#$^%& shifter problems
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Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 60
Likes: 1
From: McKinney, TX
Happened on my buddy's 14 limited on his way to work in the transit lane in Dallas. He had to push it out of rush hour traffic. Dealers trailer was down so he went to another dealer, Bought the part and changed it himself.
A month later it happened again and this time the Dealer fixed it. Said It is happening on a lot of touring Bikes. He spent the $ for another spline shaft to keep as a spare.
A month later it happened again and this time the Dealer fixed it. Said It is happening on a lot of touring Bikes. He spent the $ for another spline shaft to keep as a spare.
Last edited by Readyt; Jul 22, 2015 at 08:48 PM.
I had a problem on a new 2011 Road King. It was the lever that went to the spline shaft that went into the tranny. Stealer told me it was my fault for shifting it hard. I did no such thing and they had to replace the lever under warranty. Watch em Stealers are a slippery lot they are!
I have a 2013 flhtc now and no problems as I check it a couple times a year. All you have to do is get 3/8 drive extension and a quarter inch Allen universal socket and tighten the Allen pinch bolt that holds the lever on periodically . Be aware of your fins though.
I have a 2013 flhtc now and no problems as I check it a couple times a year. All you have to do is get 3/8 drive extension and a quarter inch Allen universal socket and tighten the Allen pinch bolt that holds the lever on periodically . Be aware of your fins though.
Last edited by ranger351w; Dec 1, 2015 at 01:30 PM.
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 169
Likes: 12
From: North Shore, MA
Happened to my '14 SGS at 14K miles. Luckily was less than a mile away and limped home in 2nd gear. Dealer sent the trailer next day to pick it up. Replaced with parts off another bike because the parts are on backorder, or so they told me. Now I'll check it before long rides.
I look and find that the primary rod going to the chrome link had somehow back itself out and stripped the knurled end of both. I was pretty peeved to say the least being that this is a 2015 Ultra Limited with less than 5k miles on her, but that tiny voice in the back of my head was saying "it's your damn fault for not checking all bolts before heading out for a 6 hour drive". Anyway, so with my limited tools, I was lucky enough to have the right allen wrench and jimmy rigged it back together so we could get home. So, I have a question out there for those that have had warranty done.....are the good ppl at the stealership going to tell me to pound sand and pay for the damage, or would this be covered?
On mine we had to remove the shaft and reverse it so get the spline to 'bite'. Then we jury rigged the front shifter back on and applied a lot of loctite.Was pretty ticked off that it happened on a bike under 12 months old.
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 391
Likes: 52
From: Pittsburgh, Pa.
I don't get why some of you think the heel lever is a problem? I understand some don't like them, but I never saw them as a problem on any of my bikes ... sometimes I skip it it, but it's there when I want it. This is my 3rd HD with a heel/toe shifter ... the first thing I always do soon as I get home with every new bike is remove every pinch bolt and thoroughly douche the bolts with blue loctite, torque them to specs along with an extra little tweak and never look back again. A light coat of anti-seize on the shaft doesn't hurt while you have it apart either. I still give everything a check before I head out, but never any troubles after some blue sauce on the bolts.
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 755
Likes: 9
From: Phoenix, AZ
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Road Master
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 1,223
Likes: 394
From: Oak Harbor, OH
Mine started loosening up AGAIN after a 2400 mile trip, which was just after my 10K service when I had the dealer look at it. They said it needed tightening was all. So I went to tighten it back up the other day.
Hopefully they'll figure out how to get the end of their ball-tipped allen wrench out of the damned thing when they give me a new one, because I sure can't.
I think I can get a vice grips on it to get by until spring when I can run it down there.
Having said that, it is the only thing that I've had an issue with since I bought the 14 trike almost two years ago.
Hopefully they'll figure out how to get the end of their ball-tipped allen wrench out of the damned thing when they give me a new one, because I sure can't.
I think I can get a vice grips on it to get by until spring when I can run it down there.
Having said that, it is the only thing that I've had an issue with since I bought the 14 trike almost two years ago.