Starting to have problems getting into neutral

[CoreyP]

I bought the bike maybe 18 months ago and it had 34,000 miles on it when I bought it. So the bike never was ridden much, I've put on 14,000 miles since I have had . I have never had problems missing gears or not finding neutral but lately I'm missing neutral every few times I ride the bike.

I had a front caliper lock up on me a few months ago so the end result was, I rebuilt both front calipers and the master, problem solved for years to come. I'm wonder if I should rebuild the clutch master and the slave cylinder?  Am I seeing a sign that those parts need a rebuild or is something else wearing out on me? I don't know much about how the clutches work on a Valkyrie, doesn't look like the standard setup to me? 

Before you ask, yes I have the right oil meant for wet clutches. Yes, I have changed the fluid about a year ago and it looks clear. Maybe I should change the fluid again? Doesn't look dirty to me and it's only a year old. 

BTW My riding style can be aggressive. I like to bang through the gears shifting up in the 6,000 range if I want to go fast. Most of my riding is two up with more conservative throttle. I don't put much stress on the bike. I can't picture my riding doing anything to the engine or clutch? 

[-mike-]

"Install shifter bracket" comes to mind.

See Jersey's ad up here or have a word with SCain for another version.

-mike-

[Skinhead]

Is there any indication of leakage at the clutch slave cylinder?  Does the bike jump when you shift from neutral into 1st?  Is there a lot of play/slop in the clutch lever?  New clutch lever/bushings are cheap, and worn bushings will allow the clutch to drag when disengaged.  A leaky slave cylinder will also.  The slave cylinders are easy to rebuild.

[Jess from VA]

It's not a fix for the reason you are having trouble finding neutral, but.....  I've had bikes that were trouble getting into neutral when stopped.  But while I was still rolling to a stop, they went into neural easily.

Now downshifting at speed can be problematic, especially into first.  So you do that carefully while slowing (as usual), but fishing for neutral while still rolling often works easily.  (Just don't hit a car bumper or something while you're looking down for the green light.)

My Valks find neutral easily at a stops... except every once in a while one gives me trouble (and no idea why).

[Hook#3287]

I believe every Valk is different in respect to hitting neutral.

My original w/120k takes some fidgeting .

The bobber w/95k slides right in before I even think of it.

[WintrSol]

"Install shifter bracket" comes to mind.

See Jersey's ad up here or have a word with SCain for another version.

-mike-

+1
I started having issues finding neutral when the bike reached about 45k miles; installed Jersey's bracket and rarely have issues. Too much wobble in the shifter was my problem.

[Tfrank59]

Yeah like some are saying how much slop is in that shifter shaft? You have relatively low miles so it shouldn’t be bad. I’d say it’s going to be either shifter linkage slop or else maybe like somebody suggested your clutch slave isn’t doing its job. One question, how frequently do you need to catch neutral with it? I mean when you reach your final destination sure, but are you putting it in neutral at every red light? I try to avoid that more because I don’t like smacking it back into gear rather than trouble finding neutral.  Also, as someone commented, I almost always try to catch neutral while I’m rolling to a stop. And on my dirtbike I really have to do that because I can almost never get neutral at a complete stop on that bike.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Yeah like some are saying how much slop is in that shifter shaft? You have relatively low miles so it shouldn’t be bad. I’d say it’s going to be either shifter linkage slop or else maybe like somebody suggested your clutch slave isn’t doing its job. One question, how frequently do you need to catch neutral with it? I mean when you reach your final destination sure, but are you putting it in neutral at every red light? I try to avoid that more because I don’t like smacking it back into gear rather than trouble finding neutral

Having your bike in gear at stops could save your life. It did mine.

[gordonv]

Inspect the shifter, and see where the alignment mark lines up.

I suggest taking the shifter off, and moving it one tooth in either direction. Try it for a month, and see if it's worse or better. Try the other direction, and again, give it a month and see how it is.

If either way is worse, I'm sure you won't need to wait a month.

Also, the Valks I have ridden (3 different 99' IS so far) have liked a firm shift when changing the gears. Like also mentioned, you need to see what your bike likes, shift while still coming to a stop, or on/off the clutch lever. Some just like it different than others.

[Jersey]

Check out the Jersey Bracket.  Often the difficulty comes from years of wear due to the design issues.  Yes, this is the ONE place that the Honda engineers didn't take care of completely.

Jerseymcproducts.com

Also, checkout the video that deconstructs the Jersey Bracket and compares it to others. 

https://jerseymcproducts.bigcartel.com/support

[CoreyP]

I'll answer a couple of questions. I haven't noticed any leaking. That was also true with my front brakes and what happened there was some how one piston was corroded, not sure how that happen without seeing a leak or noticing a drop in the brake fluid?

