free website stats program Hard Starting in First Gear | Harley Davidson Forums

Hard Starting in First Gear

B

bfmitch

Active Member
My son has an '08 Dyna Super Glide with about 12K miles on it. He bought it from a dealer with about 10K miles on it.

We all know that it's best to put it in neutral and then pull in the clutch when starting the motor. However, there are times (like stalling when starting up at a traffic light) when it's great to just pull in the clutch and hit the starter button.

He can't do that with his. It acts almost like it is in gear. After a lot of bucking, snorting and backfiring it'll start back up.

We checked his clutch adjustment but that didn't help. We changed out his primary lube (I think he had too much lube in it) but that didn't help. Took it to the dealer since it is under warranty (and he bought an extended warranty when he got the bike). They adjusted the clutch again and told him that some Harleys are just like that.

The clutch is working just fine. It shifts just fine. When he starts it with the tranny in neutral everything is fine.

Any ideas? Is the dealer right and some bikes are just like that?
 
It's more like some dealers are like that. Properly adjusted it should start about the same in neutral or gear with the clutch pulled in.
 
Last edited:
Bud White said:
mine has done this a few times .. what mods if any
Click to expand...

The previous owner removed (or drilled out) the baffles in the stock pipes so he's running leaner than he should. I'm working on him to get a TFI on the bike now to richen it up just a bit. However, I don't think that should be the cause of this problem. Do you?

glider said:
It's more like some dealers are like that.
Click to expand...

Glider,
That's what I was thinking. The service department at this dealer has been pretty fair so far with regular maintenance on my Sportster and my Road King. But this is the first time with an unusual problem.

Any ideas what might cause something like this?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Sounds like the clutch is dragging, if you are sure the clutch is adjusted properly, you might try automatic transmission fluid in the primary,it will allow the plates to disengage more completely.
 
i would look into the clutch adjustment .. gutting the baffles shouldnt matter just make it run bad
 
The only 2 things I can think of if the clutch is properly adjusted is modified or bent clutch lever (or non stock grips that are too fat) not allowing the clutch to be fully disengaged, or a bad clutch. (week springs,warped plates) If it's really that bad and not just a tiny lurch I would try and have the clutch hub replace under warranty. When mine is cold it will lurch a little if I start it in gear, but I don't have any problems when it's warmed up.
 
Thanks all! I'm glad you all agree with me that the drilled out baffles shouldn't have anything to do with it. He's looking for a set of Rush slip-ons for his bike, but he stretched himself pretty thin to buy this bike in the first place. He's adding stuff as he has the money for it.

Glider:
We will take a look at the primary chain and adjusters. He did have too much oil but we fixed that when we adjusted his clutch the first time, before taking it to the dealer. The bike had Formula+ in the primary. We drained it and replaced it with RedLine Primary and Chaincase oil.

Wild:
That lurch you describe is exactly what my RK does. My Sportster did it too. He does have accessory Harley grips that are thicker. When we redo the clutch adjustment we'll try to take into account for the extra thickness of the grips. Clutch hub? Could you maybe 'splain to me just how that would cause the problem? I'm not picturing it.
 
bfmitch said:
Clutch hub? Could you maybe 'splain to me just how that would cause the problem? I'm not picturing it.
Click to expand...
I had broken tooth on the starter ring on mine, and Harley replaced the whole clutch assembly because it comes as a whole unit. I don't figure they would fix the clutch, I'm just guessing here, but if they do warranty it, they would just replace the whole clutch assembly.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top