I have been on Harley's for years and just upgraded to an 09 Ultra Firefighter Special from an '05 FF Special. The transmission on this one is a six as opposed to the five in the '05, so I know there is a difference, but how much 'clunk' should there be in all six gears? Harley is well know for its 'clunk' into first gear, but I get the same distinctive clunk into all six gears. My wife rides an '08 Road Glide and her six speed does not have the same sound into 2 through 6. I can also hear the clutch engage and disengage from time to time when I am at a stand still and work the clutch into first but stop before the bike starts to move. Most of the time it is completely silent as it should be, but sometimes there is a sound there I am unfamiliar with. I have just put on the first 1,000 and will be taking it in for the 1,000 mile check and having synthetics put in which may cure all the problems. And yes, I do get the fifth gear whine everyone talks about but hopefully the synthetic will cure that as well. The clutch works normally, not too loose or too tight. Is there an internal adjustment the dealership may need to address?
I road a rented '09 Classic 2500 miles and I agree with the clunky shifting. It was more noticeable than my '06 Low Rider with a 6 speed. Of course, I run Mobil 1 75/90 synthetic gear oil in my transmission and I don't know what was in the '09. Even so, my '06 still clunks into first most of the time and, if I am not paying attention to full clutch pull, it might clunk into other gears, also.
I think they all are a little clunky. Some may be more than others.
It still wouldn't hurt to ask the dealer to take a look into it, though. It might be some minor adjustment.
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2006 Low Rider
USMC '71-'77 Semper Fi
NRA Member
Same thing with the 09 RKC. Some are louder (Clunk) than others. Some with a whine and some without. First is the loudest on mine. I tried the SYN-3... no change. I have over 6k since Sept. May go to Red Line next.
I have an 07 Electra Glide classic and mine has clunked since day one and have over 19k on it now still clunking, ran syn 3 in it since 1st oil change and the last one switched to AMSOIL 20-50 synthetic in all 3 holes with no change. The 5th gear whine is there. I read on one of the boards that the whine does go away if you run it out above 2,300 RPM though but, I haven't paid that much attention to it. I haven't noticed any adverse shavings in the tranny and I do my periodic services myself. I also change all 3 fluids at 5k as well as plugs and air filter. I figure if you pay good money for something you should maintain it.
Rocky.... you can't run 20/50 in all 3 holes............. very bad!!!!!!
20/50 synthetic (amsoil) in the motor.
I use Redline MTL in the primary and Redline heavy shockproof in the trans.
No more gear whine and very smooth shifting.
Rocky.... you can't run 20/50 in all 3 holes............. very bad!!!!!!
20/50 synthetic (amsoil) in the motor.
I use Redline MTL in the primary and Redline heavy shockproof in the trans.
No more gear whine and very smooth shifting.
I have heard a lot of good reports on Redline from reading other threads in the forum, this should be worth a try I think. I don't think it will do anything for my clunk, but it should take care of the fifth gear whine. One of these years Harley will figure out they need to cut the gears like Baker does and they would be done with the complaints and their compensating sprockets at the same time. It doesn't make any sense to me that they continue to try and fix a gearing issue by doing everything except what all the good tranny makers do and recut the gears.
My 07 Electra Glide had an obnoxious whine in 5th gear, and up here where the speed limit is mostly 62 mph, 6th gear seemed to be lugging the motor, and 5th gear noise would drive me mental. I spent some money on the motor and as a result it pulls quite nicely in 6th gear at low rpm but that 5th was still pi$$ing me off. I tried the IDS which now comes stock on the 08 and probably the 09 touring bikes, and that was money well spent. It quieted down the whine considerably, so much so that 5th doesn't bother me at all, and I would recommend it to anyone that has the same issues as I did. Street Bob, I may try that Redline, is there different weight ratings for that tranny oil?
Last edited by tommyglide; 11-08-2008 at 12:53 AM.
Rocky.... you can't run 20/50 in all 3 holes............. very bad!!!!!!
20/50 synthetic (amsoil) in the motor.
I use Redline MTL in the primary and Redline heavy shockproof in the trans.
No more gear whine and very smooth shifting.
SB you are the first one I have heard that the syn3 or the AMSOIL is bad in all 3 holes. After I read your reply I went on another thread and found where someone said that the MOCO was no longer recommending it so I called the stealer and they said they haven't heard of it. I'm coming up on 20k so I'm apt to change to the redline or something suitable and use the AMSOIL in the engine.
You had also left a post on another thread where I questioned the viscosity thanks there. As ususal thanks for the info.
BluesFan is ouresident expert on oil and lubrication. Gear oil (trans) is on a differen viscosity scale than motor oil. A 75/90 gear oil is about 40wt motor oil. The additives are very different in terms of shear strength and causing a trans to quiet down. Synthetic seems to add another variable. I call it slippery but I am sure there is a better term. Gear oilis slippery but should never be used in an engine. There was a recent discussion about gear oil in a Sportster primary. It can cause the clutch to slip. With a Big Twin you have the option to not use motor oil in the trans. Enjoy it. I know just about every metric bike ever made shares motor oil with the trans but they don`t have Harley gears.
To reduce clunk:
1. Cheat, start the bike in gear.
2. Make sure the clutch is properly adjusted. Clutch drag increases clunk.
3.Shift up to 2nd and down to first. If you are old enough to have driven a cage with a pre synchro trans you know what I am talking about.
4. Use motor oil in the motor. Gear oil in the trans. Primary or motor oil in the primary. Synthetic is better.
Transmission clunk normal? 
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