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

Shifter is sticking, not sure why

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 6, 2008 | 05:30 PM
  #1  
Jucifer's Avatar
Jucifer
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 897
Likes: 0
From: Bridge City, TX
Default Shifter is sticking, not sure why

Well I had some nice weather today so I took the Fatty for a ride around town. About 1 hour into my ride I noticed that when I shift (heel/toe) the shifter wouldn't spring back into place. I actually had to nuge it backup in placewith my foot and then step back down to shift. PITA, so I came home to take a look. I looked back at the other side of the linkage and everything seems fine. When I was looking a little more closely at the pin I noted that there is no space at all around that black washer. It's pretty tight...im wondering if itisn't too tight. When I tried to take an allen wrench to the dogone shifter it is on so tight that I felt like I was going to break my wrench(need a good set). I tried to get some penetrating oil in there around the washer and at the back side of the pin...and tried to work it around a bid. I guess my question is - has anyone else had this problem? Is that washer fiberous? Is it possible that It would swell? What else could this be?

Im sure no wrench so I was just going with the common sense approach...only thing is I'm all out of common sense [8D]

Thanks in advance for any help you guys can offer!

JU
 
Reply
Old Jan 6, 2008 | 05:40 PM
  #2  
gunner065's Avatar
gunner065
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 734
Likes: 1
From: Nova Scotia
Default RE: Shifter is sticking, not sure why

I had the same problem last week. I didn't know what was wrong and started making plans to bring it in to my dealer. But before I did, not wanting to look like an idiot, I sprayed a little WD40 and the two front pivot points at the linkage connections. After and little up and down motion, back to new. Try this and see if it clears up your linkage. Good luck and post back if it helps.
 
Reply
Old Jan 6, 2008 | 05:45 PM
  #3  
I CUT 1's Avatar
I CUT 1
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 409
Likes: 0
From: Ruffin, North Carolina
Default RE: Shifter is sticking, not sure why

The shaft that connects the foot lever to the front linkage arm has rusted. You'll need to take it apart, sand the shaft back smooth, clean the plastic bushings, lube with some grease, and reassemble. This can be checked by taking the shift linkage loose from front linkage arm, if foot lever is tight, then the above solution will fix your problem. If it's tight at the lever at the transmition, oh-no!!!

[IMG]local://upfiles/49112/7CC5EE1C0C3440978BF0920219C80D9E.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]local://upfiles/49112/5FD8BDC6F47049A2B8614DD92631ABE1.jpg[/IMG]
 
Reply
Old Jan 6, 2008 | 05:52 PM
  #4  
tk353's Avatar
tk353
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 5,257
Likes: 6
From: Leander Texas
Default RE: Shifter is sticking, not sure why

I had a hard time shifting also but mine was fixed by changing to the Bel Rey Gearsaver oil
 
Reply
Old Jan 6, 2008 | 05:53 PM
  #5  
tlb's Avatar
tlb
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 4,984
Likes: 8
Default RE: Shifter is sticking, not sure why

Mine did the same thing thing. a little liquid wrench and cleaning solved the problem. At the same time I checked the tranny fluid. I had ridden ina heavyrain, last summer, for a couple of hours.Water had got in the vent tube and there was water in the tranny fluid. I changed it to syn 3 no more problems. I really think the shifter sticking was it need to be cleaned and oiled.
ORIGINAL: I CUT 1

The shaft that connects the foot lever to the front linkage arm has rusted. You'll need to take it apart, sand the shaft back smooth, clean the plastic bushings, lube with some grease, and reassemble. This can be checked by taking the shift linkage loose from front linkage arm, if foot lever is tight, then the above solution will fix your problem. If it's tight at the lever at the transmission, oh-no!!!

[IMG]local://upfiles/49112/7CC5EE1C0C3440978BF0920219C80D9E.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]local://upfiles/49112/5FD8BDC6F47049A2B8614DD92631ABE1.jpg[/IMG]
 
Reply
Old Jan 6, 2008 | 06:38 PM
  #6  
flstcbob's Avatar
flstcbob
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 183
Likes: 21
From: Arthur, IL
Default RE: Shifter is sticking, not sure why

I had the same problem. All it was, the shift lever was too tight against the washer.
 
Reply
Old Jan 6, 2008 | 06:40 PM
  #7  
Rhubarb's Avatar
Rhubarb
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 5,256
Likes: 5
From: Concord, CA
Default RE: Shifter is sticking, not sure why

This is very common.
Seems that the shaft doesn't get enough anti-seize.
As mentioned before, pull the the levers off, sand the shaft smooth, clean the inside out of the bushing, and coat in lots of anti-seize.
Figure on this being about a yearly task especially if you ride in the rain.

My first time, it even had packing celophane wrapped up in there.
 
Reply
Old Jan 6, 2008 | 08:23 PM
  #8  
dave2800's Avatar
dave2800
Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 197
Likes: 0
From: Baden, PA
Default RE: Shifter is sticking, not sure why

I had that same problem on my 06 FLSTCI and when I had it in for service I ask them ifanyone else washaving problems and he told me yes that they rust and gauld up. They took it apart and cleaned and regreased it. Works like it should now.

Dave
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Becomes a Dark, Decepticon-Inspired Custom

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-5

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-6

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jan 6, 2008 | 08:42 PM
  #9  
Geoseismic's Avatar
Geoseismic
Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 711
Likes: 0
From: Bothell, WA
Default RE: Shifter is sticking, not sure why

Reemed out the bushing after my bike was a few months old. The shifter is a little sloppier, but never sticks!!!!
 
Reply
Old Jan 7, 2008 | 03:31 AM
  #10  
Jucifer's Avatar
Jucifer
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 897
Likes: 0
From: Bridge City, TX
Default RE: Shifter is sticking, not sure why

Thanks all. Ill give it a shot. Much appreciated!
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:32 AM.

story-0
Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Becomes a Dark, Decepticon-Inspired Custom

Slideshow: Killer Custom's latest build relies on styling changes rather than performance upgrades, giving the cruiser an entirely different personality.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-03 18:28:05


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public

Slideshow: From military-inspired singles to scooters and three-wheel utility vehicles, these Harleys took the company far outside its comfort zone.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-02 18:34:10


VIEW MORE
story-2
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-3
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-4
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-5
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-6
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-7
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-8
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-9
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