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87 softail shifter not returning from upshift

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Old Dec 1, 2011 | 10:30 AM
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ashinc's Avatar
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Default 87 softail shifter not returning from upshift
When shifting from N to 1st or any down the shifter pops right back up into place for next shift. But when shifting up it stays up until I tap it with my foot. I've examined it on the lift by hand and it seems like there is no "springyness" from the up shift to return the shifter back to center. If I pull it up and tap with hand it kind of just flops back down. It's also very loose going from center to upshift position. Anyone seen this kind of thing before.
I have taken apart the linkage and cleaned and greased it all to no avail.
 
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Old Dec 1, 2011 | 10:55 AM
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This happen to me once. The brass bushing on the shifter pivot point was full of debris. Cleaned it out and every thing was fine.
 
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Old Dec 1, 2011 | 11:49 AM
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You need to lube the shifter lever where it goes through the frame.
 
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Old Dec 1, 2011 | 03:27 PM
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I agree. Samething happened to me, cleaned and lubed the shifter bushing and good as new
 
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Old Dec 1, 2011 | 04:36 PM
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Originally Posted by ashinc
I have taken apart the linkage and cleaned and greased it all to no avail.

Isn't amazing no one can read that sentence...lol This will help you out:http://www.aimag.com/wordpress/2011/...transmissions/
 
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Old Dec 1, 2011 | 06:38 PM
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to me greasing the linkage does not mean greasing the pivot where the shift lever is in the frame. my aftermarket fwd controls did this. and i needed bearing in the pivot.
 
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Old Dec 2, 2011 | 04:50 AM
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Sounds like shifter paw spring
 
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Old Dec 2, 2011 | 07:56 AM
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+2 The spring is broken.
 
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Old Dec 2, 2011 | 10:24 AM
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Originally Posted by Jim Kraft
+2 The spring is broken.
+3 on that had a similar problem on an FXRS it went about a mile or so from where I live I rode it home and unfortunately it did some damage to the gearbox,so my advice would be don't ride it until you've sorted it out.
 
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Old Dec 3, 2011 | 09:12 AM
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Originally Posted by dieselguy65
to me greasing the linkage does not mean greasing the pivot where the shift lever is in the frame. my aftermarket fwd controls did this. and i needed bearing in the pivot.
My Nightrain doesn't have a bearing. It has a plastic bushing and two o-rings, one on each side of the frame. Using a graphite based dry lube is what fixed my problem... and now is part of my regular long interval maintenance.

C#
 
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