stop. This works good for me.
1) clutch out of adjustment- clutch not fully disengaged.
2) primary over serviced.
If I know I'm stopping, I usually shift into neutral while rolling, just before I come to a stop. This works good for me.
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 715
Likes: 2
From: St. Charles, Mo.
Me too. Just put redline in tranny and changed out oem shift linkage for one with Heim joints. Hopefully this combo will give me more of a solid control of finding N and just smoother shifting and in combo with the redline hope all is good. However weather went south and we got more snow and expecting more so find out later.
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 805
Likes: 4
From: The Live Free or Die State
I'm not the most wrench savy guy in the world so could someone please explain to me why replacing the linkage with a hiem jointed one would make shifting into neutral easier.
thanks in advance
thanks in advance
Last edited by knewt5; Mar 27, 2011 at 10:04 PM.
Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 709
Likes: 2
From: SO Cal
2 things that can cause "hard to find neutral" once it is broke in are:
1) clutch out of adjustment- clutch not fully disengaged.
2) primary over serviced.
If I know I'm stopping, I usually shift into neutral while rolling, just before I come to a stop. This works good for me.
1) clutch out of adjustment- clutch not fully disengaged.
2) primary over serviced.
If I know I'm stopping, I usually shift into neutral while rolling, just before I come to a stop. This works good for me.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,600
Likes: 7
From: Minnesota
Too much fluid - overfilled.
And to the OP - I have had 3 Harleys and my current bike, an '08 SG, is the most difficult of all of them to find neutral. It got easier but I don't think it was due to breaking in or loosening up. I think it was I got used to it but even at 20k miles it is not as easy as my Dyna and Road King. I am not saying that I can't find neutral it just that it feels like there is a narrower band to find it. (If you understand what I mean.)
I have an upgraded shift linkage with Heim joints, in fact its the one I had on my '05 RK. The clutch is completely engaged when its pulled in and it is well adjusted. I have always assumed it was just the characteristic of the late model bikes.
And to the OP - I have had 3 Harleys and my current bike, an '08 SG, is the most difficult of all of them to find neutral. It got easier but I don't think it was due to breaking in or loosening up. I think it was I got used to it but even at 20k miles it is not as easy as my Dyna and Road King. I am not saying that I can't find neutral it just that it feels like there is a narrower band to find it. (If you understand what I mean.)
I have an upgraded shift linkage with Heim joints, in fact its the one I had on my '05 RK. The clutch is completely engaged when its pulled in and it is well adjusted. I have always assumed it was just the characteristic of the late model bikes.
Last edited by Potato_Potato; Mar 27, 2011 at 11:29 PM.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 78
Likes: 1
From: N. Chelmsford, MA
I had a hard time finding neutral. Someone saw me fumbling to find neutral once and gave me the tip to just move the bike forward a little and try again. It worked, and seems to work almost every time for me though I couldn't explain why.
