Transmission

[pddgm]

I am finding it exceeding difficult to find neutral in my trikes tranny. I normally use Lucas 20w50 syn in all 3 holes. But am thinking of trying the 75w140 lucas gear oil. I also read after many years of doing so, that syn oil is not good in the primary, to slick and make the clutch slip...Any input..

 

[rhino 2]

I am finding it exceeding difficult to find neutral in my trikes tranny. I normally use Lucas 20w50 syn in all 3 holes. But am thinking of trying the 75w140 lucas gear oil. I also read after many years of doing so, that syn oil is not good in the primary, to slick and make the clutch slip...Any input..

I only use the heel shifter to engage neutral with a slight tap..That said just between first and second with Harley trans is a little pocket of air space where neutral is hiding!..And to engage it it has to be finesse gently..About the oil.. you’ll probably get 15 different suggestions..

 

[Old Road Dog]

No motor oil for me!

Not in the primary or transmission. Gear oil only. This 3 hole campaign was dreamed up by some Madison Avenue ad geek after spending a weekend in a cat house. HD bought into it and the rest is history. What many people dont realize is that the primary oil dosnt just lube- it cools down the rotor.If anything primary oil changes are more important than engine changes. There is no filtering in that primary. Metal particles cling to the rotor magnets and eventually built up long enough can lead to the stator shorting/ burning out. My '76 FXE still has the orginal alternator. Changing that primary lube every 2500 miles I think is the reason. Just Lucky? Maybe.

 

[Oldrodder]

I am finding it exceeding difficult to find neutral in my trikes tranny. I normally use Lucas 20w50 syn in all 3 holes. But am thinking of trying the 75w140 lucas gear oil. I also read after many years of doing so, that syn oil is not good in the primary, to slick and make the clutch slip...Any input..

My 2 other Harleys were finicky to find neutral but my 2007 Ultra trike knows just where it is!! Toe up, sometimes heel down, but easy, peasy!

 

[Jack Klarich]

Cable or hydraulic clutch?

 

[Phu Cat]

I've only had 5 Harleys, but they've all been hard to find neutral in. Sitting at a stop light one day with the clutch pulled in, I found the easy way to find neutral: Load the shifter lightly in whichever way you want it to go, then blip the throttle and it will slip gently into neutral. The reason for this I believe is because of the wet clutches most bikes use. They create drag loading the transmission and keeping the gears from easily sliding. When you blip the throttle with the clutch pulled in it momentarily unloads the tranny and allows the gears to move easily. At least it works for me.

PC

 

[Jack Klarich]

I've only had 5 Harleys, but they've all been hard to find neutral in. Sitting at a stop light one day with the clutch pulled in, I found the easy way to find neutral: Load the shifter lightly in whichever way you want it to go, then blip the throttle and it will slip gently into neutral. The reason for this I believe is because of the wet clutches most bikes use. They create drag loading the transmission and keeping the gears from easily sliding. When you blip the throttle with the clutch pulled in it momentarily unloads the tranny and allows the gears to move easily. At least it works for me.

PC

It throws the oil off the clutch plates to aid in the plates not sticking, insuring a smooth engagement of the gear set

This and the proper fee travel of the clutch ( cable clutches have 2 adjustments)

Hydraulic clutches do not

 

[rhino 2]

Finding Neutral Should be the worst problem you can have with a Harley..

Believe me I know…..

 

[Papa Zook]

Redline Heavy Shockproof gear oil in the tranny will solve that problem.

 

[Jack Klarich]

Redline Heavy Shockproof gear oil in the tranny will solve that problem.

A plus is many HD dealers are now stocking and selling Redline products

 

[pddgm]

Thanks to all. My trike has a hydraulic clutch....I am going to give Lucas's gear oil a try.....Redline is like HD products, way over priced and the only place I see them is at HD shops. On with the discussion... How much does your HD dealer charge for a trike service with complete oil change, tranny and primary. The local one here is Florida where we are gets 3-400 for it....

 

[nucseal]

Thanks to all. My trike has a hydraulic clutch....I am going to give Lucas's gear oil a try.....Redline is like HD products, way over priced and the only place I see them is at HD shops. On with the discussion... How much does your HD dealer charge for a trike service with complete oil change, tranny and primary. The local one here is Florida where we are gets 3-400 for it....

That is the going price in San Antonio,Tx

 

[Jack Klarich]

Thanks to all. My trike has a hydraulic clutch....I am going to give Lucas's gear oil a try.....Redline is like HD products, way over priced and the only place I see them is at HD shops. On with the discussion... How much does your HD dealer charge for a trike service with complete oil change, tranny and primary. The local one here is Florida where we are gets 3-400 for it....

Redline is a very good product as is Lucas, if you have a Cycle Gear store near you check with them for pricing on Redline

If you have stock HD shift linkage, check it for slop, the cheap rod ends get sloppy and makes for poor shifting

Have you had your clutch fluid flushed recently? It does make a big difference on clutch engagement( also easier to find neutral)

Good luck and check back in on what you find to answer your problem

 

[Papa Zook]

Redline Heavy Shockproof gear oil in the tranny will solve that problem.

The Redline is $3.00 more than the Lucas oil. Read the reviews on the Harley sites and on Amazon and see if you can justify the extra $3.00 to fix your problem.

 

[Jack Klarich]

The Redline is $3.00 more than the Lucas oil. Read the reviews on the Harley sites and on Amazon and see if you can justify the extra $3.00 to fix your problem.

You can read here also, this has been tested and true

https://www.redlineoil.com/v-twin-t...dea-than-using-motor-oil-in-your-transmission