Starting in 1st with clutch or neutral with clutch
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 105
Likes: 0
From: Hudson, Florida
Starting in 1st with clutch or neutral with clutch
It seems to me when I start the bike in 1st versus neutral, that the starter has a little more to turn over if in gear, yes obviously with clutch pulled in. I could almost feel it move the bike a little and seems a little harder to start. 2000 ultra, unknown mods, third owner, 25,000 miles.
It seems to me when I start the bike in 1st versus neutral, that the starter has a little more to turn over if in gear, yes obviously with clutch pulled in. I could almost feel it move the bike a little and seems a little harder to start. 2000 ultra, unknown mods, third owner, 25,000 miles.
Good observation, mine act's the same. I don't think it makes any difference but more often than not I start in neutral.
Road Master
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,140
Likes: 6
From: Arkansas
Maybe because your using the starter to turn over the gears too ( when your in gear )?
Well unless you forget to pull in the clutch!
I don't think it makes any difference
Last edited by FXDWG12; Aug 21, 2013 at 12:28 PM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,549
Likes: 18
From: Upstate SC
When you start in gear with the clutch pulled in, the bike has been sitting and the clutch plates are "stuck" a little. The starter is working harder to "break them" loose and turn the engine over. Next time you do it, pull in the clutch, then rock the bike a little to break things loose... you will find it starts easier.. not like in neutral but you can tell the difference.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 14,744
Likes: 402
From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
well sure..the clutch is not an on and off mechanism, the one set of plates will rotate with the motor, the other set is attached to the tranny.
if the clutch lever is pulled, the interleaved plates and disks are free to move away from each other ( least resistance)..but the fluid moving between the 2 will cause some drag. and the colder and thicker the fluid, the more drag.
in practical every day starting it makes almost zero difference, but if starting in gear with clutch pulled, there will be a slight lurch as the starter turns...the colder and thicker the fluid, the more lurch. a hot bike less.
starting in neutral allows me to monitor and warm the machine while checking the mirrors, instruments and controls, fixing my hair etc.
If a rider is worried about stressing the electrical system, put in a cut out switch for the headlight, that makes more of a difference
mike
if the clutch lever is pulled, the interleaved plates and disks are free to move away from each other ( least resistance)..but the fluid moving between the 2 will cause some drag. and the colder and thicker the fluid, the more drag.
in practical every day starting it makes almost zero difference, but if starting in gear with clutch pulled, there will be a slight lurch as the starter turns...the colder and thicker the fluid, the more lurch. a hot bike less.
starting in neutral allows me to monitor and warm the machine while checking the mirrors, instruments and controls, fixing my hair etc.
If a rider is worried about stressing the electrical system, put in a cut out switch for the headlight, that makes more of a difference
mike
Last edited by mkguitar; Aug 21, 2013 at 01:20 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 10,135
Likes: 4,777
From: Sandpoint, Idaho
Personally I start mine in neutral and pulling the clutch. Your not turning any gears but at the same time it helps to release the clutch plates. I can then engage 1st gear with absolute silence. (no clunk)
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 612
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From: Massachusetts, west side
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 4,453
Likes: 2,839
From: Oklahoma
The lack of understanding of the drive line amazes me. With the transmission in ANY gear, the drive line from the rear wheel to the transmission side of the clutch is locked together. No gear can turn while the bike is stationary. In a constant mesh transmission, all or no gears turn, there is no other way. They all turn when you are moving, none turn when you are not moving. This always being locked together is what makes it possible for the rear wheel to slide (most frequently when downshifting) on slippery surfaces even with the clutch lever fully pulled in.
There is always a liitle drag built into the clutch, primarily because it is a wet clutch. That is described above. For an illustration of drag, PUSH your bike while it is neutral, then push it while in gear and the clutch lever pulled fully in. If the bike has been sitting for a while, you will feel both the effort to "unstick" the clutch plates AND after that, you will feel the added drag (as compared to neutral) of moving the clutch plates past each other. When starting your bike in gear, your starter ALWAYS has to overpower that added drag. When in neutral, the transmission INPUT shaft is free to spin while not connected to any gear. Typically spinning the input shaft is easier than ungluing the clutch and then having the plates spinning past each other. I reserve starting in gear for the rare times I stall the engine on the street and want a quick restart to promote traffic flow.
There is always a liitle drag built into the clutch, primarily because it is a wet clutch. That is described above. For an illustration of drag, PUSH your bike while it is neutral, then push it while in gear and the clutch lever pulled fully in. If the bike has been sitting for a while, you will feel both the effort to "unstick" the clutch plates AND after that, you will feel the added drag (as compared to neutral) of moving the clutch plates past each other. When starting your bike in gear, your starter ALWAYS has to overpower that added drag. When in neutral, the transmission INPUT shaft is free to spin while not connected to any gear. Typically spinning the input shaft is easier than ungluing the clutch and then having the plates spinning past each other. I reserve starting in gear for the rare times I stall the engine on the street and want a quick restart to promote traffic flow.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2011
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From: Michigan 15 Minutes East Of Hell
It seems to me when I start the bike in 1st versus neutral, that the starter has a little more to turn over if in gear, yes obviously with clutch pulled in. I could almost feel it move the bike a little and seems a little harder to start. 2000 ultra, unknown mods, third owner, 25,000 miles.
