Motorcycle Repair: 1990 Sportster Transmission/Clutch, harley models, clutch adjustment

Question
My sportster does not want to go into neutral. When I can find neutral it grinds and makes a rattling sound when bike is running. If I hold pressure against shifter with toe the vibration stops. When running in neutral and rattling, I turn it off and it jerks forward like it's sort of in gear. I put forward controls on the bike recently. I changed the oil in primary recently. This started after I did the two minor chores. Can anybody tell me where to start? Shifter forks? Clutch? Transmission? When I'm riding it shifts fine with the exception of changing from 2nd to 3rd, where it sometimes takes two stabs at getting it in gear. Any help will be appreciated.

Answer
Ward,

if this problem started with the changes
you made, I would suggest setting your
forward controls differently. Try
moving the shift lever up a couple of
splines.
-Sometimes oil can be too thick
or too thin, you could ask your
dealer what he recommends.
-Clutch adjustment might help.
-Finding neutral has been an ongoing
problem with many Harley models.
-Sometimes the shifter springs break
on the shifter pawl or on the detent follower.
-The shifter cam may be worn
-Shift forks could be worn or bent.
-Transmission dogs could be worn.
If shift lever or clutch adjustments or changing oils
don't help, you will need a manual to go further
and inspect the clutch, shifter mechanism,
and finally transmission forks and gears.