I picked up a rat bike a few weeks ago as a winter project. Its a softail frame with an EVO mated to a 5 speed. Simple stuff.

When I picked the bike up it ran and shifted fine... great actually. Now it does not.

Something in the driveline is stuck. I got back from a ride a couple of days ago. I popped the bike in neutral to go open my gate and when I got back and went to pop it in first it just started grinding. I got it put into gear and of course the bike started to roll (kind of saw it coming) so I got her into the shop and up on the stand she went.

My first thought was the clutch coming out of adjustment (the bike has a Rivera Primo clutch BTW) so that was my first move. No help. I've adjusted the clutch to pretty much perfection. Actuation is smooth, everything is working as it should BUT... its still stuck in whatever gear I put it in regardless of if the clutch is pulled in or not.

What else do I need to look for? I haven't inspected the clutch plates or anything else yet. When the bike is running, everything sounds good and functions well. No grinds, pops, whines, rattles... and neutral is still super easy to find and with the bike off it just clicks right into gear. All the fluids look good with no evidence of metal or debris. I'm stumped.

 

Check the linkage make sure nothing is binding.

 

What linkage are you referring to, Mark? Shift linkage?

 

Linkage from the foot control to the transmission. Make sure nothing is binding and that the shift lever on the transmission has full range of motion.

 

I'll definitely take a look. Everything seems to be ok in that department. With the bike off I can still click through the gears and pop her neutral but I haven't taken a hard look at it.

 

After that I would check the shifter pawl adjustment.

 

But even if the pawl adjustment was off, shouldn't the transmission let go when I pull the clutch?

 

It should.

 

So what could be keeping the clutch from functioning properly under proper adjustment?

 

Okay re-read your original post. So currently you can put it into gear with the bike running, let out the clutch but it will not move?