Hard to find neutral after SE Comp install
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,615
Likes: 50
From: Baton Rouge, LA
This is news to me too and I'll need to test this out tomorrow.
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,945
Likes: 4
From: Victoria, Australia
I distinctly recall reading that some years ago when the twinkie came out (regarding getting to neutral from both directions).
It takes a bit of getting used to if you always go to N from 1st. That comp and spring change just made it very EZ to do on mine.
It takes a bit of getting used to if you always go to N from 1st. That comp and spring change just made it very EZ to do on mine.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,615
Likes: 50
From: Baton Rouge, LA
Well, I can now report that my '07 won't go into neutral from 2nd, period. Not when stationary or any other time, it just goes past neutral while the neutral light flickers briefly as it passes to 1st gear.
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,945
Likes: 4
From: Victoria, Australia
iclick, I can hold my hand over my heart and say I didn't "just make that statement up" (and I'm not inferring at all that you think I am 
). It was a number of years ago when I read that, but I haven't reached senility as yet LoL.
Anyone else able to find neutral easily from second gear? Mine goes into N from 2 with a slight snick, but not as well defined as from 1st to N-- still very easy though.
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,692
Likes: 22
From: Denham Springs, La
This bike is my first Harley and I didn't know to only shift up from 1st to find neutral. Since it was new, if I go up from 1st and it jumps through neutral and into 2nd, I'll gently tap it down to neutral. It's real tricky and requires only a very slight tap downwards. Sometimes it jumps through neutral and into 1st. I keep going back and forth till it slips into neutral or the traffic light turns green. I probably need to adjust my clutch. After the SE Comp install neutral was a breeze to find. Later on the primary chain was replaced and neutral is sometimes very hard to find again, like when it was new.
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,945
Likes: 4
From: Victoria, Australia
This bike is my first Harley and I didn't know to only shift up from 1st to find neutral. Since it was new, if I go up from 1st and it jumps through neutral and into 2nd, I'll gently tap it down to neutral. It's real tricky and requires only a very slight tap downwards. Sometimes it jumps through neutral and into 1st. I keep going back and forth till it slips into neutral or the traffic light turns green. I probably need to adjust my clutch. After the SE Comp install neutral was a breeze to find. Later on the primary chain was replaced and neutral is sometimes very hard to find again, like when it was new.
Regarding your comment about sometimes missing N from 1st, if your chain was replaced recently it once it beds in a bit it could improve, but I reckon a clutch adjustment will help.
I would make sure the Primary case fill level is correct as well-- as it can make a difference to the way the clutch engagement/drag feels. JMO
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 773
Likes: 11
From: Roanoke, VA
I also agree with ther above.
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Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,615
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From: Baton Rouge, LA
No, I wasn't besmirching your word at all and my trials yesterday were only to satisfy my curiosity, as I hadn't tried it before. In fact, the more I think about it I do recall seeing or hearing some mention about it somewhere, too. However, yesterday mine wouldn't do it regardless of the method or conditions, and the manual only describes going into neutral one way, which is from 1st. Anyway, I'll keep trying, but I do see the neutral light flicker when I move down from 2nd into 1st.
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,945
Likes: 4
From: Victoria, Australia
No, I wasn't besmirching your word at all and my trials yesterday were only to satisfy my curiosity, as I hadn't tried it before. In fact, the more I think about it I do recall seeing or hearing some mention about it somewhere, too. However, yesterday mine wouldn't do it regardless of the method or conditions, and the manual only describes going into neutral one way, which is from 1st. Anyway, I'll keep trying, but I do see the neutral light flicker when I move down from 2nd into 1st.
Tonight I will check my 'owners booklet' that came with the 09 and see what it says to try to boost my recall on this.
I rode with a Canadian mate in Singapore while living/working there from 1999 through 2006. He rode a 1999 RoadGlide twinkie that would shift to N from both directions easily. I had my Evo there and always lamented that I had to go to 1st before N (not that it was a big deal).