Removing Heel Shifter - HELP!
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 87
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From: Jefferson, MD
Removing Heel Shifter - HELP!
Ok, before I go ballistic...
I'm trying to remove the heel shifter lever on my '05 RK Custom...does the screw/bolt that holds it on screw in the correct way - clockwise??? It's not some sort of reverse threaded screw right?
This should have been a simple removal and I've stripped out the screw...a bold remover can't get a grip...a vise grip wrench doesn't work...I've tried extreme heat...nothing...
Thoughts out there??
Thanks!
I'm trying to remove the heel shifter lever on my '05 RK Custom...does the screw/bolt that holds it on screw in the correct way - clockwise??? It's not some sort of reverse threaded screw right?
This should have been a simple removal and I've stripped out the screw...a bold remover can't get a grip...a vise grip wrench doesn't work...I've tried extreme heat...nothing...
Thoughts out there??
Thanks!
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,117
Likes: 4
From: Log home in SE Michigan full time. Log cabin in east TN, Smoky Mountians part time
Righty tighty, lefty loosey......No left hand threads. The bolt has to come out b4 you can remove the shift lever...if you pry on the lever without removing the bolt you will f the splines on the shaft. You really dont want to do that.
You may have to get an air operated cut off wheel or small grinder and cut the shift lever towards the bolt to seperate into two pieces. I would first try to drill a hole in the bolt and use a easy out. Not much room to use a drill there though.
You may have to get an air operated cut off wheel or small grinder and cut the shift lever towards the bolt to seperate into two pieces. I would first try to drill a hole in the bolt and use a easy out. Not much room to use a drill there though.
Last edited by timberland; Feb 14, 2009 at 04:08 PM.
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Joined: Jan 2009
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OUCH!
The shaft is splined to prevent the shift levers from spinning. There is also circular grooves cut in the splined shifter shaft that the retaining bolt fits in to prevent the shift lever from sliding off if the bolt is loose....so there really isn't any way to slide shifter off shaft unless bolt is removed.
Yeah, these things do manage to fall off all by themself but that's another story.
You need to get the bolt out or cut the lever off.
You can either cut the bolthead off or the nut, then tap the bolt out.
You can also cut the actual lever clamping collar off. The clamping collar is the part the bolt slides thru that surrounds the shifter shaft.
It's possible that you might be able to grip the allen head bolthead with vise grips and then loosen the lock nut-then slide bolt up and out.
I'm with you in removing the heel shifter! I hate them!
The shaft is splined to prevent the shift levers from spinning. There is also circular grooves cut in the splined shifter shaft that the retaining bolt fits in to prevent the shift lever from sliding off if the bolt is loose....so there really isn't any way to slide shifter off shaft unless bolt is removed.
Yeah, these things do manage to fall off all by themself but that's another story.
You need to get the bolt out or cut the lever off.
You can either cut the bolthead off or the nut, then tap the bolt out.
You can also cut the actual lever clamping collar off. The clamping collar is the part the bolt slides thru that surrounds the shifter shaft.
It's possible that you might be able to grip the allen head bolthead with vise grips and then loosen the lock nut-then slide bolt up and out.
I'm with you in removing the heel shifter! I hate them!
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 735
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From: australia
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 87
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From: Jefferson, MD
The head is stripped...not the threads...just can't get a grip...
I like my heel shifter...I'm removing it to replace a damaged primary cover.
I like my heel shifter...I'm removing it to replace a damaged primary cover.
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Joined: Jan 2009
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Go ahead and get mean with it. I'll ship you my old one if you destroy yours getting it off...It ain't got 2 miles on it.
