Touring Models Road King, Road King Custom, Road King Classic, Road Glide, Street Glide, Electra Glide, Electra Glide Classic, and Electra Glide Ultra Classic bikes.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Anyone Having This Problem w/ Shifter?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Nov 13, 2007 | 04:49 PM
  #11  
lp's Avatar
lp
Seasoned HDF Member
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 11,476
Likes: 3,003
From: Charleston, SC
Default RE: Anyone Having This Problem w/ Shifter?

Usually happens after washing the bike a bunch of times. Clean out the old grease in the shifter arm thing... thats the problem.

lp
 
Reply
Old Nov 13, 2007 | 04:54 PM
  #12  
bobros's Avatar
bobros
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,443
Likes: 3
From: Behind you
Default RE: Anyone Having This Problem w/ Shifter?

Had same problem on an '06. Told the tech while it was being services. He know exactly what was wrong and fixed it under warrenty. I forget what he told me the problem was but it was a common repair.
 
Reply
Old Nov 13, 2007 | 07:43 PM
  #13  
DB10881's Avatar
DB10881
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 190
Likes: 0
From:
Default RE: Anyone Having This Problem w/ Shifter?

I have the same problem with my '03, but only after it has set a few days...sounds like i need to do a little dismantle and grease job.. that or ride it more often.
 
Reply
Old Nov 13, 2007 | 08:11 PM
  #14  
Woodchuck's Avatar
Woodchuck
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 832
Likes: 6
From: Vermont
Default RE: Anyone Having This Problem w/ Shifter?

ORIGINAL: dawg

Best thing to do is go out and get a 45 degree grease zerk. Take that zerk and replace the one in your steering neck so that you can gain easy access to grease the bearings at 10,000 mile intervals. Then with the zerk that you took out of the neck, drill and tap a hole in the shifter sleeve on the primary and install it there like the old EVO used to have. Then every once in awhile put a shot of grease in it and see how smooth your shift works. I have done that to the 04 and the 08.
I noticed that the zerk that was on my EVO shift shaft sleeve was "missing" on the '07. I didn't think much about it until reading these threads. I don't have any problem with a sticky shifter linkage but I think I'll install your mod so I can do a bit of preventive maintenance.
 
Reply
Old Nov 14, 2007 | 05:08 PM
  #15  
rome304's Avatar
rome304
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,406
Likes: 1
From: long beach california
Default RE: Anyone Having This Problem w/ Shifter?

try search section has a lot of good info on this subject.

 
Reply
Old Nov 19, 2007 | 01:31 PM
  #16  
ClutchCargopa's Avatar
ClutchCargopa
Cruiser
15 Year Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 212
Likes: 5
From: South Central, Pa
Default RE: Anyone Having This Problem w/ Shifter?

Looked into this issue this weekend and found several things. As mentioned the shaft that the shifter pivots on is in my opinion a poor design as others have also suggested. Having a touring bike I do get caught in the rain as well as washing my bike every other week or so, I noticed a build up of oxidation on the shaft. I also notice the possibility of capillary seepage of water under this shaft to cause this oxidation. Since the removal of the zerk valve it is either a necessity to install a zerk or periodically grease the shaft andcheck for this oxidation.

Having removed the shaft I cleaned the oxidation withscotch brite and reinstalled with anti sieze lub to allow for better shifting. The issue that I was having with sticky shifting has gone as a bad memory. Shifting is much smoother and more definate. I no longer have to assume I have shifted to the next gear. It is now literal as it was when the bike was new.

This winter I will take the time to install a zerk valve so I can grease this shaft during my maintenance schedule as I have added much to this outside the factory recommendations.
 
Reply
Old Nov 19, 2007 | 05:16 PM
  #17  
Rollon's Avatar
Rollon
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,121
Likes: 13
From: NWFL
Default RE: Anyone Having This Problem w/ Shifter?

Mine was doing similar thing, i had the clutch adjusted and it works smoothly now.
 
Reply
Old Nov 19, 2007 | 05:23 PM
  #18  
dirtdobber's Avatar
dirtdobber
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 4,749
Likes: 16
From: sand mountain Alabama
Default RE: Anyone Having This Problem w/ Shifter?

I changed mine out for the kuryakyn chrome linkage with sealed grease fittingson each end. It has bearings. It shifts better and very smoothe. Since it is sealed wather cannot get in and looks much better.Only $39.95

http://www.kuryakyn.com/products.asp...ey&ci=2458

jim
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Nov 19, 2007 | 06:27 PM
  #19  
hogbag07's Avatar
hogbag07
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 735
Likes: 0
From: australia
Default RE: Anyone Having This Problem w/ Shifter?

Hi all
Thanks dawg a great idea with that right angle stearing head grease nipple.I just took the standard one out and it is dry This bike has had 3 services and a dry grease nipple ??? Thanks for the tip
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
cwsharp
Touring Models
69
Aug 22, 2022 11:54 PM
INJEKTER
Touring Models
12
Sep 12, 2015 06:33 PM
128auto
General Harley Davidson Chat
6
May 7, 2013 09:32 PM
namato1
Sportster Models
14
Jul 28, 2011 07:58 AM
Lawdawg
Touring Models
24
Jul 29, 2005 05:27 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:17 PM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE