Loud first gear change - is the clunk normal?

[microwavable]

Hi all, I have had the spyder about 2 weeks now and I notice that the change from neutral to first gear after startup is quite loud, its quite the big clunk, is that normal?

[Peter Aawen]

That's a normal part of any constant mesh gearbox selecting first (or reverse) gear after start up. When the engine's stopped, of course nothing is spinning; but once you start the engine, it's spinning but the constant mesh gearbox isn't, not yet anywzy! Select First or Reverse & you get a fairly noticeable clunk as it picks up and starts sspinning THE ENTIRE contents of the transmission - but that's engaged from there on in and every gear change after is a lot smoother. It's something common to every similar designed engine/trans, and while some people might tell you all sorts of ways to reduce it or minimise it, but since no one has yet been able to work out how tto ignore one of the most basic laws of physics, it's always gonna be there to some degree whenever you have the moving engine components picking up the stationary transmission components and force them to start moving!

There was a trans upgrade done in about 2013/14 or so to make the clutch plates & wave springs heavier in order to reduce any chance of this clunk ever being an issue, but this also had the side effect of making the clunk even more obvious; and since then, just about anything aside from simply letting the engine oil warm up a bit longer before selecting a gear has only been more likely to cause premature clutch wear... maybe not much, but hey, shorter trans life is shorter trans life!

So learn to live with and love the clunk - it's just a part of ryding a performance bike with a constant mesh transmission, and every machine with the same sorta gearbox/trans design has it to a greater or lesser degre!

[Little Blue]

Hi all, I have had the spyder about 2 weeks now and I notice that the change from neutral to first gear after startup is quite loud, its quite the big clunk, is that normal?

Peter's comments are right on about the 'clunk'.

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Your Spyder model and year.

Thanks and have a great day. ......

[spyderdave]

I agree; my buddies Ultra makes the same clunk.

[FrogmanDave]

The clunk IS hard to get used to. It is amplified when in the garage making it sound worse. Knowing that it isn't doing any damage makes it all good though.

[BajaRon]

Standard question from people who have never owned a constant mesh transmission vehicle.

[Isopedella]

Gidday. Yep that CLUNK sounds awful. I have that SE6 gearbox with that quick shifter set up. I noticed if I select a gear as soon as it starts the CLUNK is reduced, still there but its is much less of a clunk. The engine revs are low enough for it not to want to start moving off.

[microwavable]

thank you all very much, I feel better now, I will add my bike into my profile

[Isopedella]

Im not sure is my ride is showing. How do I do this. I really need step by step guide.

Ah stand down - haha spotted it....finally.

[ARtraveler]

As others have said...the startup clunk is normal to first or reverse.

If you get clunk, bang, bang, (parts falling off of the engine)....then you have an issue.

[Pooch]

I find that if I let the Spyder warm up completely that first clunk is much less abrupt ...almost smooth...whether its reverse or first.

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

I find that if I let the Spyder warm up completely that first clunk is much less abrupt ...almost smooth...whether its reverse or first.

Temp will have some effect on the sound .....however I have found even with a COLD transmission.... the lower the RPM's the quieter the shift from neutral .... 800 is the lowest .....Mike

[Mazo EMS2]

normal clunk...going into reverse too

[cravenfun]

It's the comforting engagement sound that converted HD trike owners like and are used to.

[SmackDabb]

It is a bit shocking to say the least.....

[Yabbadabbadoo]

I thought my clunk was bad but then I heard the clunk from my brother's 2010 Harley Road King...

[newdave]

I thought my clunk was bad but then I heard the clunk from my brother's 2010 Harley Road King...

Yep, I've ridden some pretty clunky bikes (even my GoldWings). My current Indian is no exception: loud into first and second. Completely normal, just learn to ignore it.

[PaladinLV]

Yes!
In fact the majority of trikes and 2 wheelers have that initial "cluck".
Some are louder, some are softer, but most have it.

AJ

Hi all, I have had the spyder about 2 weeks now and I notice that the change from neutral to first gear after startup is quite loud, its quite the big clunk, is that normal?