I bought a Pingel replacement shifter shaft with zerk ( grease) fitting- I had no immediate need to replace my shaft and I know that some riders have drilled and put a zerk in the primary to do same (89¢)

as promised a 30 minute install.

The stock shaft had crud/corrosion on it and the teeth for the shifter weren;t in great shape ( my heel fell off the first week...and rounded the outer teeth before it went)

The pingel feels nice and solid in the hand & has a polished end to complement the shift levers.

This was bought used from a forum member ( Thanks Scott!), and already had some grease pumped into it- I added grease until a little came out, wiped down and installed.
screwed the zerk back in and put on all 3 levers ( 2 out, 1 in)- having noted correct relationships

I gave a little shot to move grease out of the passages to lube the shaft- and test rode.

the shifter feels more solid and satisfying- I rate this a 7 bang for buck...so a 9 if you can get one used

I hate spending money on geegaws, but I think this will pay for itself in the end
A shot of grease every year or so will take up slop, prevent corrosion and push the dirt and grit out.

Mike

 

I only just replaced the bushings and shaft with new stock parts! Of course my 1990 Glide came stock with a grease nipple, as we know them.

 

Zerk is a brand name, I wiped off the excess grease with a Kleenex

I don;t know when the nipple went away, it was on thru the evo into the early twincams- it's odd, because steel through aluminium shouldn;t be dry- it just don;t make sense.

I have an extended heel lever so perhaps a little more mass hanging off this

shifter felt good all day today- I'm thinking my old shaft just wasn;t moving as smoothly as it could. ( or it's my imagination- very possible)

temps here about 70 and sunny, beautiful day for riding...

Mike

 

I put a Pingel shifter shaft on my 11 RGU because the bike got so hot neutral was hard to find. After changing the pipes (the real source of the engine heat) and replacing the shaft, never had trouble finding neutral again. I took the shaft off my RGU before I traded it in and plan to put it on my new roady.
MKG You need to make sure you're using a high temp grease on the shifter as the primary get pretty hot. I coated mine in Teflon grease before I installed it and then pumped a red high temp grease through it. That along with a SS steel shift rod and teflon seal heim (rod end bearings) joints did the trick.

 

it there anything but a high temp grease?

that's all I buy.

Thanks, Mike

 

I put the Pingel shafts on both my Road King and my Ultra early in their lives ('07 and '09, respectively), so never let the original shafts get to the point of noticing a problem. The Pingel products are extremely well made and were worth every penny to me, even buying them new.

Buying used, you did even better!

 

I've had Pingel in the bike for about 40k miles. Shot a grease during fluid changes and it keeps it moving freely.
What I have noticed lately (not related to the Pingel) is it seems the primary case has more slop to it where the shaft goes thru, like it's wearing out (getting larger). It would seem to me that there should be some type of brass sleeve in there so the aluminum case doesn't wear.

 

"Hunter" ... There is a bushing in there and it is replaceable.

 

Yep there is a bushing. Number 15

HD part # 42642-00

 

Damn....the things you learn on here. Thanks Larry!!
Looks like I need to replace that. Anyone know how long that bushing is? Looks too short in the diagram Tinman posted to support the whole shaft.