Hey everyone , I have  a problem with my 2004 xlc 1200 , its done about 11000 ks . i have put 3000 on it since i bought it .

when i change gears especially the 1st 3 gears it seems like  the accelerator is not closing properly ( although it doesnt sound like it is  over reving  too much )When I stop and put the bike into neutral the idle is fine.  There is no gnashing or crunching it just feels like I am doing a  racing gear change .There is a small lurch when it happens sometimes.

Anyone else experienced this sort of problem? Any help gratefully accepted .

gday, just tell me to f*** off if it seems stupid, but could it be the friction screw on the handle bar just grabbing. i have found with mine that i need to back it right off when im in town. just a thought.

Thanks fellas , I will check out the friction screw and yeah my first thought was it was the clutch . when i get towards the top of a gear the bike kind of vibrates and it doesnt seem to reach full power . I took it to a mechanic here in Japan but my Japanese sucks so I couldnt really understand what he was saying . He said he rode it and thought it was alright but there is no way it is alright . I  will take my Japanese dictionary with me next time . .

Hey als1200

 You got it .!!!

Thanks alot. It was the friction screw . It was just a little too tight. A couple of months ago I took it to the workshop and the mechanic  must of used it and not adjusted it back..I dont usually  use it .

Now I just have to figure out the vibration issue!!!

Thanks again .

bobh,

glad thats all it was. 

whats the vibration?  mine vibrates like shit at the traffic lights and i like it.

I am not sure if this is a good vibration !!
There are 2 times when it seems strange.
the 1st is when I am changing up and I get towards the peak of whatever gear I am in (most notable in the 1st 3 gears . The power seems to stop increasing and I feel a pretty strong vibration from the motor .I m not thrashing it just opening up the throttle fairly strongly .
The other is when I am changing down . I get the same vibration but its when the revs are winding down.This can be when I am going slow .
I have checked the rubber mounts but they look alright . I was thinking some sort of clutch problem . I think it is worse than when I first bought the bike.
Als1200 do you magic again and tell me there's a simple solution !!

sorry no easy one on this......maybe have a look for an air leak?  do you get any back firing or anything else? it the belt ok,  if you rev the motor do you get the same vibration?  i dont know the answer either,  ive only had my bike for a short fantastic time.

Yeah got a feeling this will be  a bit more difficult to figure out.

I am in Japan which complicates everything . I have been told by some of the sportster riders here that the HD mechanics are very expensive so I have only spoken to a non Harley mechanic . If they cant figure it out I might have to take it to the Harley shop .

 

 

  g'day bob,had a look in me workshop manal ,some cause of x vibration are,rear fork pivot nuts loose, 2/ front enginemounting bolts loose,3/ engine to trans mounting bolts loose4/ front chain or links tight from not enough lubrication, 5/bike not properly aligned, hope this helps burt.   6 / jap mechanic!!