Softail Models Standard, Custom, Night Train, Deuce, Springer, Heritage, Fatboy, Deluxe, Rocker and Cross Bones.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Loose Shifter Arm

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Oct 22, 2017 | 10:43 AM
  #11  
Pitbull_Dallas's Avatar
Pitbull_Dallas
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 852
Likes: 54
From: Dallas tx
Default

Woohoo, I was able to get the stripped bolt out of the shift arm. The head was so messed up a 1/4 hex wouldn't go into it, so I lined the hex wrench up with what I thought were the old flats and lightly tapped it in. It held well enough to get the bolt out. The bolt had no thread lock on it, so that's probably part of the problem and it wasn't that tight to start with. After I got it out, I slipped the arm out a ways and got a good look at the shaft spline. It still looks pretty good. Even with the bolt out, the arm is still grabbing the shaft splines so the arm splines may be in decent shape. My first try is going to be replacing the bolt, tightening it up good and see if it holds.

If it doesn't hold I'm gonna go with the better lever. I was looking around in there with my mirrors and there is a big relief in the back side if the primary, which should be enough room to get the old arm out. It will take some finessing, but it looks like it can be done. When I slid the arm all the way out is was 3/4 of the way off of the shaft.
 

Last edited by Pitbull_Dallas; Oct 22, 2017 at 11:22 AM.
Reply
Old Oct 22, 2017 | 01:45 PM
  #12  
Gaz B's Avatar
Gaz B
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 228
Likes: 41
From: Kent, England
Default

Good news hopefully!
 
Reply
Old Oct 22, 2017 | 02:40 PM
  #13  
Pitbull_Dallas's Avatar
Pitbull_Dallas
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 852
Likes: 54
From: Dallas tx
Default

Thanks. I certainly hoping for the easy fix first, but we'll see..
 
Reply
Old Oct 22, 2017 | 03:53 PM
  #14  
09fitz's Avatar
09fitz
Road Captain
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 700
Likes: 312
From: southwest Va.
Default

Originally Posted by Pitbull_Dallas
Thanks. I certainly hoping for the easy fix first, but we'll see..
Let us know what you end up doing. Good luck with it.
 
Reply
Old Oct 23, 2017 | 02:38 PM
  #15  
Pitbull_Dallas's Avatar
Pitbull_Dallas
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 852
Likes: 54
From: Dallas tx
Default

Well, I got the new bolt in and tightened it to 20FfTLB's and it's nice and tight. There's a little bit of side to side play in the shaft, but that's pretty much normal. I rode about 60 miles that required a lot of up and down shifting and it's still tight. I'll keep an eye on it and if it loosens up again, I think I'll go with the Better Lever.

There's a little trick to get it tightened properly. The clamping bolt is not parellel with the arm. It sits at an angle to the arm and you can't get a hex wrench in straight, so if you try to do the final tightening you'll likely strip out the bolt head, like mine was. I went ahead and ran the bolt down and then put a 2X4 on edge under the front shifter lever. That tilts the arm back just enough the make the bolt almost vertical. Then I did the final tightening. The only reason I didn't want to do that from the start is I didn't want to back load the shift arm on the spline and not get a good seat..

I did this with the shift linkage attached.
 

Last edited by Pitbull_Dallas; Oct 23, 2017 at 02:44 PM.
Reply
Old Oct 23, 2017 | 03:24 PM
  #16  
Gaz B's Avatar
Gaz B
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 228
Likes: 41
From: Kent, England
Thumbs up

Great result!
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Porgey
2014-2024 Touring Models
5
Jul 3, 2019 01:03 AM
cajun1957a
Touring Models
10
Aug 10, 2018 04:26 AM
TimLScheffer
2014-2024 Touring Models
29
Sep 23, 2017 04:18 PM
benson1603
2014-2024 Touring Models
5
Jul 22, 2014 08:06 PM
eathomps
Touring Models
2
Jun 15, 2012 08:22 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:14 AM.

story-0
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-1
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-3
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-4
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-5
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-6
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE
story-9
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

Slideshow: Graeme Billington's left-hand-drive Shovelhead is as much about problem-solving as it is about classic Harley form.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2025-12-30 11:27:08


VIEW MORE