I was riding home from my office yesterday on my 2005 Road King (about a 30 mile trip) when the gear shift linkage disconnected from my gear shifter. When it happened, I was in 5th gear on I-10 and about ten miles from home. Not knowing exactly what happend other than I could not down shift, I took some back roads home in order to eliminate stops. I popped the linkage back on when Igot home--- it seemed to stay on OK with a little bit of "play".

I have been riding Harleys for about five years now, and I am not one to study every square inch of the bike --- until I have a problem. Do the stock gear shift linkages wear out? My bike has 30,000 miles on it, and I have noticed that the HD web site makesa point of describing their linkages as "Featuring aircraft quality rod ends".

In the total scheme of things, this was not a major problem, but it was unexpected.

 

Do a quick search on "heim joints" and you will come up with about a million posts with suggestions on how to improve HD's "Aircraft Quality" linkage.
At the very least, you probably want to replace those rod ends.

 

As stated, replace with heim joints. I did, put on a set of chrome heims and kept the OE linkages in my tourpak for folks like you that I may meet on the road in need of one. Or you can replace the linkage with a more expensive one from HD that comes with the heims.

 

This was one of my upgrade changes I did within the first year. Changed the ball socket joints to heim joint ends.I found aHD flame linkage with heim joints on eBay for a lot less than the dealers price. Think of it more as preventative maintenance. Those ball joints just don't last.

 

Your lucky not to be out on a long haul someplace. Its common and as mentioned heim joints replaced on the shift rod ends are the only solution. Be sure to carry some tie wraps or bailing wire to hold if it pops out again while on the road so you can at least limp home.

I've not only done the heim joints, but also have added a grease fitting into the engine casting to lubricate the other rod from the shifter.

https://www.hdforums.com/m_3273426/tm.htm

All works great now.

 

Thanks to all --- great advice less than an hour after I posted the note.

This minor incident does make me wonder about other basic stock parts that may wear out on me. I have been slow to upgrade any components on my two Harleys after having a bad experience with installing 2k worth of upgrades on my first Harley (Sportster 1200 XLH) in 2003 before that bike rolled off the floor. From that point, I have decided to upgrade only after I am convinced that I have a solid bike and be very selective about any upgrade. I plan to do a Stage I upgrade on the Road King in about six months after completing considerable review on air cleaners and exhausts.

 

wow, must have really been a bad experience if you're gonna do 6 months worth of research on a stage I before you do it..... i'd like to hear the story.

 

Yeah, those things are junk, I dont even bother with them anymore.

 

Let me add this to the question: I replaced my ends with the heim ends, problem is that the whole rod/ends vibrates and makes noise. Almost like the heim ends are too loose.

Any recommendations? I've been putting a rubber band around one end to help the end not vibrate as much. This small problem drives me NUTS - like, okay, what's that new sound. Look down and rubber band fell off.

Going to do the RAM recommenation, maybe the shifter shaft is contributing to the noise.

 

LOL! You obviously didn't get the memo on the standard HD tool kit! LOL
It includes a spare linkage, duct tape and rubber bands. It happens very frequently until you replace it with a sturdier unit with heim joints. I still carry my stocker in the bag just in case a friend's bike statrs shedding parts. Heel shifters are a close second, best advise there is to watch it tumble into the ditch and don't look back.

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