Heel Toe shifter question
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,955
Likes: 7
From: The Great Northwest
If I were you and wanted to keep my heel shifter, I'd take off both shifters and start from scratch by reinstalling them after closely examining both of them and the spline. Id use some Blue Locktite and tighten to spec.
If I we're me, and I am, I'd get the Kury heel shifter eliminator, which I did, and go to a Toe shift only. Many will argue about the attributes of the heel shifter. I even gave it a few hundred miles of tryout on the new 09 before I realized that this old dog dont like new tricks.
Heres the deal. The Harley eliminator just caps off the remaining end spline and leaves the Toe shifter in the same inboard position as stock. The Kury eliminator goes behind the toe shifter and moves the toe shifter to the far outboard position. This works particularly well for anyone with one inch floorboard extensions (Yeah SOOS) as it brings everything back into perspective.
The bonus is that both shifters are exactly the same so you can then keep your old heel shifter as a spare in your toolkit for when your buddies shifter falls off because he or she didnt tightn to spec and use the Blue Locktite.
Heres the Kury spacer in the pic. Please no crap about washing my bike. You need to remember that Washington State Harleys have always been water-cooled.
If I we're me, and I am, I'd get the Kury heel shifter eliminator, which I did, and go to a Toe shift only. Many will argue about the attributes of the heel shifter. I even gave it a few hundred miles of tryout on the new 09 before I realized that this old dog dont like new tricks.
Heres the deal. The Harley eliminator just caps off the remaining end spline and leaves the Toe shifter in the same inboard position as stock. The Kury eliminator goes behind the toe shifter and moves the toe shifter to the far outboard position. This works particularly well for anyone with one inch floorboard extensions (Yeah SOOS) as it brings everything back into perspective.
The bonus is that both shifters are exactly the same so you can then keep your old heel shifter as a spare in your toolkit for when your buddies shifter falls off because he or she didnt tightn to spec and use the Blue Locktite.
Heres the Kury spacer in the pic. Please no crap about washing my bike. You need to remember that Washington State Harleys have always been water-cooled.
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 405
Likes: 0
From: Northern CA
I lost my shifter twice...I finally fixed it by:
1. Cleaned all the spline areas with carb cleaner
2. Put some blue loctite on the splines and the bolt
3. Cranked down on that bolt 'til I thought the allen wrench was going to break...nothing broke
Problem solved, never came loose again. And yes, it came apart ok later when I took it off to adjust the angle...
1. Cleaned all the spline areas with carb cleaner
2. Put some blue loctite on the splines and the bolt
3. Cranked down on that bolt 'til I thought the allen wrench was going to break...nothing broke
Problem solved, never came loose again. And yes, it came apart ok later when I took it off to adjust the angle...
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,925
Likes: 5
From:
If I we're me, and I am, I'd get the Kury heel shifter eliminator, which I did, and go to a Toe shift only. Many will argue about the attributes of the heel shifter. I even gave it a few hundred miles of tryout on the new 09 before I realized that this old dog dont like new tricks.
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 702
Likes: 1
From: U.S.S.A.
Virtues of the heel-toe shifter?! The things are pure evil. I had to use mine when I brought my '08 Ultra home because the bone-heads who prepped the bike at the dealer had the toe shifter set so low that I couldn't get my boot under it. What a PITA that was -- every shift you have to lift your entire leg rather than just keeping the weight on your heels and raising your foot. Then I go to put my foot down at a stop and my jeans get caught on the heel shifter peg and the new bike nearly goes down.
The first -- and I mean the very first -- thing I did when I got home was head for the toolbox and rip that blasted thing off.
The first -- and I mean the very first -- thing I did when I got home was head for the toolbox and rip that blasted thing off.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,661
Likes: 2
From: Monroe, Louisiana
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 9,206
Likes: 372
From: Central Illinois, Between I-80 and I-74
I was told it was supposed to be loose, it wouldn't come off because the bolt fits in a groove etc.
I just about made it home ahead of a storm and after I turned the last corner down the road from my house I found out it was missing. I turned around and went back to find it. Of course the rain started and it was coming down in buckets. I found it and the bolt was still in it.
When I got to the garage I looked closely at the shaft and splines. I could tell that the splines inside the shifter had some wear from being loose.
Yes the shaft has a groove, and if the shifter was designed (or made) properly the bolt would keep it from coming off.
I was able to slide mine on and off without removing the bolt. I cleaned up the splines and the clamping space. I cut a sleeve for the bolt and now it fits in the groove. I also used loctite (on the splines and bolt) and tightened it to spec. There should be no movement between the shaft and the lever.
I just about made it home ahead of a storm and after I turned the last corner down the road from my house I found out it was missing. I turned around and went back to find it. Of course the rain started and it was coming down in buckets. I found it and the bolt was still in it.
When I got to the garage I looked closely at the shaft and splines. I could tell that the splines inside the shifter had some wear from being loose.
Yes the shaft has a groove, and if the shifter was designed (or made) properly the bolt would keep it from coming off.
I was able to slide mine on and off without removing the bolt. I cleaned up the splines and the clamping space. I cut a sleeve for the bolt and now it fits in the groove. I also used loctite (on the splines and bolt) and tightened it to spec. There should be no movement between the shaft and the lever.
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,955
Likes: 7
From: The Great Northwest
To be honest Rodeo, I'm not familiar with what a Heim Joint is. I've heard about it on here before but never thought I had any reason to look into it.