I have a 2002 Road King Classic and have recently experienced a problem when shifting from 1st to 2nd. From time to time it doesn't always engage in gear when shifting. I only experience this from 1st to 2nd gear. The shift lever is somewhat close to the footboard so I'm wondering if it is not allowing the lever to be fully depressed. I can reposition it upward to see if that fixes the problem. The only reason I think this might not be the problem is that is has just started and the lever hasn't been repositioned in over a year.

What say ye who are smarter on all things mechanical? Other than repositioning the lever, what else should be checked?

 

When was the last time you changed the tranny fluid?

 

Check your free play on the heel shifter and also at the tranny. You can take the allen bolt out of the tranny lever and put in a reg bolt (1 x 5/16 20)fr Loew's etc. to get it to tighten down, use blue locktite. Loosen the Heel shifter and move it up and use blue locktite on it also to help tighten it up.

 

3,000 miles ago.

 

It may be time to check the clutch/clutch cable adjustment. Seems like when I have neglected the clutch in the past, I would notice it first with missed first to second shifts or it gets more difficult to find neutral at a stop.

 

Also check and make sure you didnt put a whole quart of transmission oil in it. It only holds 28 oz. Dont ask me how i know! lol

 

If I understand this, when you try to shift from first to second you are only going to neutral. If you are unintentionally stopping at neutral because you feel resistance, then you need to adjust your clutch. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

 

LOL. If that's the case then I'm going to have some words with my stealer.

 

You didn't say whether or not your using the heel shifter, but I recently had a similar problem with mine. My heel shifter had loosened up off of the spline and gone down one notch, so I was hitting the floorboard when shifting.

Fixed by re-adjusting the position higher off of the spline and tightening the bloody thing down again.

 

Clutch and primary chain adjustment.