Shift Linkage broke today going to work
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 10,602
Likes: 721
From: Bellevue, NE
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,878
Likes: 17
From: The Desert SouthWest
As for me I had the stock links fail on me twice within a year. Not sure why this is so common but it appears to be so. Obviously I switched to Heim.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,615
Likes: 50
From: Baton Rouge, LA
Honestbob, I would be very concerned about yours. I did some reseach on this condition and most quoted 15 - 20k miles when the ball comes out of the socket. One interesting entry called the Harley a piggy bank for the MOCO. They always keep you coming back for more stuff.
When I bought my '07 one of the first things I replaced were these lame joints with heims, and I had a nice-looking SS rod a friend gave me. I wasn't going to bet when those new stock ones would break, so better just replacing them.
FWIW, you guys don't need to spend $150 or more on the high-$$ HD linkage just to get a decent-looking rod with two heims. There are quite a few on Ebay for $50-60, or just buy two heims (5/16" x 24 female) and put them on your stock rod or a no-frills chrome rod.
Last edited by iclick; Feb 7, 2009 at 06:54 PM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,621
Likes: 1
From: Matthews, NC
I changed mine to an HD Bar and Shield heim joint shifter. I carry the POS stock shifter in my saddlebag in case some one's POS OEM shifter breaks during a ride.
Last edited by russl179; Feb 7, 2009 at 07:10 PM.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,615
Likes: 50
From: Baton Rouge, LA
Great idea! I have several OEM POS joints lying around and I'm going to take one and put it in the tool kit right now.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,752
Likes: 0
From: Indianapolis, IN
Well, you guys talked me in to buying a new one with heim joints as soon as possible. Thanks for the heads up!
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Road Master
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 983
Likes: 4
From: Indiana
Never a problem here but!
I have been thinking of converting to a heim joint shift linkage and while searching for a supplier of stainless steel ones I came across a company that makes both heim and ball joint type rod ends. I am going to look at the stock setup and see how it is made and do some failure analysis to see what may be going wrong.
http://www.midwestcontrol.com
Attached is a pic of their stainless ball joint.
http://www.midwestcontrol.com
Attached is a pic of their stainless ball joint.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,867
Likes: 268
From: People's Republic of Boulder Colorado
I have been thinking of converting to a heim joint shift linkage and while searching for a supplier of stainless steel ones I came across a company that makes both heim and ball joint type rod ends. I am going to look at the stock setup and see how it is made and do some failure analysis to see what may be going wrong.
http://www.midwestcontrol.com
Attached is a pic of their stainless ball joint.
http://www.midwestcontrol.com
Attached is a pic of their stainless ball joint.
Keep us posted.
John