I've got an 02 softail that will shift from first to neutral but not from neutral to second or any other gear. It was working fine, slowed down and stopped at a stop sign and then when I took off, it would not shift from first to second. Linkage looks ok, clutch pressure plate seems to move like it's supposed to. Any ideas?

 

I can only ask a dumb question here. Did you try replacing the transmision fluid?

 

After messing around more with the shifter and the transmission I discovered I could get it to shift into second but only with difficulty and by trying to make the shift several times in a row. I found a good shop with someone that know a lot more than I do about Harleys. His over the phone diagnosis, shift pawl centering adjustment. I take it in Monday, hope he's right.

 

I once pulled a chrome head bolt cover out from the shift lever on the transmission, it fell off the head bolt and became wedged behind the trans shift lever. You could downshift but no upshift.

 

had the same problem, went to the harley shop and they said it was a bushing. Took them 30 minutes to fix, no charge since it was covered by warranty.

 

Did you recently wash your bike? I had the same problem on my V-Rod a couple of times. Turns out when I had washed it I had gotten too much water near the shift linkage and it took a lot of the lube out around the bushing. I could get it to shift but when I shifted into second I'd have to push the shifter down a little. When I downshifted I'd have to stick my toe under the shifter and bring it up a little. My wrench just shaved down the bushing so that there wasn't so much tension and the spring could bring it back to postition. Hope it's as easy a fix for you as it was for me!