Shifter link broke!
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,116
Likes: 1
From: Northern VA, Madison GA
RE: Shifter link broke!
The arrow points to the area where the ball is, it's beneath the rubber boot. The boot doesn't keep out all the road grime and in time that wears on the plastic seat that the ball snaps into. Replace with Kuryakyn they have a much better set up for the ball and socket. (plus it's chrome
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Tourer
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 447
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Shifter link broke!
I never had mine break there, but on my '03 RK I had the rod that connects the toe/heel shifter to the other side where the linkage is become stripped, and as a result I could only shift by reaching down and doing it by hand. Due to the fact that the clutch and shifter are on the same side, I was unable to change gears while under way. Luckliy this happened about 10 miles from an H-D dealer. I used third gear for the whole way there. Getting started from a dead stop in third is a bit of an experience[&:].
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,615
Likes: 50
From: Baton Rouge, LA
RE: Shifter link broke!
Had this happen on my old RK with about 100k miles at the time. I carry a good complement of tools, but didn't carry wire ties at that time. Fortunately, my riding buddy had some, and I limped home with no further problems. I also met up with a nail in my rear tire on the same trip, which I fixed with a patch kit and small 12v pump, so it was an overall bad day.
The heim jointed end, if there is one, is not the problem. It's the ball-and-socket part on the stock rod. On my new bike I'm putting a drop of oil under the rubber cover about every oil change, which I never did before. These B&S joints just wear out over time, and oil should extend the service life. The best idea for a fix is to buy one of the aftermarket HD shifter rods that are heim-jointed on both ends. I think these will last much longer. I wish you could buy just these joints for the stock rod. I may buy one of the fancy rods just to get the heim joints.
The heim jointed end, if there is one, is not the problem. It's the ball-and-socket part on the stock rod. On my new bike I'm putting a drop of oil under the rubber cover about every oil change, which I never did before. These B&S joints just wear out over time, and oil should extend the service life. The best idea for a fix is to buy one of the aftermarket HD shifter rods that are heim-jointed on both ends. I think these will last much longer. I wish you could buy just these joints for the stock rod. I may buy one of the fancy rods just to get the heim joints.
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Road Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,183
Likes: 0
From: Burbank, CA
RE: Shifter link broke!
dunce question of the day: How easy is it to replace this part? Can a guy whose all thumbs do it pretty easily?
Just ordered the scipted "ultra" one, to avoid this problem in the future. Even my service rep said it was a good idea.
Just ordered the scipted "ultra" one, to avoid this problem in the future. Even my service rep said it was a good idea.
