Pretty sure I already know the answer to this question but ... I have looked around the net and talked to a few people and can't come up with a straight out answer. Does anyone make a conversion kit for a 69 sporty to put the shifter on the left side?

 

The first year they went to the left side shift was a cobbed-together mess o' crap. Gather those parts and you can convert it. The shift lever uses the crossover tube that your brake now uses. You probably won't like it as thereare too many moving pieces and too many joints that all add up to make a very imprecise and often sloppy feeling shifter.

 

I'm not completely sure, but you might be able touse the parts that convert the 75-76 ironheads. The engine on these was still right hand shift internally but they just used external linkage to switch the shift to the other side. They used the hole in the frame where the rear brake lever shaft went to do it. The rear brake pedal mounted on the right footpeg mount andit wasthe cable type.

Possibly a lot of parts to scrounge or buy, but it might work.

Another possibility is to get a forward control kit that will allow you to do the switch.

 

The bike currently has forward controls, will this make it easier?
Or are you saying that there is actually a forward control kit to do this?

Sorry for sounding like a complete idiot. I love this bike. It has quickly became my favorite, but this is something totally new to me. Thank you for the ideas and patience.

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I did a Google search using thephrase 'forward controls 76 sportster'. I found thatkits are indeed made for 75-76 sportsters.

A kit is available on Ebay. I have no idea about its quality, though.

You will definitely still need some other parts, like the original 75-76 shift linkage and the rear brake plate that takes a cable control. I think that even the internal shifter shaft is different. The HD parts and service manuals will show you what parts fit what year models.

If you are determined to do this, you better be patient, and prepared to spend some time and money on it. This project could turn out to be a major headache, and you may not like the results.

 

To use '75 - '76 parts to do this, here is what is involved:

1. The rear brake will end up cable operated. You can use the cable - internal brake cam lever adapter for this and drill a hole in the brake pedal to attach it. This is a triangular clamp that holds the cable. You can use an ironhead clutch cable for the brake cable.

2. There is a lever that clamps to the gearbox shift shaft.

3. A cross shaft fits where the brake cross shaft is now. This is splined on the left end and has a lever on the right end.

4. There is a short link, maybe 3 inches long with ball joints in the end. This connecte the 2 levers above.

5. With mid-mount pegs, the shift pedal clamps on the left end of the cross shaft. For forward controls, there is a curved lever that clamps to the cross shaft and runs up behind the primary cover.

 

Thanks guys! I have been looking into this a lot offline as well and it seems that everyone has the same opinion that this will give me no less than crappy shifting. So far it seems moving the brake to the right side is not going to bethat bad. Thinking now I may go that route and throw in a suicide shift. The break was really my main concern, being put in a think quick situation ... didnt want to hit the shift pedal on instinct thinking it was the brake.

 

Ain't no such thing as a suicide shift. There is a suicide clutch, though....