| Author | Message | ||
     Electraglider_1997 |
My bike started shifting hard especially when trying to find neutral. I changed to Belray Gearsaver and shifting seems easier again. Anyone else have problems with the Formula+ gear oil? | ||
| Ftd |
My XB12X with Formula + shifts worse than my X1 did with Mobil 1 gear oil. Whan I switch to Mobil 1 VTwin at next oil change I am going to try that in the primary frank | ||
| Jmhinkle |
I was using formula+ during the break in and changed it at 100 and 700 miles. I was complaining of it being hard to get into neutral and 2nd to 3rd seemed hard. Everyone said it was because it was new. It never changed that whole time. At 1100 miles, I just went to Amsoil MCV in the engine and tranny and it shifts awesome. Neutral is no longer hard to find either. Joel | ||
| Dennis_c |
Is your clutch adjusted right? That will make it hard to shift to especially neutral | ||
| Davo |
Check the primary oil level if the oil was recently changed. Too much oil causes that problem. | ||
| Dragon_slayer |
Dennis, I am sure you have forgotten how to adjust a clutch cable. What has it been, all season without a street bike? Do you really think Santa is bringing one for Christmas?  | ||
| Retired_cop |
Dennis?????? Is this the "I want a bike" Dennis who keeps lurking about?????? B U Y T H E B I K E !!!!!!!!!!!!!! | ||
| Dennis_c |
Dragon ???? have you put your Uly away for the winter yet? You know its getting cold out  | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
My gear oil level was perfect but I was having the same problem as JMHinkle. BelRay Gearsaver works well in my Harley and now in my Uly. | ||
| Dr_greg |
I asked this question a couple times, and was told that some additive in Mobil-1 synthetic gear oil would degrade something in the alternator, and was advised against it. Sorry for the lack of detail, but I stuck with Formula+, my Uly seems to shift fairly well. I think there has been more discussion of this topic on XBoard. | ||
| Teeps |
Electraglider_1997 Posted on Friday, September 22, 2006 My bike started shifting hard especially when trying to find neutral. Anyone else have problems with the Formula+ gear oil? I changed the primary oil a 1k miles used Formula+ gear oil, per owner's manual recommendation. My Uly did not and does not, to this day (3500mi), have a problem shifting into neutral. What I do find unusual is the sound (clunk) or lack of sound when shifting, particularly shifting into 1st gear, from neutral. The very first shift of the day, loud clunk and slight lurch forward. Then through out the ride, randomly, shift to 1st from neutral... no noise, no clunk, slides in like smooth and quiet. Next shift, clunk is back. Be that as it is, stopped neutral is smooth and easy to find, from 1st gear. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
I was having a hard time at stop signs trying to shift from lets say 3rd down to 1st. Of course I had about 3,000 miles on the original gear oil. Now it feels like it shifts like it should. I'm not much for changing out gear oil except maybe every 5,000 miles or so. Certainly not with every oil change, just no way. | ||
| Jackbequick |
"..The very first shift of the day, loud clunk and slight lurch forward..." Might just be the cold clutch plates not freeing up yet. Try pulling the clutch lever in and releasing it two or three time before you shift into low. Holding the lever in for a second of so before you move the lever can make a difference too. This is not anything you need to do but it sort of explains the symptoms to me. Jack | ||
| Swampy |
How is you primary chain adjustment? If you adjust your primary chain too tight It will make your transmission hard to shift by causing your clutch hub to flex on the input shaft. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
The new Harleys have an automatic spring loaded primary adjuster. Buell should do the same. I put a Hayden spring loaded primary adjuster on my glide when it had 5,000 miles on it and just like they claimed the gears shifted easier and quieter and continue to do so to this day with over 40,000 miles on the bike. No appreciable wear on the plastic shoe either. | ||
| Jackbequick |
Craig, Not everyone has had the same luck with Hayden tensioners on Buells that you're having with it on the 'Glide. I wonder if there is a difference in the one used on on the 'Glides that makes it more reliable. At any rate, the following thread had some great photos and info the problem with the Hayden tensioner on Buells. http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/3842/8215.html?997259276#POST6875 8 It also has some good info on the failure prone early OEM Buell tensioners and the later improved ones that solved the problem. Jack | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
My good fortune with the Hayden unit might be because my glide has the very slow stock motor and I never beat the thing. I've looked into the primary while it was idling and watched the spring pre-loaded plastic shoe go up and down like I've assumed it is supposed to do. With 37,000 miles on that device I really can't say I've had any problem with it. I have no plans on putting one in my ULY's primary. Jack, by the way, that's a nice looking dyna ya got yourself. | ||
| Jackbequick |
Thanks, that replaced the M2 in my one bike stable. If I had bought a bone stock Dyna I'm not sure I'd have done all the same things but that was running good, looking good, and priced right. I was looking for more leg room and riding comfort and it is fine. It suits my style, I think the engine is perfectly matched to the purpose and capabilities. I put a better brake caliper on the front to get a little more braking force up there, a more comfortable/taller seat, stuffed some baffles in that obnoxiously loud SE II exhaust system, and I'm good to go for another season or two I think. Jack | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Yeah, I put SE mufflers on my glide and road out to Sturgis and ended up stuffing 2 earplugs into each ear the noise was so bad. My head was pounded by the noise and it ruined the trip. Ended up putting back on the stock mufflers and ramming a pointed rod through them to open them up. Sold the SE mufflers to a Hells Angels wannabe. I love the ULY for it's stock muffler quietness. | ||
| Jmhinkle |
Just a note about the original topic. I just got my service manual in yesterday and finished up the 1000 mile service (at 1150) by checking the primary tension. Wow. I was quite surprised to find no freeplay at all. I had to force the chain with a screwdriver to move at all. Adjusted per the manual and now I don't have that loud bang when I engage first. It also "snicks" into gear without fight. I guess better oil was hiding the real problem for me. Getting ready for my first Brag event this weekend and want everything to be just right. Thanks guys. | ||
| Jackbequick |
Joel, Sorry about your high jacked thread. If you adjusted that as per the manual, you can probably even loosen it up a little more. The most often recommended number here is 3/4" total deflection (up and down) on a at the tightest spot you can find on the cold (room temp) chain. If you're interested, read some of the stuff on shifting problems and primary chains in the KV (I have read it all at least once). Anyone who is having any kind of shifting issues and has not (1) adjusted their primary chain to 3/4", (2) adjusted their clutch (as per the manual), and (3), made their drive belt (on the old models without the tensioner) so loose it is scary, they are missing a bet. Jack | ||
| Jackbequick |
Craig, I loved the exhaust on the M2 also, I'd be happy with less noise than I have now but at least it is no longer annoying to me. And I can look the neighbors in the eye and I get friendly waves too. The odds on finding a quieter system (about like the original) for a ten year old Dyna is are not good. I like the looks of my "16 Guage Shotgun" though. None of the after market muffler people are bragging about having muffler systems that are pretty quiet. Jack | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
I'm a died in the wool liberal and love nature, so I love quiet, but also love murder-cycles. I used to like loud but I'm 50 and want to preserve my hearing so that I don't drive everyone crazy by continually saying, "Eh, what'd you say, sonny". My perfect bike would be stealth quiet just like my Prius when only the electric propulsion is on. |
