No second gear?? or thiird or fourth!!

[Katana]

Last night I picked up my Father in Laws Harley Sportster....I repeat MY FATHER IN LAWS HARLEY ( good thats settled )
It had been serviced. The bike had not been ridden for a LONG time.
It started took off in first then clutch in .....no second...only neutral.
O.K. then click twice ,,,three times no gears full stop The gear lever goes up but no feel or sound of any gear being contacted only neutral. Goes into first again no probs , but then same problem.
HEEEEEEELLLLPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP!!!!!!

cheers michael

[Anonymous]

I'd check to see that the linkage is moving far enough. My ball joints on my 400s shifter were so worn that you'd have a fit trying to get into gears if you weren't wearing a heavy pair of boots. I'd also check the oil in the gearbox.

Steve

[Katana]

Thanks for the reply Steve. When I pushed the gear up it did come to a point that would go no further. That was as normal in other bikes for a gear change but not on this one.
Is the gear box oil in a seperate area on these models?
Sorry about the ignorance

cheers Michael

[Anonymous]

I was under the impression that all Harleys had a chain/belt from the engine to the gearbox and then a chain/belt to the back wheel. Have a look to see if the gearbox really is part of the engine.

Steve

[Katana]

Will do , thanks again Steve

cheers Michael

[focus frenzy]

on a harley you have engine oil, primary drive oil (the chain from engine to transmission), and transmission oil.

although it probably doesn't matter, (they didn't change much) you forgot to say what year model it is, and size. (883 or 1200)

[earlfor]

Michael, this is going to sound like I've had one too many, but I've ridden bikes with a neutral and 5 up pattern and a few with 1st on top, neutral and 4 down. Have you tried shifting in both directions for all gears? Maybe someone has done some creative linkage work or???

Earl

[Dink]

Michael Hardley sportster motors are unit, as in all in one, you have screwed selectors.
Dink

[Katana]

Thanks guys this is what I love about this family , always happy to help.

To answer your questions guys:

Focus it's an 81/2 ? 883 Sportster.

No Earl it's a valid point I tried that up and down repeatedly looking for anything . It still only found neutral and first

Hiya Dink good to hear from you stranger ,the selector had crossed my mind but lack of knowledge stopped me saying anything . The only other idea was that the throw(?) of the gear shift might be to close to the casing so it stops it from positively engaging the higher gears . I'll have a look tonight.

Thanks again all of you.

cheers michael

[Dink]

Who are you calling strange??
Dink

[Katana]

Thought I'd update you guys, the gears worked fine for no apparent reason. bad one day good the next :roll: ....gee there's a shock it's an early model Hardley
Thanks again for the help

cheers Michael

P.S. who's callin ME strange.....

[focus frenzy]

its a early model???? that would be 1903!!!!

what probably happened is the selector was stuck from sitting an excessivly long time, running it got things warmed up and some oil slung around in there and it poped loose.

[Katana]

its a early model???? that would be 1903!!!!

what probably happened is the selector was stuck from sitting an excessivly long time, running it got things warmed up and some oil slung around in there and it poped loose.

Early model as in early Sporster I spose . I'd love an early model harley perhaps a Pup or around that era. This Sportster is just plain down right ugly. Road like a mule. when I got back on the katana made my old Katana feel like the smoothest thing I'd thrown my leg over .

cheers michael