What do you use in your tranny, and why?

[engprosinc]

I, like others, have a difficult if not impossible time finding neutral when stopped. I was wondering if anyone has had any positive results using a "special" tranny fluid and/or procedure.

BTW I can find neutral when rolling to a stop, but if I stop the bike, and find myself in first or second, I can't get the tranny into neutral. It goes right past neutral into the next gear. The neutral light doesn't even come on as I go past it. I have no problem finding neutral if the engine isn't running.

Is there a solution or is this just another very expensive "Harleyism"?

 

[lboos]

I, like others, have a difficult if not impossible time finding neutral when stopped. I was wondering if anyone has had any positive results using a "special" tranny fluid and/or procedure.

BTW I can find neutral when rolling to a stop, but if I stop the bike, and find myself in first or second, I can't get the tranny into neutral. It goes right past neutral into the next gear. The neutral light doesn't even come on as I go past it. I have no problem finding neutral if the engine isn't running.

Is there a solution or is this just another very expensive "Harleyism"?

Don't know how many miles you have on it or how long you have owned it, it might just need a clutch adj. or just getting use to. I'm kinda new to mine and I have the same trouble finding neutral at times, I now have about 3700 miles on it and am getting better at it, I think it's just a Harley thing, I am always in 1st gear before I stop and then a slight up and am in neutral, some times it's easy, sometimes not, just takes practice.
Don't never give up .
A lot of good info. on this subject 2 post down.

 

[Krautster]

I use Redline with shockproof.. lots of threads here bout it and I did some research.. works for me

 

[trikermutha]

a good clutch and cable adjustment goes along way to finding neutral easier..Not to say other things can help..like a proper primary chain adjustment

 

[jcolson]

I use Amzoil in my tranny and everything else. Makes a big difference. Someone who really knows how to adjust your clutch makes a world of difference. Just got my bike back back from the shop after 7mos. and it's never shifted this good or finding neutral so easy. I put the 480# spring in plus the Clutch Wiz. The lever is still real easy to pull. But I do have another easy clutch thing from White Brothers on the tranny cover side. It sure wasn't the Harley dealership that adjusted the clutch. They don't know their ass from a hole in the ground. Just saying? Jim

 

[msocko3]

No magic oils, just a good clutch adjustment is all that is needed. One trick is learn to have a soft touch when trying for neutral, its such a small area to hit that a light nudge is all it takes. I've ridden a lot of different Harley modles and can honsetly say I've yet to find one that gave me troubles getting it into neutral.

 

[zbear]

I use Redline with shockproof.. lots of threads here bout it and I did some research.. works for me

Same here. After lots of reading, I went with the Redline. Really quieted "mesh". While I had it in the shed over the winter, I "tuned" the clutch adjustment and it really made a difference. Last summer when I stopped at a long traffic signal, couldn't find neutral, this summer, drops right in.

 

[GARYD]

EVERY Harley I've ever owned(8) I had difficulty getting it into neutral. Every single one. Easy while coasting to stop or engine turned off. Problem = no, just annoying. Same with my new 2014 TG with hyd clutch....even more so.

 

[mikestrike]

Not to hijack this thread, but I have a question regarding transmission oil. I was looking at going with Red Line and found that there are two Red Line Shockproof gear oils.
1. Red Line Shockproof Heavy Gear Oil (sold at Napa auto stores in a white bottle).
and
2. Red Line V-Twin Transmission Oil with Shockproof (black & silver bottle).
Is there any difference between the two types, or is it just packaging. Both are full synthetic.

 

[Boom]

Not to hijack this thread, but I have a question regarding transmission oil. I was looking at going with Red Line and found that there are two Red Line Shockproof gear oils.
1. Red Line Shockproof Heavy Gear Oil (sold at Napa auto stores in a white bottle).
and
2. Red Line V-Twin Transmission Oil with Shockproof (black & silver bottle).
Is there any difference between the two types, or is it just packaging. Both are full synthetic.

I've always used this Redline in all my Harley trannys............
http://www.redlineoil.com/Products.aspx?pcid=8
Heavy shockproof

 

[msocko3]

Not to hijack this thread, but I have a question regarding transmission oil. I was looking at going with Red Line and found that there are two Red Line Shockproof gear oils.
1. Red Line Shockproof Heavy Gear Oil (sold at Napa auto stores in a white bottle).
and
2. Red Line V-Twin Transmission Oil with Shockproof (black & silver bottle).
Is there any difference between the two types, or is it just packaging. Both are full synthetic.

They are both the same oil.

 

[Rick Kay]

I use Redline w/ Shockproof in my tranny, and noticed a real difference in smoothness of the shifts, and a reduction in noise.

 

[flatfrog]

you just need to get your clutch adjusted correctly.

 

[DK Custom Products]

I use Redline Heavy Duty Shockproof. Don't know that it helps finding neutral any easier, but it is a good gear oil

Many years ago a Dealership did some warranty work on my RK that required draining the trans. They forgot to replace the trans oil. I rode home and later discovered that the trans was dry, except for what redline had stuck to the gears. I filled it up, and rode that bike another 50k miles before trading it in. Never had a problem with it.

Regarding finding neutral. Clutch needs to be adjusted correctly, BUT, even if it is adjusted correctly, if your primary is even a couple of ounces overfilled it can make the clutch a bit sticky and make neutral difficult to find. Dealerships are notorious for overfilling the primary.

Kevin

 

[tom w]

switched to royal purple in the tranny and b&m trick shift in the primary about a year ago. may just be me but I think it helped.

 

[Phu Cat]

engprosinc, Darned twinkie clutches drag no matter how I adjust it. But I've found this way to get into neutral, stopped or not: With the clutch pulled in, put a little pressure on the shifter in the direction you want it to go and blip the throttle. Bingo you're in neutral. Too much pressure and you'll over shoot tho.

You can do the same thing with the engine off when stopped. Put a little pressure on the shifter and nudge the bike forward or back taking the pressure off the gears. You don't even have to pull the clutch in.

Phu Cat

 

[msocko3]

switched to royal purple in the tranny and b&m trick shift in the primary about a year ago. may just be me but I think it helped.

Keep an eye on your compensator, it doesn't like ATF.

 

[GARYD]

Not to hijack this thread, but I have a question regarding transmission oil. I was looking at going with Red Line and found that there are two Red Line Shockproof gear oils.
1. Red Line Shockproof Heavy Gear Oil (sold at Napa auto stores in a white bottle).
and
2. Red Line V-Twin Transmission Oil with Shockproof (black & silver bottle).
Is there any difference between the two types, or is it just packaging. Both are full synthetic.

Are they the same price? If as msocko says, they're the same, but the cheaper of the two.

 

[FLTR2008TRIKE]

I agree with MSOCKO3 on not using ATF for the primary oil due to the issues seen with the compensator and wear.

I think the biggest issue for hard finding neutral issues is, the clutch throw is not set to disengage the clutch stack. Another problem is dirty oil between the friction plates and disks causing problems.

I personally subscribe to changing the primary oil a little more often if Im riding in alot of traffic. The oil gets dirty quicker and the contaminates in the primary oil can create clutch issues such as wear and hot spots on the clutch plates.

Its also a good idea in my opinion to get a stronger drain plug magnet for the primary >> http://www.drainplugmagnets.com/harleydavidson.php I use them in all drain plugs plus the crankcase plug.

 

[tom w]

Keep an eye on your compensator, it doesn't like ATF.

didn't know that could cause a problem . thanks . may go back to amsoil.

 

[mikestrike]

They are both the same oil.

Thanks