About a year ago I helped a stranded biker whose linkage came apart. He had forwards and the rod had disconnected up at the shifter. We got it back together with zip ties and tape, but I remember thinking to myself that doesn't look like a very good design. I had a Sportster at the time, well now I have a Dyna with the same controls! Yes, I have zip ties and tape in my bag...

 

It went limp because your shifter pawl spring broke or because the linkage came apart?

If the spring broke then do yourself a favor and buy the baker anti overshift ratchet pawl assembly

 

My 98 FXD ended up stripping the knurls off of the shifter rod on my mid controls on a ride a few weeks ago, I hated the mids anyway and needed an excuse to spend the money on forwards for it. Ended up shifting it with a pair of vice grips to a friend''s house and welded a wrench onto it so I could get It home. Just a sh**ty 110 Flux core weld, but it worked

 

 

There is currently a thread in the touring section about replacing the stock shifter rod with heim joints...super easy, cheap, and quick...even easier than welding a wrench to the shaft.

 

Replace mine with a Landmark piece before it could become an issue.

 

Yup, 1st mod I make to a new HD.