Shift Linkage Issue
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Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 238
Likes: 1
From: Cedar Park, TX
Shift Linkage Issue
Heading home from Bandera TX and the front of the shift linkage broke. I called the dealer and the part is not expensive but how much of a pain is it to swap out? Just to be clear this is the part of the linkage that attaches to the heel/toe shifter. It looks fairly straight forward. Are there any hidden gottcha's? I need to buy the Harley manual, the Klymers suck. Thanks.
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 365
Likes: 1
From: Phoenix, Az.
Its not difficult at all, just a pain having to deal with planned obsalesence. You can buy just the ball and cup end piece at Mcmaster-Carr.com. I just bought the thing from the steeler for about 23.00.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,754
Likes: 4
From: GA
Ever since I was sitting on the side of I-80 on the IA/IL border in 30 degree weather trying to figure out how to attach my linkage to get me home (I used a zip tie), that is the first thing to be replaced on any bike I buy.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 5,404
Likes: 2,605
From: NC USA
I always carry o-rings for a side of the road fix..... wrap it around like a rubber band, hooking the rod end and latch it over the threads of the bolt. Better than sitting somewhere and looking lost 
I keep 2... one for someone else and one for me in case I have an uh-oh
I keep 2... one for someone else and one for me in case I have an uh-oh
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 792
Likes: 0
From: Niagara Falls, NY
I always hated the ball and socket setup, I found zinc plated heim joints on ebay for around $11 shipped for 2. What is cool is it looks like oe with the oe shift rod. Not too flashy, just right. Very tight, no slop.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,900
Likes: 4
From: way down upon the Suwannee River
After reading all the post on the linkage problems I bought a set and put in my saddle bag 22,000 mi. and no problems so far. Figure I'll see how far they go.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 28,524
Likes: 3,953
From: Vermont
Did you buy the $24 deal from the dealer yet? Don't if you didn't already. Just buy the heim joint ends and swap out the ends on your stock rod. If you want to spend your money, heck I'll ship you my stock rod with chrome heim joint ends already on it for $15!
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Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 10,033
Likes: 29
Yep, they sometimes fall apart. I bought a take off linkage at a swapmeet for 2 bucks, took off the ends and put them in my tool bag. With that said, my original ones have 73k miles on them and haven't failed, yet. I figure as long as I carry spares, they won't...LOL.