@@Jonathan-L this is the first Harley I've owned so I'm really glad to read you guys's comments of the gear slapping and the hard to find neutral because I thought it was just my bike now if it's just a Harley thing I'm totally cool with that 😂
Starting the bike in first gear puts unneccessary stress on the starter, especially when the bike is cold! Its up to you, replacing the early worn out starter!
I don’t see how starting in first gear would effect the starter. The clutch disengages the transmission so there is no stress on the starter. Unless your clutch is not fully disengaged.
I have a newish Triumph Bonneville and I have this issue where when you first put it into 1st gear from neutral first time in the day(cold), I get an angry grind and clack. I found that if I put it into 2nd gear first and then down to first it seems to like it a lot more, no grind anyway. Motorcycle oil is sticky, when it's cold (ambient temps) it holds the clutch plates together a little until it warms up. As soon as I've been through the gears once, it doesn't do it any more. Worth a try.
I fixed my 2006 softail deluxe by decreasing the primary oil level to the absolute minimum required, my bike calls for 24 to 26 ounces I let it drain over night with the clutch lever pulled in so all the oil between the plates will drain, then refilled it to 24 ounces, the oil in the primary is there just to lube the chain, do not use any oil that adds friction, just a little bit of oil will cause the clutch to drag, I can't even tell it goes into first gear sometimes and shift excellent
I expect that clunk to sound every time I stomp that shift lever. I have a no H-D motorcycle that lacks it and I feel awkward not hearing it, feeling unsure if I'm ready to roll.
100% mate. The blip works the same on a big bully, just tried it. Good ideas from over the ditch. Simple things are always the best. Had this with a few other bikes over the years as well but just accepted it. 👍
My bike is having some trouble in cold start with this clunck. when started in first gear, it will hit hard and pulls a bit forward. It won’t move, just a little push forward. And if i start it on neutral, when i hit first gear, it won’t go in like if im not pulling the clutch lever. But it rides perfectly fine when im riding and the bike is warm.
I changed my primary to Amsoil Primary gear oil and I noticed after going up and down through the gears that it started shifting much smoother without the clunk also neutral is much easier to find which was a problem before but the Amsoil changed all that. I am running Amsoil in all 3 holes and I’m using their targeted tranny oil, Primary and 20/50 motor oil land im very pleased. Yes, it will cost more but the results are well worth it because they are very noticeable. My 2012 Fatboy performs better. Be Safe!
I find with my '19 Fatboy that if I hold the clutch in for about a seven count and then shift into first, the clunk is eliminated. No need to rev it or roll it back and forth etc.
My buddy puts his pig in gear and it sounds like a small car crash,we talking about a 2013 Road King! My 93 Dyna you don't ever hear it go into gear😊Maranatha, Greetings from Tampa Florida 😎
Also a weak compensator on the crankshaft in which the primary chain transfers the energy produced by the engine to the trans will cause the problem... Harley is known to have this issue causing the clunking noise aswell as a clanking when starting as the sprocket and compression spring to the compensator gets weaker.. synthetic oil does help but inevitably a better sprocket should be installed.
Your primary oil should never be higher than the clutch basket with the bike level big twin Harley's were not designed to have the clutches submerged in oil that way then the clutches won't stick reducing the clunk . Been working on Harley's for 40 years.
I have a question. I have a 2020 softtail M8 107 with a stage 2. At idle in gear it runs a little rough but not enough to stall. Is this because of the cam profile or do you think I have a clutch switch going bad? This is my first Harley btw😅
Harley has them as well. I have a Harley swing arm bag for my Low Rider. They are rare as Hen's teeth. Expensive if one can find one to purchase. Worth every penny.
