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Clunky Shifting

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  #11  
Old 05-30-2008 | 03:06 PM
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tk353
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From: Leander Texas
Default RE: Clucky Shifting

I put Bel-Ray gear saver in my trans and the cluck is gone and neural is easier to find.
http://www.belray.com/consumer/product.fsp?pid=13637
 
  #12  
Old 05-30-2008 | 03:48 PM
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BigJohn Fatboy
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Default RE: Clucky Shifting

Are the noises consistant when downshifting and are you bringing the RPMs up prior to releasing the clutch?

The shifting clunk, love it, nothing like it.

At an idle what does it sound like when you place it into 1st?

Is there a noise while running while the gears are engaged?

If you feel a grinding while running down the road, you know something is getting ready to seize, which is nothing to play with. I lost a chain on my shovel, it got tied up in the wheel, locked up the rear tire,,,, luckily only about 35mph. Nice feeling.

All the luck in figuring it out.
 
  #13  
Old 05-30-2008 | 04:21 PM
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mikef
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Default RE: Clucky Shifting

Mine got better when the HD dealer adjusted my clutch while it was in there for an oil change.
 
  #14  
Old 05-30-2008 | 04:55 PM
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Default RE: Clucky Shifting

Try adjusting the primary chain too.

I think most of the clunk people hear is the slack in the chain when the engine goes from moving the bike to trying to slow it down.

It is also loud when you first shift into 1st. Just my opinion.

David
 
  #15  
Old 05-30-2008 | 05:24 PM
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nemick
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From: Indianapolis
Default RE: Clucky Shifting

+1 on checking the clutch adjustment. This helped mine.
 
  #16  
Old 05-30-2008 | 06:55 PM
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trafficjams
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From: Ma
Default RE: Clucky Shifting

ORIGINAL: bdejong11129

Yes I did a search, and yes I found some topics and talk about that this is just a "Harley Thing".

At times, not all the time but most of the time when I down shift, the gears dont grind but it clunks or thuds or whatever you want to call it. At times its really loud. My wife noticed it in her pegs the first tiem we rode the bike, she asked about the thud when I downshifted.

Now other times it drops into gear with little more than a click. Its mostly an anoyance when approaching a second gear turn from being in a higher gear and as I downshift to get into second its banging away. I am always waiting for it to drop out of the bike.[8D]

I dont really care about how loud it is but it cant be good for the gears. if this is truely a "Harley Thing" then is there an explination for why it happens? I have had several "off brand" bikes and none of them were as solid of a thud as this. Yes, the Harley is a "Iron" bike so it should do everything lounder. meaner, and badder(is that a word).

So does this happen to others and has anyone found a problem realted to this that I should be aware of?
you need to roll the poochie on the downshift to bring the motors rpm up to the proper level for a smoother downshift... but... you'll never rid the bike completely of that fine sounding characteristic hd "clunk"... it'll grow on you.

 
  #17  
Old 05-31-2008 | 01:37 AM
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bdejong11129
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Default RE: Clucky Shifting

ORIGINAL: BigJohn Fatboy

Are the noises consistant when downshifting and are you bringing the RPMs up prior to releasing the clutch?

The shifting clunk, love it, nothing like it.

At an idle what does it sound like when you place it into 1st?

Is there a noise while running while the gears are engaged?

If you feel a grinding while running down the road, you know something is getting ready to seize, which is nothing to play with. I lost a chain on my shovel, it got tied up in the wheel, locked up the rear tire,,,, luckily only about 35mph. Nice feeling.

All the luck in figuring it out.
No they are not constant, there are times where it is quite, but most of the time it is clunky.

As far as the sound when at idle, on the first engagement in the morning or starting it with the enrichener pulled out it is a hard clunk. This also happens when I have been ideling at a stop light in neutral for a while and the pop it back into first.

Now, when I have the clutch lever pulled in the bike rolls very easily, and I mean easy, any slight grade and the bike starts to roll.

No grinding of gears or grinding noises, just a solid clunk.

I dont hear it when letting off the throttle while still in gear. Only when pulling in the clutch and downshifting.

you need to roll the poochie on the downshift to bring the motors rpm up to the proper level for a smoother downshift... but... you'll never rid the bike completely of that fine sounding characteristic hd "clunk"... it'll grow on you.
Do you mean to bring up the RPM after pulling the clutch and before downshifting?

 
  #18  
Old 05-31-2008 | 07:19 AM
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Stevenacnj
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Default RE: Clucky Shifting

My transmission was clunky when shifting too. Recently I changed transmission fluid to Redline Heavy Shock Proof 75W 250/75W and it made a big difference in the clunking noise level. Clunk is still there but a lot less noticeable. This Redline fluid is red in color, very thick & different looking thanthetypical Harley fluid.

Can buy it here:

http://www.racerpartswholesale.com/c...nd_Brake_Fluid

 
  #19  
Old 05-31-2008 | 08:44 AM
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tk353
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From: Leander Texas
Default RE: Clucky Shifting

Maybe you are hearing 2 different things. When i first got a balanced engine i thought the noise i heard was the transmission but it is the counter balance noise. it was very loud until i started using Amsol 20-50.
 
  #20  
Old 06-02-2008 | 04:46 PM
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bdejong11129
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Default RE: Clucky Shifting

ORIGINAL: oldgeezer

If you are running 20W-50 in your transmission, you should probably switch to 75W-90 either Mobil 1 or Amsoil fully synthetic.
Nope, that was my mistake. Got my holes mixed up, for the bike its ok, but the wife really gets mad.... Anyway. The tranny is all that I have not changed yet to Mobile 1. the fluid that is in there now is clear as a bell, and I mean the color of it is clear. It is either very new or thats the color of the stock Harley fluid. I have a jug of the Mobile 1 sitting in the garage, I will change it and post back how it goes.

We did go on a large escorted ride this weekend and the local police were using Harleys, and everytime I heard them shift it sounded just like mine.

Thanks everyone.
 


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