1st gear lurch

**Cajunrider** · 07-05-2009, 08:48 PM

I've noticed lately when the bike is cold that it lurches forward when I shift into 1st gear. After riding a short distance it goes into 1st smoothly. Only when cold does it jump forward. Is this a prelude to clutch problems or is it just the plates sticking? I haven't changed my oil yet since returning from Custer and I'm wondering if this is contributing to the problem. Anybody else experiencing this?

dogdoc · 07-05-2009, 08:54 PM

YES, they all do it when cold. plates sticking. I depress my clutch lever 2-3 times at first as Im rolling her out of the garage. Then throttle it a bit or so then quickly drop the gear lever and its smooth as silk. :-)

**jestephens** · 07-05-2009, 08:58 PM

I think it is just that . . . cold. The oils aren't moving regularly quite yet, and the clutch hasn't fully backed away. When you put it in gear, the force breaks the clutch free. Once it's warmed up a bit from a short ride, things work nicely.
I've had this occasionally, but never any trouble from it.

blowndodge · 07-05-2009, 11:22 PM

Really not an issue Mitch. Will probably go away after the next oil change.

**Cajunrider** · 07-06-2009, 07:30 AM

I'll be changing the oil and filter this week when I get off. Thanx guys.

dogdoc · 07-06-2009, 08:28 AM

cajunrider: some never go away after oil change. Ive heard of them doing it all the time which is not a big issue, normal. Even syn oil doesnt totally stop it. Its first start of the morning and you fire her up and just drop it into first, she will clunk hard.

**Cajunrider** · 07-06-2009, 10:02 AM

The reason I asked about it was that it just started doing this since the round trip to Custer. I have been using Mobil 1 since my 4,000 mile oil change. I figured since it started doing it after the trip pulling the trailer that I had clutch problems. I've read on other sites where many Nomads are doing the same thing. It may not stop after my oil change and if it doesn't I'll just learn to deal with it. Thanks.

pirate · 07-06-2009, 10:48 AM

Mine has done this since new. I was told the same as above, that it's just the clutch plates being cold. I do the same as Doc described, and that alleviates the problem. My Honda VTX did the exact same thing.

macmac · 07-06-2009, 11:28 AM

Probably just colder oil like everyone else said. When I start my bike in Neutral I still pull the clutch. In New Hampshire the oil can be cold enough that in neutral the bike will lurch. Last night it was 47.5 degrees..

As I back out of the barn still in neutral I hold the clutch in as habit, with the engine running.

By the time I do hit 1st there is no judder (sp correct for once

), and no lurch.

Even at 110 degrees the oil is cold, as that is a fair piece from operating temp.

New oil will help and I run mobil 1 for cars too... Like it lots.. I ran that in the 1500 which was stolen, and that bike pulled a trailer from here to cal, cal to fla, then to Ar (Arkansas) I never had a clutch issue yet.

redtail · 07-06-2009, 02:28 PM

It's probably just the clutch plates sticking. Pull in the clutch several times before putting it gear. You can read about it here,http://www.gadgetjq.com/faq.htm#lurch.

