Shifter Fell Off
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 161
Likes: 1
From: Berkeley, California
I've had the whole shifting thing fall off (front & rear shifter). as well as just the rear. Must be a common H-D problem due to vibration. Was able to catch the front/rear shifter before it was lost and tied it on with a torn t-shirt. With the rear shifter, at least I had the front one. I guess it's part of the experience of owning a Harley.
Banned
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 8,603
Likes: 10
the splines are wasted.....happens on most of our bikes at sometime or another....buy a good aftermarket shifter like EZBrake...there are others too but dont buy a BubbasBrake shifter, i've been thru two....while youre at it, buy one thats longer than stock(they all make em) and give your feet some room
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 222
Likes: 53
From: Lancaster, PA
Happened to me just last night! My 07 EGC has 9K on the clock. I was a bit surprised, my 96 Fatboy had 30K when I sold her and never lost my shifter! Luckily the wife spotted it on her way to work this morning 15 hours later still laying in the middle of the road. It was too dark last night for me to try to find it.
Road Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 882
Likes: 0
From: Milwaukee, WI
At 23K miles I just replaced to stock heal shift arm with an extended one. I had to get my breaker bar to get the bolt off and then use a scew driver to open the gap a bit to get the thing off.
On my 2000 1200C I have used locktite on just about every nut and bolt on it! I got tired of things falling off. LOL
On my 2000 1200C I have used locktite on just about every nut and bolt on it! I got tired of things falling off. LOL
Banned
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 3,492
Likes: 2
Even still I don't think that rod the toe/heel shifter is connected to is not made to take consistent hard jamming shifts and I believe is capable of stripping out easy. In other words if its all the way down in 1st gear and the rider thinks its not and hits it with the force of an expected shift, over time I think it rapidly strips that part of the shaft out.
I bought a used 2001 Ultra with 12000 miles from an old stoner and I was 1000+ miles from home and the toe part hung limply down and I was forced to shift with the heel part until I was able to reconfigure the toe shifter to the inside part of the shaft. While doing so I could see where the toe shifter was on the shaft had, in my opinion, been abused. I still need to replace that shaft. It doesn't strike me as an easy off easy on proposition. Trying to hold off until winter.
I bought a used 2001 Ultra with 12000 miles from an old stoner and I was 1000+ miles from home and the toe part hung limply down and I was forced to shift with the heel part until I was able to reconfigure the toe shifter to the inside part of the shaft. While doing so I could see where the toe shifter was on the shaft had, in my opinion, been abused. I still need to replace that shaft. It doesn't strike me as an easy off easy on proposition. Trying to hold off until winter.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,114
Likes: 67
From: USA
Lost mine riding home from WV this summer on my 2003 Ultra ... after having tightend several times previously. Purchased a new 2007 take-off from someone on ebay. Made sure everything was clean and re-installed with Locktite on both the bolt and shaft spline. So far so good.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider
Verdad Gallardo
The Best and Worst Harley-Davidson Moves of 2025
Verdad Gallardo
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 145
Likes: 0
From: Northern Oklahoma
Almost lost mine on my '09 SG with only 500 miles on it, loctite it, and it still gets loose. Hopefully when I take it to the dealer he will now what is going on, sometimes they are dumber than me!!!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 5,914
Likes: 3,195
From: On one of 10,000
Did U find mine?
I lost the stocker 2 weeks ago. Replaced it from 'Craigslist' for 1/2 of HD price. A week later I noticed the replacement was loose. Took it off, wrapped it in duct tape so it wouldn't get scratched. Squeezed it in the vise to close it up abit (the stock bolt wouldn't). Put it back on, nice and tight now.
Now if I could just keep from losing my antennas... Anyone find that?
Now if I could just keep from losing my antennas... Anyone find that?