Wouldn't shift yesterday. - Harley Forum

Tbone · #1 09-01-2009, 08:14 AM

Okay. Let's see if I can describe this in an understandable way.
I just realized yesterday that something I had been taking for granted may be something that is getting worse.
Recently, and I can't remember how long now, when I shift down, I would occasionally go to shift one more gear down and the shifter under my foot would just go down but I would feel no resistance and remain in the same gear. This was happening occasionally and not all the time.
Yesterday, I came off of 4th gear and the shifter had no resistance just bouncing down and up and no change to 3rd. I stopped at the light and kept kicking it down but no gear change. I tried up and no gear change. Finally I rolled it off at the green light by slipping the clutch and when I got it going I hit 3rd then 2nd and took off.
It shifted okay on the way home.
What is going on? I am assuming something in the shifter mechanism is either worn out or needs adjusted.
I'm gong to Seattle tomorrow on the big silver bird and won't be back for a few days so it might be a week before I get to look at the problem.

aceharleywrench · #2 09-01-2009, 02:40 PM

Can't say if I've ever heard of the 6 speed doing what you're describing,but it sounds like the shift lever (or shaft),the shift return spring or the shift drum detent is headed south,either way,there are no external adjustments and some disassembly is going to be required.

Tbone · #3 09-01-2009, 04:15 PM

This morning I tried to go ahead and ride to work hoping maybe this was just an aberrant anomoly. Starting out from the house I attempted to shift to 2nd and it went to neutral. I slowed down and put it back in 1st and speeded up again and again it went to neutral only. I hooked a right off the highway to make the block back to the house and it would only shift from 1st to neutral and back again. I had the wife bring me to work. When I get back from Seattle, I would appreciate a post containing steps for disassembly to look for the problem. Thanks in advance to all who help.

Gas Man · #4 09-03-2009, 02:02 AM

I would try a clutch adjustment first.

Loosen the freeplay adjustment on the down tube
Then adjust the clutch rod under the derby cover.

More detailed instuctions in my latest how to.

Whopper · #5 09-03-2009, 08:58 AM

Sounds like the problem I had with my Sporty; turned out to be the shift detent plate. Parts were cheap, except for the clutch removing tool.

Tbone · #6 09-08-2009, 01:19 PM

I'm back and going to tear into the bike today. I'm pretty good at taking things apart. It's the putting back together that gets me sometimes.
Am I going to need a clutch puller to remove the inner primary to get at this shifter mechanism?
Is that the only way to get at what might be this problem? It looks like it in the service manual.

aceharleywrench · #7 09-08-2009, 02:31 PM

I would remove the trans. top cover & examine the shift mechanism before doing anything else.

Tbone · #8 09-08-2009, 03:21 PM

Thanks, Ace. That's the kind of advice I was looking for. I'm hoping that's where the disassembly will end.
From what I've read since first posting and looking back at what has taken place, I am betting that there is something amiss there and not in the actual transmission.

Tbone · #9 09-08-2009, 09:35 PM

Tbone is wrong again. I removed the inspection cover tonight.

The ratchet arm spring was present. The ratchet arm looked alright. It would engage the shift cam and move it one detent to first gear and then back to a neutral position although I don't really know if it is actually neutral.
Once it had moved the shift cam back one notch to the neutral it wouldn't catch any more of the posts in the cage on the shift cam to go further up the gears. I could manipulate the ratchet while holding in the clutch and rolling the bike backwards and forwards and it shifted up a couple of gears.
Then I had to hold the clutch in and roll the bike again to get back down to first. Then it would shift to the neutral position again and back to first but no more. The teeth on the ratchet arm would move back and forth between the posts on the shift cam cage but it would not advance the shift cam.
I tried adjusting the clutch and buttoned it back up and rolled it in the street but no cigar. First and neutral is it.

I must be missing something like the shift cam is not advancing far enough to allow the ratchet arm to catch the next gear.
It looks like I got lucky again.

I guess now I need the clutch basket puller.

aceharleywrench · #10 09-09-2009, 10:40 AM

Looking at the hooks on the ratchet arm,are they centered over the pins on the shift drum(equal distance between hook & pin,front & rear?)