Why is my gear shift on my Harley Davidson hard?

If you are experiencing Harley neutral issues, “hard neutral”, or having a tough time shifting your Harley, you may need to address your Harley-Davidson gear shift linkage as an assembly. Sometimes, a misaligned shift linkage will be obvious to diagnose.

What happens to the shift pawl in a Harley Davidson?

If this is the case, your transmission may have a broken or missing shift pawl or return spring. This shift pawl spring keeps the shifter pawl, which is attached to the external shift lever, engaged with shift drum whilst the return spring puts the shift lever back to its starting position, so the transmission is ready for the next gear change.

When to replace a shift shaft on a Harley Davidson?

If pinch bolts become loose, remove them, clean them, and reinstall to factory torque specs with Loctite. If shift arm splines or shaft splines are worn; the components should be replaced. If a shifter shaft is to be replaced, it is also important to replace shifter shaft bushings at that time. Proper shift leverage is very important.

What should I do if my shifter is stuck?

Once you’ve got access to the interior of the shifter, you might as well re-lubricate it with some White Lightning or any other type of chain fluid just to coat and protect it. Replace the cover and shift the gears into place so that the bike cable can be rethreaded.

When do I need to fix my Harley shift linkage?

More great content is available when you sign up for a Fix My Hog Video Membership! If you are experiencing Harley neutral issues, “hard neutral”, or having a tough time shifting your Harley, you may need to address your Harley-Davidson gear shift linkage as an assembly. Sometimes, a misaligned shift linkage will be obvious to diagnose.

Why are my shift arms on my Harley Davidson stripped?

Stripped shift arms and Harley shifter shaft are a common problem for almost every model Harley Davidson. Your shift assembly will be actuated thousands of times, just riding over the course of one weekend.

Why does my bike not want to shift into neutral?

The clutch could be dragging just a bit making it difficult to shift into neutral. This is very common. Ensure your clutch is adjusted properly by taking up the slack and giving the lever about 2-3mm of play when the handlebars are turned all the way to the left and right which changes play in the cable.

Why does my Harley Davidson not go into 5th gear?

Lubricate any joints/pivot points with WD-40, or a rust penetrant. my 87 Harley solftail does not want to go into 5th gear all the time it does sometime but mostly don’t Hi, Brian. May need to get into your transmission. May have bent or worn shift forks, worn shift drum, bad shift pawl assembly, or even bearings.

What should I do if my Clutch is wrong on my Harley Davidson?

As Bob explains, most typically proper clutch adjustment should also, always, be confirmed. When attempting to fix a Harley-Davidson gear shift linkage issue, verify correct adjustment at the clutch pack and in the cable per your service manuals specific requirements for your year, make & model.

What does it mean when your car is stuck in neutral?

When down shifting sometimes I can’t shift all the way down to 1st gear, it will get stuck in neutral. I will have to release the clutch then pull the clutch in again in order to shift into 1st. Keep in mind that it doesn’t do this every time. Is this normal? Do I need to adjust my clutch? Just bad riding on my part?

What happens if your gear shift linkage is not correct?

If your shift arms are not properly aligned or your Harley-Davidson gear shift linkage is set to an incorrect length; you may experience binding, which will limit, or diminish your leverage.

Why is my 4L60E Shift Solenoid stuck in neutral?

Stuck in Neutral – If a shift solenoid has failed entirely, that it’s entirely possible that the transmission will not work at all. In this situation the transitional will remain a neutral regardless of what gear you put it in. Most of the problems that occur with a 4L60E shift solenoid are caused by the coil wire going bad in some way.

When do you need to address gear shift linkage?

When do I need to replace my shift shaft?

If shift arm splines or shaft splines are worn; the components should be replaced. If a shifter shaft is to be replaced, it is also important to replace shifter shaft bushings at that time. Proper shift leverage is very important.

Are there any problems with the Harley Davidson clutch?

This recall involved problems with the clutch system which won’t fully disengage. In the report, Harley-Davidson said this is the result of gas bubbles in the master cylinder clutch. If you’re considering these models, check with the dealer to make sure that the clutch got flushed or the master cylinder got rebuilt.

Are there any problems with the new Harley Davidson?

This is one Harley to avoid. Yes, it’s a new bike, but the Livewire has had numerous problems in its short on again off again life. The electric bike has experienced problems with its charging system, which in turn led Harley to stop production of the bike in October of 2019.

What causes an oil leak on a Harley Davidson?

Faulty shift shaft seals can lead to internal oil leaks. Oil leaks affect your Harley’s performance, but also your safety. If you notice any fluid leaking from your Harley, you must promptly get it fixed. Over time, this leak could affect other components of your Harley and lead to a much more expensive fix. 4. Bulb Burn Out

Why does my motorcycle take so long to shift gears?

Inside the engine, engagement of one gear to another takes place when one set of dogs is pushed into engagement with another—the two gears now rotate as one. The space into which the engaging dogs can fit determines how much time it takes to complete a shift.

What to do when your car gears are hard to shift?

How to fix: Get the bushes replaced. Sometimes, you may also need to change the gear cable (in a cable shift mechanism) if the cable has become hard with age. If the gears do not slot easily and instead make a grinding sound on quick shifting between one gear and another, you may have a larger problem on your hands.

How does cold weather affect transmission shift quality?

