Thanks for this. I need to do this to mine

 

I wish that I had known about this mod back in 04,
I could have saved 80 bucks + tax on a new SS
shifter rod. Then in 07 I could have saved another
80 bucks + tax on another SS shifter rod for my
Road king.

 

Too easy, thanks for posting, looks like I know what I am doing next rainy day

 

I did this mod to my Road Glide about 6 months ago...The rod end bearings came from Summit and my process was the same except I could not shorten the total overall length enough. I had to take a 5/16 x 24 die and thread the rod further down it's length, but you are correct in that the shifting is much more crisp.

 

Looks like you need some more locktite on the bolts. LMAO

 

Just performed this yesterday after bookmarking it a few days ago, ironically. Meant to tackle this just as an ounce of preventative measure, but on my way home from work yesterday afternoon my front-most shift linkage end failed (thankfully in 2nd gear lol).

Got this tackled for under $25 (CANADIAN FUNDS!! Princess Auto to the rescue) and also found all the necessary hardware to also relocate, extend and upgrade my air shock plumbing to a more convenient fill/measure location.

It might be worth pointing out, however obvious it may seem to some (ok, fine, MOST ) people that the Heim ends are significantly longer in length than the factory ends, and you will definitely have to relocate the set nut on the rods, and possibly adjust their heel-toe shift pegs on the spline shaft to retain the original setting locations.

 

OP: Now you can get rid of that ugly cap on the end of that splined shifter shaft.
Just mark the shaft where the cap meets the shift lever and cut that baby off with a hack saw or cut-off wheel.
Polish the end with a a file and a couple of fine grades of sandpaper and you're good to go. Maybe 1/2 to 1 hr. tops.
Now you have more foot room and if someone asks you can say you customized it yourself.

Note: That shaft sells for around $15 so replacing it is really cheep-cheep.

 

Dang, I would have at least run the garden hose over the bike before taking the pics.
I did the Heim joint replacement several years ago after the original link broke on me while on the road. Duct tape got me home.
You're moving along ok. Shift shaft customized, now the shift linkage, next thing will be an engine job.

 

put the locknuts on the shift rod all the way, then thread the heim joints on. you'll probably have to take the toe shifter lever off and relocate it a spline or two to st it where you want in relation to your boot/toe. adjust the heim joint to get that fine tuning adjustment of your shift pedal. no need to cut and thread anything.....

i put a spacer on the inside of the shaft, moving the lever/shift pedal outward about 3/4''. don't feel quite so 'pigeon toed' when shifting.

been there, done that. then traded in the bike and have a completely different one now

 

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