6th gear disappeared!
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 119
Likes: 76
From: Toledo Ohio
6th gear disappeared!
Poof! Just like that.
2019 Road King. 15,600 miles, bought new at the end of April '19. Been running just fine. This weekend I shifted into 6th and I felt a grinding sensation on my foot. Not subtle either. But the rest of the 200-mile trip it ran just fine. Today I got on the freeway, and when I shifted into 6th gear the engine revved up and the bike just started coasting. In 6th gear, there is absolutely NO power getting to the rear wheel. In 1st through 5th, it runs fine, sounds fine, pulls like it always has. But in 6th...nothing.
Obviously, it's still under warranty and I'll be taking it in this Saturday.
But in the meantime, just for kicks, diagnose my problem.
2019 Road King. 15,600 miles, bought new at the end of April '19. Been running just fine. This weekend I shifted into 6th and I felt a grinding sensation on my foot. Not subtle either. But the rest of the 200-mile trip it ran just fine. Today I got on the freeway, and when I shifted into 6th gear the engine revved up and the bike just started coasting. In 6th gear, there is absolutely NO power getting to the rear wheel. In 1st through 5th, it runs fine, sounds fine, pulls like it always has. But in 6th...nothing.
Obviously, it's still under warranty and I'll be taking it in this Saturday.
But in the meantime, just for kicks, diagnose my problem.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 2,143
Likes: 576
From: memphis
I'll take a stab at it. id say your 6th gear is gone
j/k...im wondering what it could be as tranny work is not too common on these bikes.
j/k...im wondering what it could be as tranny work is not too common on these bikes.
Last edited by memphisharley; Dec 18, 2019 at 08:56 PM.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 4,456
Likes: 2,858
From: Oklahoma
Nothing is free, YOU need to take some responsibility for trouble shooting. Are all external parts of the shifting mechanism properly attached and tight? Both front levers tight on he shaft, the front arm tight on the shaft. Both ball joints on the shift rod in reasonably good shape, and the REAR ARM TIGHT? The rear arm seems to be most prone to loosening and stripping of any of the other parts. Between 20 and 25 thousand miles is when shift rod ball joint failure starts to show up. Converting to Heim joints BEFORE the ball joints fail is a great improvement If all of that stuff is correct and tight, it is internal in the transmission, the shift pawl or 6th gear itself. Be happy you are still under warranty.
Last edited by btsom; Dec 18, 2019 at 09:13 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 32,934
Likes: 36,031
From: Carlsbad, CA
I’m gonna take a wild assed guess...sumpin wong. Take it to the dealer. You’re not a gear stomper are you?
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Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 119
Likes: 76
From: Toledo Ohio
Nothing is free, YOU need to take some responsibility for trouble shooting. Are all external parts of the shifting mechanism properly attached and tight? Both front levers tight on he shaft, the front arm tight on the shaft. Both ball joints on the shift rod in reasonably good shape, and the REAR ARM TIGHT? The rear arm seems to be most prone to loosening and stripping of any of the other parts. Between 20 and 25 thousand miles is when shift rod ball joint failure starts to show up. Converting to Heim joints BEFORE the ball joints fail is a great improvement If all of that stuff is correct and tight, it is internal in the transmission, the shift pawl or 6th gear itself. Be happy you are still under warranty.
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HDF Community Team
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 6,189
Likes: 2,419
From: USA
Looking at the fische, it sorta looks like 6th sits on its own needle bearing set, which may be gone now. Possibly the dog isn't sliding over enough either, but that's less likely since you don't say anything bad about shifting into 5th, which is the other side of that dog and fork. Also interesting, there's no separate part number for 6th gear in the fische.
In any case, I suspect you're going to get your transmission replaced. Perhaps they'll do an internal change-out, but I'd suspect a complete unit swap is more likely.
In any case, I suspect you're going to get your transmission replaced. Perhaps they'll do an internal change-out, but I'd suspect a complete unit swap is more likely.
Looking at the fische, it sorta looks like 6th sits on its own needle bearing set, which may be gone now. Possibly the dog isn't sliding over enough either, but that's less likely since you don't say anything bad about shifting into 5th, which is the other side of that dog and fork. Also interesting, there's no separate part number for 6th gear in the fische.
In any case, I suspect you're going to get your transmission replaced. Perhaps they'll do an internal change-out, but I'd suspect a complete unit swap is more likely.
In any case, I suspect you're going to get your transmission replaced. Perhaps they'll do an internal change-out, but I'd suspect a complete unit swap is more likely.
I would have to agree this, or possibly the dog side of 6th may have sheered off, causing loss of 6th. I would be interested to know what you find.