That translates into solid, confident shifts day after day and long transmission life. Cold weather can reduce shift quality. When the temperature drops, transmission fluids with poor cold-flow properties can thicken and cause elongated and hard shifts until the fluid has warmed up enough to flow properly.

Why is my shift rod not working on my Dyna Glide?

The shift rod may be bent or have become loose. If you can no longer shift and the problem isn’t with the clutch, there may be issues with the shift rod or shift arm itself. Check the shift lever rod coming out of the transmission for any play. The pinch bolts can stretch over time and cause slippage.

Why does a Harley make a clunking noise when shifting gears?

The clunking noise that a Harley makes when shifting into gear is normal, but the clunking can be exasperated in cold weather or by a too high idle speed. While some riders love the clunking noise a Harley Davidson makes when shifting gears, other riders no not like it all.

When did IH change the clutch drive sprocket?

On September 21, 1978 starting with crank case (# 779-26 4- 021), the mainshaft clutch gear thrust washer thickness was decreased .020“ from .232” to .212“ (nominal). The transmission drive sprocket hub width was increased .020” to compensate for the clutch gear change.

What causes shifting problems in a Harley Davidson Sportster?

Shifting problems as well as noises can originate from different areas inside and outside the transmission, including the shifter, linkage, clutch, primary drive and more. Adjustments can be made that often correct shifting problems without digging into the transmission. This article applies to the Harley Davidson Sportster (1986-2016).

How to shorten the linkage on a Harley Davidson Sportster?

Turn the linkage sleeve clockwise to shorten the rod and decrease the amount of lever travel required to complete a shift. If you feel a gear being selected without moving the lever, you’ve adjusted the linkage to short. Rotate the linkage sleeve counterclockwise to increase the lever travel. Tighten the jam nut once the adjustment is made.

Why is my Sportster not shifting into neutral?

It sounds like the primary chain is too tight and or the clutch may need adjusting. The primaries are different so this may take some investigation on your end but with the Sportster there is a bolt on the bottom that can be loosened which frees a center screw that is adjusted with a hex wrench.

What happens when a downshift solenoid goes bad?

The downshift solenoid controls the transmission shifting from a higher gear to a lower gear, such as when the vehicle is slowing down to a stop. When the solenoid fails or has any issues, it can cause problems with the vehicle’s shifting.

How to check the transmission on a Harley Davidson Sportster?

Hold the clutch lever in and place the transmission in first gear with the bike at a standstill. There should be no engine power transferring to the rear wheel. Figure 1. Sportster clutch lever and cable. The fluid level is easily checked through the derby cover or dipstick on some models.

What happens if your shift arm is wrong on a Harley Davidson?

Sometimes, path of travel can be limited, or cut short by an oversized, after-market hand grip; or possibly some other add on. If your shift arms are not properly aligned or your Harley-Davidson gear shift linkage is set to an incorrect length; you may experience binding, which will limit, or diminish your leverage.

What to do if your gear shift is not working?

Try looking it over every time you check your lights and tire pressure. If pinch bolts become loose, remove them, clean them, and reinstall to factory torque specs with Loctite. If shift arm splines or shaft splines are worn; the components should be replaced.

Why is my transmission not shifting to third gear?

If you ignore the signs for too long, it could lead to a possible failure of the transmission. Let’s see what could be the reasons for the auto gearbox not to shift from second gear to the third. Overheating could be a reason for the gear to stick and the low fluid level is the culprit for making the transmission overheated.

What’s the problem with my Harley Davidson transmission?

My bike goes into first fine, and then when shifting to higher gears it sometimes takes two or more tries to get it into gear. Any thoughts? Service was done a couple of months ago. I had a shifter spring break ($1.98) and they had to tear into the transmission to replace it.

Why does my Softail not shift in 5th gear?

Figure 4. The pawl spring similar to the above is a common item to break on the Softail, causing many shifting issues. If your issue is hard shifting into 5th gear and feeling like it’s lugging, this may actually be normal. Many owners complain about 5th gear shifting too low according to the owner’s manual.

What causes a bent shift fork on a Harley Davidson?

Causes can include a bent shift fork, bad bearing on the transmission input or output shaft, or other worn parts. A bad/bent shift fork no longer move the gears the correct distance, which prevents complete engagement of the next gear set. Replacing a bent shift fork requires taking the transmission out and disassembling it.

Is the shifter pawl missing on a Harley Davidson?

Shifter pawl adjustment. If this is the case, your transmission may have a broken or missing shift pawl or return spring.

What to do when your car wont shift into 1st gear?

You need to either loosen the hard-stop screw for the high limit or the low limit depending on if it won’t go into the biggest cog or the smallest cog. I would loosen the screw one-turn and see if it helps. Fine tune the adjustment from there. The screws are easy to turn if you move the derailleur slightly away from the stop.

What to do if your transmission is hard shifting?

To determine if the transmission itself is the cause of hard shifting, remove the shift lever or linkage from the top of the transmission. Then, move the shift blocks into each gear position using a pry bar or screwdriver. If the yoke bars slide easily, the trouble is with the linkage assembly.

What happens when I shift to the lowest gear?

When shifting to the lowest gear (11-28 10sp cassette) the chain will run cleanly, but after 5-10 seconds of pedalling the rear derailleur will shift back to the second largest wheel on the cassette. Sometimes it may even get more confused and shift back and forth over the 9th and 10th wheel on the cassette.

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