Got it by the shifter bug
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
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From: Florida
Got bit by the shifter bug on my ultima six speed
My softail's tranny started to fail to return to the center position when downshifting. I checked everything in the linkage and shifter for binding to no avail. So looks like I am ripping the tranny out today. Going to drop it off at my buddies shop when I get it out. I might spring for the baker anti overshift ratchet pawl. And probably a new detent spring while apart on this ultima six speed.
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Joined: Mar 2010
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From: Poolville
You don't have to go to that extreme unless your looking for an excuse to replace. The shift pawl spring is an easy replacement. Oil tank, starter and the the shift drum cover and shift drum and walla, there it is. the hardest part is getting the shift lever off of the shift pawl shaft...
A six speed would be a nice upgrade though.....
A six speed would be a nice upgrade though.....
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 21,006
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From: Poolville
Jason, is it a Ultima? I have first hand experience with that repair...
Last edited by 98hotrodfatboy; Jan 16, 2017 at 02:13 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
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From: Poolville
The biggest problem with the Ultima is, the shift pawl has very sharp edges in the lever inside the trans that will cut into the spring breaking if. Hopefully it didn't get caught in any of your gears. It is tempered and can do some damage. I got lucky , mine fell to the bottom without getting caught up in the gears.....
So what I did to prevent any future issues was take a very fine flat file (1/4" wide and a 1/16" thick) and rounded all places that the spring would contact because it was the edge that cut into it weakening it. Now I tried the Baker shift pawl for the oem 5 speed I'm my Ultima but the lengths are different and will not work. I do believe the oem shift pawl spring is the same though. Since I repaired mine i believe I put at least 10k on it and is still holding up to the beating I give it. Why build something if your not gonna use it? Hope I was able to help you out...
So what I did to prevent any future issues was take a very fine flat file (1/4" wide and a 1/16" thick) and rounded all places that the spring would contact because it was the edge that cut into it weakening it. Now I tried the Baker shift pawl for the oem 5 speed I'm my Ultima but the lengths are different and will not work. I do believe the oem shift pawl spring is the same though. Since I repaired mine i believe I put at least 10k on it and is still holding up to the beating I give it. Why build something if your not gonna use it? Hope I was able to help you out...
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
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From: Florida
The shifter pawl spring didn't break. I just got it out and took the top off. Now I am wondering if one of the bearings went bad in the shift drum on the pillow block. I am beyond my scope of practice here. So tomorrow it goes to my buddy's shop
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 21,006
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From: Poolville
I can see how a bad bearing would make it difficult to shift but the only thing that returns the shift linkage to center would be the pawl and spring. Sounds more like something is binding up somewhere... Let us know what he finds. Always good to have a little heads up.
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Seasoned HDF Member
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From: Florida
So far before I dropped it off.... the first thing that I noticed was that my throwout bearing was toast. And with the top off the pawl spring is definitely still there and intact. It doesn't look bent