logical way to adjust foot shifter
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Road Master
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,070
Likes: 74
From: Los Angeles
logical way to adjust foot shifter
Is there a logical way to adjust your foot shifter? I'd like to simply put the foot lever down one notch, should I loosen the linkage and drop the front lever while keeping the rear lever where it is? Or do I move both levers keeping the same distance on the linkage rod? Any suggestions or tips?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,156
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From: San Diego, CA
I agree.........
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 679
Likes: 120
From: Fairbanks, AK.
There are choices. Mine is to lengthen the shifter rod versus moving the foot lever to another spline, or moving both levers on their splines. It gives me a finer adjustment is all.
It depends on the type of rod. Some motorcycles thread the rod with both left and right hand threads...once the locking nuts at each end are loosened rotating the rod moves the ends either away from or towards the middle of the rod.
As I recall HD typically uses the same RH thread on each end (haven't looked at my 2018 yet) so to lengthen the rod and lower the shifter requires rotating the rod out of one of the ends, and then if more length is desired, rotating the other end away from the rod center. Reverse the turns if you want the rod shorter.
I'd not go more than one turn each on the end connections to maintain enough threads for safe fastening. The rod should be threaded as equally as possible into the ends and the locking nuts retightened.
It depends on the type of rod. Some motorcycles thread the rod with both left and right hand threads...once the locking nuts at each end are loosened rotating the rod moves the ends either away from or towards the middle of the rod.
As I recall HD typically uses the same RH thread on each end (haven't looked at my 2018 yet) so to lengthen the rod and lower the shifter requires rotating the rod out of one of the ends, and then if more length is desired, rotating the other end away from the rod center. Reverse the turns if you want the rod shorter.
I'd not go more than one turn each on the end connections to maintain enough threads for safe fastening. The rod should be threaded as equally as possible into the ends and the locking nuts retightened.
Last edited by PA1195; May 15, 2018 at 11:16 PM.
Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,070
Likes: 74
From: Los Angeles
Not sure I understand you, if you move the lever position on the splined shaft you would have to adjust the linkage travel or you'd mess up the position of the rear lever, no? Are you saying move both the levers without adjusting the length of the linkage? (however I'm guessing if you make the linkage longer it would give the rear more throw thus reducing the amount of travel between gears right? Just trying to understand the logic...)
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 119
Likes: 65
From: Atlanta
Not sure I understand you, if you move the lever position on the splined shaft you would have to adjust the linkage travel or you'd mess up the position of the rear lever, no? Are you saying move both the levers without adjusting the length of the linkage? (however I'm guessing if you make the linkage longer it would give the rear more throw thus reducing the amount of travel between gears right? Just trying to understand the logic...)
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From: Honah Lee
Guess you have the answer but Harley saved 10 cents by not putting a left hand/right hand on the ling rod between the shifter and transmission lever. You need to pop one end off. Then there is a sligh adjustment. That or index the lever on the spline. Be careful here. Make sure you use blue Loctite and get it back tight. Or you are going to be like the many on here bitching that the spline is stripped and it's Harley's fault.
Yamaha's shift rod is a left hand/right hand turnbuckle. Harley has yet to learn all the tricks. Guess because they want you to let a dealer service it.
Yamaha's shift rod is a left hand/right hand turnbuckle. Harley has yet to learn all the tricks. Guess because they want you to let a dealer service it.
Last edited by Jackie Paper; May 16, 2018 at 01:49 PM.
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