I got a problem getting 1st gear in from neutral gear, I have adjusted the clutch 2 times, changed the oil so I'm out of ideas.

Its possible to force the gear in but it comes with a bad metal to metal sound, but once itīs in there is no problem driving and shifting until I put in neutral again.

There is a 95% chance that I did something wrong adjusting it and 5% mechanical issue.

adjusted the clutch with a loose cable, turning the screw CCW the 1-1/2 turn CW, the adjusted the cable.

Anyone got a clue what I did wrong?

( the bike will not move in gear even with clutch held in )

2002 883 sportster

 

These bikes do make a pretty loud noise going into 1st from neutral especially compared to a metric. Make sure your idle isn't set too high and try pulling in the clutch and wait 15 seconds or so before putting it in gear, that allows the transmission time to slow down a bit before going into gear and helps with the bang. Also you will get more clutch drag with a heavier oil in the primary, what oil are you using?

 

I know I get a lot of noise if I try to go from Neutral to 1st gear if I have the Enricher/Choke pulled out and the bike is idling high. Once the bike has warmed up and the choke is pushed in it goes into 1st easily.

 

Iīll try to set the idle.

The oil is a Red Line oil, the most expensive one I could find.
The problem was there before I changed the trans oil.

The more I think of it I remember thinking that the idle was higher then normal. Will try first thing tomorrow, Thanks

 

How many miles on the odometer? Is the clutch original stock with the spring plate?

 

I bought the bike last year, dont know if the clutch is original stock.

 

Just sharing my experience: roughly a year after I bought mine [used], the clutch's spring plate blew up on me. There was about 20k miles on the odometer. I then learned from this forum that that's around the time that most stock spring plates blow.

 

When you say "bad metal to metal sound," do you mean a single, loud clunk, or more a clattering sound like gear teeth bouncing off one another?

What happens when you shift up into 2nd gear, and then drop down into 1st? Same problem?

 

If I put the 1st gear in slowly there is a gear teeth sound, if I do it fast there is a clunk sound.

no problem droping down to 1st once I get it out of neutral.

Have not had time to see if its related to the idle setting yet as someone suggested

 

Sounds like you're getting clutch drag.

Could be too much oil in the primary, wrong type of oil, clutch adjustment, high idle, or a combination of any of those things.

That's exactly what mine was doing, particularly when cold. After it warmed up, it shifted into 1st with the customary clunk. I have an Energy 1 clutch though, and it didn't do that before I put the new clutch in.

Changing my oil to Mobile 1 synthetic made a huge difference.

The "clunk" is normal from what I understand everyone saying, but the clatter has to do with clutch drag I believe.