04 Sportster 883 gearbox Clunk.

[SJC69]

They all do it, but check your primary chain tension is correct and then double check your clutch adjustment while you are at it as these can have a big effect the gear change too.

You will never stop that neutral to first clunk, it's never going to snick into gear like an old British bike, there's no cush drive or compensator in the system.

But what pisses me off is we have two '05 Sportsters in the family and my gear box is far more clunky and less smooth than the other, even though I have twice the miles on it.
I even put Synth 3 in mine to see if that would equal the score.
Unfortunately it is just that some Sportsters have better boxes than others, no matter what you do some are better than others, that's the way of it!

But I can live with it!

If you want to be embarrassed by noise of a bike buy a Ducati with a dry plate clutch and listen to that bugger rattle when holding it in at the lights, everyone stares at you wondering what the hell the noise is, why do you think every one puts loud pipes on them?

Seriously check the primary and clutch setting as well as any gear linkage first.

[S.T.Chapman]

agricultral that about sums it up
some better than others

as SJC says check primary and clutch adjustment;)

They all do it I find it very reassuring

[Folkie]

Originally Posted by S.T.Chapman

agricultral

You sayin' my bike sounds like a tractor? Well maybe it does a bit!

Originally Posted by swampig

They all do it I find it very reassuring

ooo aaargh!!! an It pulls me cultivator jus luverrrly Yargh!

[BigBoar]

I am having a similar problem with a 2001 883. When you go into first it engages and then as you pull off it sort of engages again. I have searched other sites, spoken to a fiew USA mechanics and no one seems to be able to put there finger on it, ( ooh err).
I thought it may be an exceptionally tight drive belt as it was like a piano string. I stripped the tranny and found the main bearing cooked and two of the shifter forkes scored where the tranny had been pulled by the tight belt. Yippee thinks I, I cracked it. Rebuilt the blighter and it is still doing it. Oh well, it doeasn't hurt at all but I am detrmined to sort it some how or other. Checked the drum etc but all seemed good. Dogs too.
Well that's my first venture into the site but I'll be back, mark my words I'll be back.
Oh by the way. I use AMSOIL for absolutely everything. Even cooking my chips. Well they say lard is bad for the colestorol.

[ST]

Hi BigBoar, I have an 02 883R with the exact problem, did you find the fault ? or can any orther members help, Regards ST..

[zipps]

Try pressing it into gear with your foot ..it should go in without any crunching..my brother used to drive a lorry in the TA and that had a ''crash gearbox''..he was the only one who could change gear noiselessly..

[HOG maniac]

My 2p.

Guess what mine does it. They all do it. I call it charachter.

Oh and the speedo also steams up all the time.

[MarlboroMan]

19 long long years mine has been clunking, id miss it if it stopped now, 108,000 miles and no apparent harm, dont worry bout it, afterall its not a honda,, rofl (my undressed winger 1000gl 1977 6 speeder has never clunked and that has done more miles than alan wicker)