Shifter link broke!

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Apr 30, 2007 | 04:40 PM

#21

schoney

Tourer

Joined: Jan 2007

Posts: 331

Likes: 0

From: Heppner, Oregon

RE: Shifter link broke!

Yup Alexcu it just takes a 7/16 & 1/2 in wrench to take both ends off and put a new one on. Once the 1/2" nut is off, the ballstud just pushes out. Once you start it will explain itself. Nothing ventured nothing gained.

Apr 30, 2007 | 04:43 PM

#22

alexcue

Road Master

Joined: Dec 2005

Posts: 1,183

Likes: 0

From: Burbank, CA

RE: Shifter link broke!

thanks schoney, do i just match up the length adjustment with the existing rod?

BTW, great thread guys, I wouldn't have thought to throw in some zip ties in my tool kit. What's funny is on my Sporty i always carry a few just to tie stuff up at times. duh!

Apr 30, 2007 | 07:28 PM

#23

rickoshay45

Road Master

Joined: Mar 2007

Posts: 973

Likes: 0

From: Mt Dora Florida

RE: Shifter link broke!

Today I noticed that J&P caries ball ends for about $20. I thik there are some othe makes too. FYI. They are all a lot cheaper that replacing the w3hole thing. Could come in handy if you were making your own.

Apr 30, 2007 | 08:18 PM

#24

AK_Hog_Herder

Outstanding HDF Member

Joined: Jan 2006

Posts: 3,015

Likes: 5

From: Alaska

RE: Shifter link broke!

It has happened to a couple of friends while they were quite some ways from civilization.

I replaced mine the the plain $80 Heim joint rod.

Yes, just match the length.

Apr 30, 2007 | 08:51 PM

#25

smknflms

Road Master

Joined: Nov 2006

Posts: 808

Likes: 4

From:

RE: Shifter link broke!

..go get a polished stainless steel shif rod from HD..
http://www.harley-davidson.com/gma/g...bmLocale=en_US
$86 bucks...real heim joints.
Later

Apr 30, 2007 | 11:53 PM

#26

atexn4christ

Road Master

Joined: Jan 2007

Posts: 979

Likes: 1

From: Glenn Heights,TX now in Vegas

RE: Shifter link broke!

It happened to me on my 06 Roadie the third shifter prob I had. Zip ties got me to the nearest dealer each time. I think that is possibly the ugliest linkage around also.

May 3, 2007 | 01:31 PM

#27

RoadNames

5th Gear

Joined: May 2007

Posts: 9

Likes: 4

From:

RE: Shifter link broke!

FYI, these ball joint style rod ends will wear out / break / pop loose if the linkage is not adjusted properly to begin with. Those ball joints must allow for some degree of deflection as the linkage moves through it's entire throw. If they bind up ateither end of the link travel, they are gonna wear out real soon.An easy thing to check, just make sure that the linkage will "roll" a few degrees while the shifter is fully depressedAND fully lifted. While parked, if you push down your shifter like grabbing first gear, try twisting the link between thumb and forefinger. Do the samewhile holding the shifter all the way up, like shifting to second. The linkage should rotate / turn / spin just a little each direction. If it doesn't, it's in a bind. That makes shifting difficult and will cause that ball joint to wear out "real soon".

Learned it the hard way, the front one broke on my RoadGlide while I was out in the boonies last year. I used a piece of leather fringe and a good knot to tie it all back together - lasted the whole trip. I carry a spare now, just in case.