07-05-2009, 08:48 PM	#1
Cajunrider Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: (SE Louisiana) Posts: 8,340	1st gear lurch I've noticed lately when the bike is cold that it lurches forward when I shift into 1st gear. After riding a short distance it goes into 1st smoothly. Only when cold does it jump forward. Is this a prelude to clutch problems or is it just the plates sticking? I haven't changed my oil yet since returning from Custer and I'm wondering if this is contributing to the problem. Anybody else experiencing this? __________________ 2016 Electra Glide Ultra Limited CVO Palladium Silver / Phantom Blue 110 cu in SE 2012 Electra Glide Ultra Limited (Traded 6/22/16) Tequila Sunrise / HD Orange Vance & Hines true dual headers Rinehart 4" slip ons Screamin Eagle Super Tuner Screamin Eagle Stage 1 intake Dyno tuned H.O.G.# 4514015 2007 Nomad 1600 (Traded 6/23/12) VBA #482 Login or Register to Remove Ads
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07-05-2009, 08:54 PM	#2
dogdoc Top Contributor Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 5,263	1st gear lurch YES, they all do it when cold. plates sticking. I depress my clutch lever 2-3 times at first as Im rolling her out of the garage. Then throttle it a bit or so then quickly drop the gear lever and its smooth as silk. :-)
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07-05-2009, 08:58 PM	#3
jestephens Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Fairview Heights, IL (StLouis) Posts: 1,601	1st gear lurch I think it is just that . . . cold. The oils aren't moving regularly quite yet, and the clutch hasn't fully backed away. When you put it in gear, the force breaks the clutch free. Once it's warmed up a bit from a short ride, things work nicely. I've had this occasionally, but never any trouble from it. __________________ Jay Stephens, Former National Vice President (2013-2015) 2006 Yamaha FJR1300 formerly 2011 Vaquero- Black formerly 2005 Nomad - black/silver
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07-05-2009, 11:22 PM	#4
blowndodge Sr. Contributor Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Washington City, Utah Posts: 16,474	1st gear lurch Really not an issue Mitch. Will probably go away after the next oil change. __________________ I love my Victory Cross Country Tour 106. Smells like Victory! Ultra's are Limited There are two types of Harley riders. Those that trailer them and those that push them. The most Interesting Man in the World "Find the things in life you don't do well and don't do those things" Member # 0005
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07-06-2009, 07:30 AM	#5
Cajunrider Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: (SE Louisiana) Posts: 8,340	1st gear lurch I'll be changing the oil and filter this week when I get off. Thanx guys. __________________ 2016 Electra Glide Ultra Limited CVO Palladium Silver / Phantom Blue 110 cu in SE 2012 Electra Glide Ultra Limited (Traded 6/22/16) Tequila Sunrise / HD Orange Vance & Hines true dual headers Rinehart 4" slip ons Screamin Eagle Super Tuner Screamin Eagle Stage 1 intake Dyno tuned H.O.G.# 4514015 2007 Nomad 1600 (Traded 6/23/12) VBA #482 Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

07-06-2009, 08:28 AM	#6
dogdoc Top Contributor Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 5,263	1st gear lurch cajunrider: some never go away after oil change. Ive heard of them doing it all the time which is not a big issue, normal. Even syn oil doesnt totally stop it. Its first start of the morning and you fire her up and just drop it into first, she will clunk hard.
	0

07-06-2009, 10:02 AM	#7
Cajunrider Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: (SE Louisiana) Posts: 8,340	1st gear lurch The reason I asked about it was that it just started doing this since the round trip to Custer. I have been using Mobil 1 since my 4,000 mile oil change. I figured since it started doing it after the trip pulling the trailer that I had clutch problems. I've read on other sites where many Nomads are doing the same thing. It may not stop after my oil change and if it doesn't I'll just learn to deal with it. Thanks. __________________ 2016 Electra Glide Ultra Limited CVO Palladium Silver / Phantom Blue 110 cu in SE 2012 Electra Glide Ultra Limited (Traded 6/22/16) Tequila Sunrise / HD Orange Vance & Hines true dual headers Rinehart 4" slip ons Screamin Eagle Super Tuner Screamin Eagle Stage 1 intake Dyno tuned H.O.G.# 4514015 2007 Nomad 1600 (Traded 6/23/12) VBA #482
	0

07-06-2009, 10:48 AM	#8
pirate Sr. Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: North Dakota Posts: 1,865	1st gear lurch Mine has done this since new. I was told the same as above, that it's just the clutch plates being cold. I do the same as Doc described, and that alleviates the problem. My Honda VTX did the exact same thing.
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07-06-2009, 11:28 AM	#9
macmac Sr. Contributor Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Tamworth New Hampster 06 1600 Posts: 12,484	1st gear lurch Probably just colder oil like everyone else said. When I start my bike in Neutral I still pull the clutch. In New Hampshire the oil can be cold enough that in neutral the bike will lurch. Last night it was 47.5 degrees.. As I back out of the barn still in neutral I hold the clutch in as habit, with the engine running. By the time I do hit 1st there is no judder (sp correct for once ), and no lurch. Even at 110 degrees the oil is cold, as that is a fair piece from operating temp. New oil will help and I run mobil 1 for cars too... Like it lots.. I ran that in the 1500 which was stolen, and that bike pulled a trailer from here to cal, cal to fla, then to Ar (Arkansas) I never had a clutch issue yet. __________________ 06 1600 Nomad Just call me Mac molon labe come and get it
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07-06-2009, 02:28 PM	#10
redtail Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Mauldin, S.C. Posts: 78	1st gear lurch It's probably just the clutch plates sticking. Pull in the clutch several times before putting it gear. You can read about it here,http://www.gadgetjq.com/faq.htm#lurch.
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