New shift rod question?
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Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,575
Likes: 179
From: N.E. OHIO
New shift rod question?
Put a new shift rod and heim joints on. Bike upshifts beautiful (better) but downshifting seems a little different, maybe. Almost seems a little short or slugish. I know when it's cold out, like it is here yet, will do that. Can't be the rod can it? It could be a 1/4 to 1/2 inch shorter than original. If the rod is that close to original, it would only affect the heel and toe height of shifters, right?
Tourer
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 325
Likes: 0
From: Tennessee
Chuck, I put heim joints on mine as well, but the length was about the same as stock. Mine shifts fine.
If the shift rod is a lot shorter or longer, it will move the front linkage that the rod connects to away from a vertical position. When that happens, it takes more rotation of the shift pegs to get the same travel at the transmission linkage.
It should take more than 1/2" difference in rod length to feel much difference. I agree that what you're feeling is probably not the rod unless there is play in the rod and joints somewhere.
If the shift rod is a lot shorter or longer, it will move the front linkage that the rod connects to away from a vertical position. When that happens, it takes more rotation of the shift pegs to get the same travel at the transmission linkage.
It should take more than 1/2" difference in rod length to feel much difference. I agree that what you're feeling is probably not the rod unless there is play in the rod and joints somewhere.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,034
Likes: 45
From: Michigan
I measured mine off the old one when i changed it out and it does the same thing. Did you get the ebay one?.. Im thinking the joints are stiff and thats what is causing it . It was fine before . Make sure you take your foot all the way off the shifter when down shifting andd that helps.. I figure it will loosen up and work better over time .
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,034
Likes: 45
From: Michigan
Good idea but mine was fine before i changed it out.. I may play with that today since its raining . I did get a wonderful 60 mile ride in yesterday though
.. As I stated earlier i think its the heim joints being new and stiff. Seems like the up shifting isnt quite as noticeable but its still there and when you down shift it really is noticeable.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,034
Likes: 45
From: Michigan
I went out a fooled around with mine today and its for sure the ***** are too tight in the rod ends.. What i did was spray some pb blaster on them and roll them around a bit then i got it to where i could get the hole in the ball so i could see the inside of the joint and i put some anti seize in the groove. Its better but... The damn chrome is comming off one of the rod ends already? I emailed the place on ebay where I bought it .. Unacceptable ...
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,034
Likes: 45
From: Michigan
So i emailed these guys and they replied with the havent had a chrome peeling complaint and he would sent me out another one (rod end I assume) right away ? .
Guess i cant ask for more was just a matter of minutes from the time i emailed and he replied..
So far so good.
.Guess i cant ask for more was just a matter of minutes from the time i emailed and he replied
..So far so good.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,575
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From: N.E. OHIO
I got the rod off e-bay but the heim joints (not ball joints) I bought at my dealer. I didn't think missing the length a bit would make a differance and like I said it upshifts slick. We'll see how it does a few more test drives. I will take a look at the levers to see how vertical they are. To bad the service manual doesn't detail how to set the linkage.
Last edited by Chuck1; Apr 3, 2009 at 04:59 PM.
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,034
Likes: 45
From: Michigan
I got the rod off e-bay but the heim joints (not ball joints) I bought at my dealer. I didn't think missing the length a bit would make a differance and like I said it upshifts slick. We'll see how it does a few more test drives. I will take a look at the levers to see how vertical they are. To bad the service manual doesn't detail how to set the linkage.
Foot under the shifter and foot over the shifter of if you use the rear ...
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,893
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From: USA
It obviously your boots. You need down shifting boots. Or an adjustment of the ones you currently have. Do you know of cobbler in your area. Most have the TSB to do the down shift updates to older model boots!
Just kidding, I don't have a clue why its doing that. Mine works well both ways after adding a shift linkage.
Just kidding, I don't have a clue why its doing that. Mine works well both ways after adding a shift linkage.