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[mikefrie]

Just wondering why all motorcycle transmission are so clunky.  I have owned a lot of motorcycles and have never had one that didn't clunk when shifting.  You would think an engineer could come up with a smooth shifting bike after more than 100 years.  I have a 2008 SERK copper anniversary model & it doesn't shift any smoother than any bike I have ever owned.  The bike sure looks good though!  Mike

[UglyJohn]

Well first...welcome to the site. I'm just a newbie myself here, but everyone has been pleasant so far. Anyway, on your question, I've notice that all the Harley's I've had always did the clunk when putting in first gear or down shifting. Probably something to do with the inner primary chain having some slack. Some of the tech guys will jump in here and suggest a more detailed reason and probably a resolve for most of the "clunk".
Ugly John

[Twolanerider]

Automatic chain tensioner will help a bit.  A good gear oil rather than SYN3 motor oil in the tranny will help also.  To some extent it's always going to do it though.  Nature of the gears.

[Fired00d]

mikefrie,
First off welcome to the site. Awesome looking SERK you have there.

If you haven't already you may want to switch to another brand of lubricant in the transmission and primary (Amsoil, Redline, or Mobil) some have noticed easier shifting and less noise with something other then H-D Syn3 in those holes. While we on the subject of lubricants you may also want to get the Syn 3 out the motor too.

When you get a chance you should go to this board - New Member Introduction and start a thread to introduce yourself.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[Fired00d]

Automatic chain tensioner will help a bit.  A good gear oil rather than SYN3 motor oil in the tranny will help also.  To some extent it's always going to do it though.  Nature of the gears.

Aren't the ACT included as standard equipment now? I couldn't find anything on MoCo website saying they were, but I thought I had heard that.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[hd-dude]

Aren't the ACT included as standard equipment now? I couldn't find anything on MoCo website saying they were, but I thought I had heard that.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

Yes; All touring and dyna models, not sure on the softies

[iski]

Aren't the ACT included as standard equipment now? I couldn't find anything on MoCo website saying they were, but I thought I had heard that.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

Standard on 07 & 08.  http://www.harley-davidson.com/CO/NEW/en/PressRelease_date.asp?FROM=NEWS&bmLocale=en_US&HDCWPSession=GM0K2KLXn125By2Wt4QpgQYWMs2hQbvSP9M9BXGvgZbdpDl21C3W!-1781215033!2014642736&id_in=964&dspmm=7&dspyy=2006&ilaction=init&nickname=Mike&rememberLogin=yes&bikememberid=43407838&req_uri=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.harley-davidson.com%2FCO%2FNEW%2Fen%2FPressRelease_date.asp%3FFROM%3DNEWS%26bmLocale%3Den_US%26HDCWPSession%3DGM0K2KLXn125By2Wt4QpgQYWMs2hQbvSP9M9BXGvgZbdpDl21C3W%21-1781215033%212014642736%26id_in%3D964%26dspmm%3D7%26dspyy%3D2006&ilticket=RYwfv0iiWwIlNUkEV_j5VYaJo1ZYByVOgs3im60e]ACT


Welcome mikefrie.  HD transmissions are clunky from way back.  No idea why but HD is notoriously slow in making changes - they even left the 'clunk' in the redisgned 6 speeds.   

[Bubba]

Just get that junk SYN 3 OUT of your bike. 2lane and dOOd are right change the gear oil and you will be amazed about the difference.
I use Mobil 1 75w-140 syn in the tranny and Mobil 1 V-Twin 20w-50 syn in the other two holes just because its easy to buy at local Wally world or parts houses (Autozone, Advance Auto ect.) you will notice the difference.

Oh by the way Welcome to the site....

~bubba~

[sfarson]

Read a recent Cycle World interview with an H-D engineer.  He noted Milwaukee could silence the tranny clunk when shifting if they wanted to but it was an aspect of the bike desired by the typical H-D customer.

For some other bikes, cassette style trannies can clunk when shifting from neutral into first.  Egads, I remember on my Honda CBR1100XX, the bike would lurch forward two feet from the clunk!  But they are easier to swap out and can often be found in sportbikes.

Would note the transmission on my KTM and Ducati are incredibly smooth and quiet.  A very slight snicker when going into first and that is it.  All other gear shifts are as quiet as a feather landing on a pillow.  Smooth and resistance free also.

[JCZ]

That clunk is nothing now days, compared to what it was in the knuckelheads, panheads and shovels.  They started back cutting the teeth that make the shifting much smoother now.  Don't remember exactly when they started doing that but I think it was during the Evo era.

[RJ749]

That clunk is nothing now days, compared to what it was in the knuckelheads, panheads and shovels.  They started back cutting the teeth that make the shifting much smoother now.  Don't remember exactly when they started doing that but I think it was during the Evo era.

Welcome to the site.

Like JCZ said, the day I bought my first Harley in 1976 and was on it ready to ride away, the salesman asked if I had every riden a HD before.  I hadn't, he then said, "Well, when you get out there and the thing is "BANGING" into gear and the trans sounds like an old sewing machine, don't come back.......it's normal>"

Welcome to the world of Harley   As indicated above, I have Mobil 1 in all the holes and it made a significant difference in noise levels.  But the clunk is "normal".

Enjoy the bike and your new found CVO hangout.

[RedDevil]

Welcome to the site.

Like JCZ said, the day I bought my first Harley in 1976 and was on it ready to ride away, the salesman asked if I had every riden a HD before.  I hadn't, he then said, "Well, when you get out there and the thing is "BANGING" into gear and the trans sounds like an old sewing machine, don't come back.......it's normal>"

Welcome to the world of Harley   As indicated above, I have Mobil 1 in all the holes and it made a significant difference in noise levels.  But the clunk is "normal".

Enjoy the bike and your new found CVO hangout.

I agree with Rog...I dropped Syn3 out of all 3 areas and replaced with Mobil 1 V-Twin.  Shifting has gotten smoother, (part of that may be the installation of the IDS also), but there is still, after the bike warms up, a noticeable "Harley clunk" when I shift.  It's kind of a trademark for HD I guess.
Definitely get rid of the Syn3 and put something better in there.
Cheers ,
 

[Midnight Rider]

You probably already do this, but let the bike come back down to normal idle speed after starting before putting it into first.  That helps a bit with the big clunk...still clunks, but it's not a jarring sound.  Otherwise, it's normal.

Every bike I've ever owned does it from neutral to first...some are not as pronounced, like the Ducati, but it's still there.  I've got a Vrod too, and it does it, even though it's a completely different set up than any other HD.

[deucedog]

My 08 CVO Ultra, clunks too, but it is inherent in these bikes.  I have 500 miles on my bike, and I'll wait till 1000 and drop the SYN3 then and go with Amsoil or the Mobil V-Twin.  The tranny needs a higher viscosity oil than SYN3. 

I also have a slight whine in first gear.  Was told it was normal because it is a helical gear. 

DOG

[LRebel]

Welcome to CVOHarley.

Clunk!  Some of the Harley copy-cats have tried so hard to make their clones so much like Harleys, that they have the clunk when shifting from neutral to 1st too.