Greeting from Malaysia! I’m riding a Breakout 114 (M8) with 16k mileage on it. Recently I noticed whenever I accelerate, I hear a clunking/rattling sound from the primary cover. What could be the cause of it? It’s pretty annoying. The harder I accelerate, the louder the rattling. 😅
Is this a issue only when going from neutral to first ? Reason i ask is , i work by the intersection of two highways . When a bike is approaching you can always tell if its a Harley by the " clunk-clunk " when they down shift If its a group you can tell how many by the number of clunks you hear I always thought that for the cost of a new harley they should be able to make them so they shift better
Pull clutch in then gently tap the shifter without putting it in gear. This is pre loading I think they call it. If I do it right she barely makes any noise when I then go into first.
My Roadglide acts the same. Cold start, it slips into gear quietly and no lurch. Once warm it usually clunks on start. The throttle blip usually helps, the clutch-in delay, not so much. In-gear start just intuitively a bad idea. Changed to Amsoil and it initially was promising but gains seem to have subsided. @@iancatlin5985
Formula plus and a proper chutch adjustment, proper fluid amount, (most overfill by a lot) clutch plate far too wet and stick together. Do shit properly by the OZ and not just dumping fluid in then no bang. Do NOT start the bike in 1st gear.
Use a good gear oil for the tranny, not motor oil as Harley wants you to use. Then I pull the clutch in and out a few time prior to putting in gear. The "clunk" is very minimal.
For customers that had a problem with hearing the 'clunk', we'd just replace the thin synthetic oil, back to GL5, and it would go away, personally I don't have a problem hearing it.
First off nice bike, secondly oh why sir did you open up this can?? Queue 1000 comments from us HD riders that love the clunk, why it’s good, and on and on… I wish our world in 2023 could be reduced to just these concerns 🤣
could cut the dogs , i'm guessing most don't race their bikes an don't want to pull the tranny apart though . normal person should probably warm it up then ride really , starting in gear is not a good idea imo
WHY? Why do I want to fix my "clunk!" I want it to sound OFF! I want it to make people be like, "WTH!" "Get in the car honey!" "Hurry!" "We don't know what he might be going to do next!" Leave my "lope" and my "clunk" ALONE🤣! Gzzz, girlie guys am I right🥳?
I didn’t watch the video. Just wanted to comment. Why the HELL would you want to eliminate the clunk? It’s part of riding a Harley. Don’t like the clunk? Go buy a rice burner.
Couple of things... 1) Starting a motorcycle in gear is *no bueno*. Just start it in neutral and let it warm up without having to hold the clutch in. This is especially applicable if you've just backed the bike out of your garage and onto your driveway, and you're going to have to back up/turn around before riding off. 2) I did not hear a word you said while that airplane was flying over. I notice that you have quite a lot of videos published. You must know that there is this magical thing called editing, whereby you can simply pause your narrative, wait until the ambient noise has stopped, and then continue speaking. Then you go back (in "post-production" or whatever they call it) and edit the noisy bit out. 3) If gearbox banging bothers you, you probably shouldn't own a Harley. It's what they do.
Funny, I had no problem hearing him speaking when airplane went over. People always find something to complain about these days. And your snarky "magical" comment was not necessary.
@@monkeyman41333 - Oh, I see, since 'you' didn't have a problem hearing him, then nobody else would either, right? But we don't all listen through the same device(s) as you. So just shut up, okay? Look, I don't make videos for a living. This creator does. And with so many videos on his channel, you'd think he'd be knowledgeable about audio and editing, etc. Here's my point: There are literally a gazillion RU-vid channels all vying for our attention. EVERY content creator implores us to "Smash the Like button and subscribe!" But honestly, I'm not compelled to return to a channel that suggests something dumb like starting your bike when it's in gear, AND talks while an airplane is flying overhead which makes it really, really difficult to hear and understand him (for some). I mean, really? I'm glad that you were able to completely understand everything that was said in the video. Hurray for you! Me? I probably won't return to this channel. Because, yeah, when the "content" in a video is sub-par, then that's a valid complaint.
Orlando ,have been working on Harley Davidson's for 60 years until 1999 when the twin cam can out I will agree with you ,twin cam engine ,M8 engine is nothing but a disposable engine ,pressed together flywheel Assembly's . I did panheads first oil service in the early 1960's