I leave the bike in gear at lights in case I have to make a get away in a hurry.

I'll have to check to see if I'm getting any play in the shifter. I already have moved the shifter one tooth because I really couldn't get my boot under it.

Rode the bike last night and no neutral problems. It was also much warmer yesterday then it has been in a while but I doubt that would have anything to do with it. Warmed up is a warmed up bike.   

[The emperor has no clothes]

I'll answer a couple of questions. I haven't noticed any leaking. That was also true with my front brakes and what happened there was some how one piston was corroded, not sure how that happen without seeing a leak or noticing a drop in the brake fluid?

I leave the bike in gear at lights in case I have to make a get away in a hurry.

I'll have to check to see if I'm getting any play in the shifter. I already have moved the shifter one tooth because I really couldn't get my boot under it.

Rode the bike last night and no neutral problems. It was also much warmer yesterday then it has been in a while but I doubt that would have anything to do with it. Warmed up is a warmed up bike.   

I think it’s like Hook said. Every bike is a little different. A shifter brace will help.

[JimC]

When you get a chance, do the Jersey shifter mod, (or the other one) as said above, the shifter is definitely not one of Honda's best designs, it hangs out too far, and promotes sloppiness. If it is not sloppy now, it will be as you add the miles.

Jim

[Bagger John - #3785]

Having your bike in gear at stops could save your life. It did mine.

This is taught in every rider skills course I've been associated with, as is the mapping of potential ways out of a jam when stopped. Extremely solid advice.

[Tfrank59]

correct me if I’m wrong but I think putting it in neutral at red lights is a Harley thing? I see it all the time and I do it myself honestly on my Royal star which has heel toe shifting.  But I’m always looking in the mirrors and ready to kick it in gear in a hurry if I have to for what that’s worth.

[CoreyP]

Having your bike in gear at stops could save your life. It did mine.

This is taught in every rider skills course I've been associated with, as is the mapping of potential ways out of a jam when stopped. Extremely solid advice.

I always position myself for "Just in case." Always try to have a way out. I'm also a head of a vehicle or behind a vehicle never right beside them if I can help it. I always pick a lane position that gets me the best out or is the safest. Depends on the situation.

Get in good habits and surprises are much less likely to happen. 

[The emperor has no clothes]

correct me if I’m wrong but I think putting it in neutral at red lights is a Harley thing? I see it all the time and I do it myself honestly on my Royal star which has heel toe shifting.  But I’m always looking in the mirrors and ready to kick it in gear in a hurry if I have to for what that’s worth.

I don’t know if it’s really a Harley thing. I’ve seen lots of other riders do it also. I regret that I never took any classes. I’ve always just said “one day”. But once when I was 16 I got ran over by a city Garbage truck while on a Kawasaki at an intersection. I’ve been on the lookout ever since. A few years ago I was sitting at an intersection waiting for the light change. A bobtail trucker lost control trying to stop and was coming straight for me. I don’t think I would have had time to get it in gear.

[Jess from VA]

I watch my mirrors closely at lights, and I always slow down faster than most cars (just drop the throttle and coast while tapping my front brake).  It makes the guy behind you slow down sooner too (watching him in the mirror).  And I leave space to exit, and on one side of the lane or the other.  But on good clean roads, with long lights, after all the cars are lined up and stopped, I often hit neutral to wait for the light to change.  Put my feet down and stand up to stretch my legs, change the radio station, light a smoke, look at the engine temp, get a fresh stick of gun, or just sit there.  It really depends on where you're riding.

[Jess from VA]

With no bracket, I suppose everyone knows that the shift from 1st to neutral takes only the slightest nudge/touch on the shifter.  A real positive nudge goes right to 2d.

I only use kickshifters, and that (heel kick) nudge to neutral is as light as a feather.  I can barely even feel it on my foot, just look for the green light.  

[Jersey]

With no bracket, I suppose everyone knows that the shift from 1st to neutral takes only the slightest nudge/touch on the shifter.  A real positive nudge goes right to 2d.

I only use kickshifters, and that (heel kick) nudge to neutral is as light as a feather.  I can barely even feel it on my foot, just look for the green light.  

With all the discussion on performance, there's a reason why this happens with the shifter: the pivot point moves.

While pressing up/down on the shift lever, the Honda design allows the actual rotation point to MOVE up/down with the shift motion.  The shifter should ONLY rotate, but it doesn't. It ALSO goes up/down.  This causes a bit of engineering mayhem, which results in the shifting being over sensitive and having inconsistent operation.  The Jersey Bracket provides a permanent second pivot point for the rotation, which eliminates the slop that causes the shifting issues.  Also, you won't wear out the oil seal and have oil leaks.