Some trouble downshifting. Please help.

[Eyespy]

2000 Electraglide, has an Ultima 6 sp OD gear set. Several thousand trouble free miles on the tranny, but recently developed 2 problems: 1) trouble downshifting from 6 to 5, such as when pulling up a long grade with headwind and have to drop down out of OD to maintain speed or accelerate. Shift lever moves down a stop, as if shifting, but stays in 6th often. Much less of a problem when slowing down to a stop and dropping down though the gears with throttle blips to rev match. But, this is where the 2nd problem happens: 2) Will shift down 6-5-4-3-2-N-1. No longer shifting from 2 to 1, but goes into N. Have to downshift again to get from N to 1. Clutch seems to be adjusted fine. Fluid levels fine. Is the Ultima tranny a POS, or do these problems point to a likely and hopefully simple fix? Thanks.

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[Other Sheep]

Hard to say without more info. But I think I would change the tranny oil to a good synthetic like Mobil 1 75/140 and the primary to a good atf like trick shift from B&M and them take it out for a ride. Make sure the fluid levels are correct.

[Eyespy]

Originally Posted by Other Sheep

Hard to say without more info. But I think I would change the tranny oil to a good synthetic like Mobil 1 75/140 and the primary to a good atf like trick shift from B&M and them take it out for a ride. Make sure the fluid levels are correct.

Thanks for your help, but those are all non-issues. It's something mechanical with the tranny.

[Nightking]

You need to adjust your shifter fork on the shifter arm. There is an adjustmnent that allows you to center the shifter at mid point , thus allowing you to shift up and down at the same pressure. Right above your shifter arm, there is a screw with a lock nut . That adjusts the fork that shifts up or down. The service manual should guide you through the adjustment process. If it is too far one way or the other, you will have problems shifting either up or down, depending on which way it is out of adjustment. The type of oil won't cause that problem. If you need more help, just PM me. It is a simple fix..
Hope that helps.

[Eyespy]

Originally Posted by Nightking

You need to adjust your shifter fork on the shifter arm. There is an adjustmnent that allows you to center the shifter at mid point , thus allowing you to shift up and down at the same pressure. Right above your shifter arm, there is a screw with a lock nut . That adjusts the fork that shifts up or down. The service manual should guide you through the adjustment process. If it is too far one way or the other, you will have problems shifting either up or down, depending on which way it is out of adjustment. The type of oil won't cause that problem. If you need more help, just PM me. It is a simple fix..
Hope that helps.

Thank you Nightking, I will look into that.

[Eyespy]

I just checked, the shift pawl adjuster is set at mid-point. Maybe a bent shift fork?

[Nightking]

I would definitely take the top cover off and have a look see. You could have a bent fork somewhere .