A friend of mine has a TC Fatboy and when it gets hot out, the shifter wants to stick in either the up or down position while shifting gears. We're pretty sure it's the bushing on the shaft that comes out to the shifter. Anyone here ever change this bushing out and is it a PITA?

 

I take mine out when it gets like that an grease it. Does not take long to do.

 

Just had the same problem. Took it apart to find it rusty and dry. There was no bushing on my '04 Heritage. Not sure that there is supposed to be, but did find an o-ring missing on the inside.

Took some 000 sandpaper and knocked off the rust on the shifter and hole...a little grease, and good as new. Trust me, if I can do it, anyone can. Actually made me feel good to find something I could fix myself.

 

i use chain lube on the shifter connections each time it is washed. 57k and doing fine
http://www.motodepot.com/product_det...id=37&sku=3463

 

Hey Tk, I have not posted here in quite some time, but I remember talking to you a few times before. We have identical bikes. I still love the stock color and get compliments on it all the time. I can't believe you have 57,000 miles! That is 40k more than I have! Glad to hear she is still running strong. I have had to pull my shifter off and grease the shaft to keep it from sticking. I think they just get rusty from rain and washing. ( I try to avoid both, but it is tough in Florida) I wish I had more time to ride....

 

My '02 did the same thing. When I first picked it up I greased the bushing/shaft area as suggested by one of my buds of things to do, but would still stick when it got real warm out. Took every thing off from arm and it was still sticky. Took out arm and took emery cloth to it and took off enough on the shaft area to allieviate the issue...

 

I have had 2 softails and both had the same problem both times i just took the shaft out on the gear lever where it attaches to the frame took out a bit of the powdercoating with a file and some emery cloth filled it with quality grease (marine grade red and only because I had some) and had know problems again

 

$100 on it, that its gunked up / surface rusted / etc... takes just a few minutes to break it down, and clean & lube it. Hope your back in the saddle soon!