Broken shifter return spring question.
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Cruiser
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Broken shifter return spring question.
Yesterday I broke the spring in the tranny that returns the shifter to it's center position. About 10 miles into a 60 mile trip, I noticed the shifter wouldn't reset to center when shifting into a higher gear, it was okay when shifting to slow down. I looked in my service manual and took the top cover off and found a broken chunk of spring just laying close to where it was supposed to be. The chunk was about an inch and a half long. Thankfully it didn't fall into the gear set or otherwise it could have been really bad. I bought the spring for $1.75 and asked the service guys at the local HD shop and they told me the job is a serious pain in the A$$. My question is for any of you that may have had a similar issue, since I'm going to be this far into it and might as well address bearings and gaskets and any other issues, should I jump ahead and get the 6-speed kit I've been considering. It is just a gear set to install and supposedly helps out with "some" spline shaft issue and allows me to go to the new style of starter and away from the Hitachi style. It's made by Rivera Engineering in California, but there is a local dealer. My guess is price for the gear set is around $800. The bike is an '88 FLHS. Thanks
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RE: Broken shifter return spring question.
Are you talking about the spring that goes into the right support block that's on the shifter cam? If so, it's labor, but if you have decent tools and time you can do it yourself. If apart, I would at least replace the roller bearings on both sides of the cam. $800.00 for a sixer sounds pretty cheap. What are the final drive ratio's on it?
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Cruiser
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RE: Broken shifter return spring question.
Yeah, its the bigger of the 2 springs, not the one for the shifter pawl, but the one for the centering plate. Someone told me about some special tool that you need to remove a bearing race. He said the tool was $200.
On the price, I think I combined 2 different projects I'm working on. I now remember the guys at Rivera Engineering telling me to contact my local dealer. They said the dealer could get me a better price. Seems to me the ratio was at .84, but my memory ain't what it once was. I'm still waffling on what to do. It sucks so bad that the spring costs $1.75, but involves so much labor to replace.
On the price, I think I combined 2 different projects I'm working on. I now remember the guys at Rivera Engineering telling me to contact my local dealer. They said the dealer could get me a better price. Seems to me the ratio was at .84, but my memory ain't what it once was. I'm still waffling on what to do. It sucks so bad that the spring costs $1.75, but involves so much labor to replace.
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RE: Broken shifter return spring question.
If I am with you, the mainshaft bearing race remover is what your buddy told you about, but you can make one up very easily. It's only a horshoe end on two shafts mounted to a threaded female head that allows a threaded rod to go through it. I will take a picture at work and post it it the morning. But if it's the spring I think it is you don't have to go that far.
Do you still have the cover off, and if so can you post a picture so that I can see if we are on the same page. I don't want to lead you in the wrong direction.
Do you still have the cover off, and if so can you post a picture so that I can see if we are on the same page. I don't want to lead you in the wrong direction.
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RE: Broken shifter return spring question.
ORIGINAL: travisd
Yeah, its the bigger of the 2 springs, not the one for the shifter pawl, but the one for the centering plate.
Yeah, its the bigger of the 2 springs, not the one for the shifter pawl, but the one for the centering plate.
Centering plate? Shifter forks or shifter cam assembly? Pics would help
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Cruiser
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RE: Broken shifter return spring question.
I'm at work right now, but tomorrow I'll post some pics. I really appreciate the info. I've got a fair amount of mech. ability and wouldn't mind tackling this myself. I always feel better about driving something I've spent some time on myself. The spring is the one that returns the shifter pedal to center, it's not the top one, but the lower one. Thanks again.
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RE: Broken shifter return spring question.
Here is a pic that is very similar to what I'm looking at. The spring that broke is the big one.
[IMG]local://upfiles/2211/505F4DCCAD29440D99C937C2F059B7D7.gif[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/2211/505F4DCCAD29440D99C937C2F059B7D7.gif[/IMG]
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Seasoned HDF Member
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RE: Broken shifter return spring question.
That's what I thought. Can't you get in and remove the pivot screw and replace spring without doing a complete rip down. I think you can. Even if you have to do a complete ripdown it's all pretty easy work, if you have some decent tools and time. Get a manual, and go step by step. You can do it.
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Cruiser
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RE: Broken shifter return spring question.
I can't replace the spring without removing the shifter arm and the shifter arm won't slide out because for one it hits a gear so that means I have to slide the gear set out aways and also mine has a retainer ring on the shaft on the outside of the tranny case. I can't get to the retainer ring because of the proximity of the inner primary cover. I talked to the previous owner and a local HD shop and they both said that I'm going the right direction. I've taken the tranny side and top cover off, the cam gear set, exhaust, saddlebags, side covers, seat, outer primary cover, all 4 floor boards, starter, starter solenoid, spring plate, and friction plates among other things. I stalled out on the clutch hub. It's seems to be stuck on the shaft. I'm gonna get my hands on a puller. Take off the inner primary cover, slide the gear set out a couple inches, remove the shifter arm, replace the spring and go backwards from there. I've been taking pics, but left the camera at home.
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From: (Toronto) Canada
RE: Broken shifter return spring question.
Be very careful pulling the clutch hub off. I had trouble with mine, and my dealers wrench said pull the circular clip and it will come right out. I did, out easy as pie! man, was I happy, untill I found out that HD won't sell the retainer, you have to buy the whole pack. I searched and searched before I found one. Try moving it around while gently pulling, and eventually it will pop out. It's cast aluminum, a puller will break it.
See attached Pic.
[IMG]local://upfiles/313/A19511B4D59F405C9E9B63C39802C965.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/313/2BB3056D25364DF09071E713674ADF53.jpg[/IMG]
See attached Pic.
[IMG]local://upfiles/313/A19511B4D59F405C9E9B63C39802C965.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/313/2BB3056D25364DF09071E713674ADF53.jpg[/IMG]