Shift Linkage Broke
lead Foot!
just kidding - I have broken a few, although never on a Harley.
just kidding - I have broken a few, although never on a Harley.
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Road Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 959
Likes: 1
From: Westerville, OH
Me and a buddy were coming back from Ocean City, MD to Cleveland, OH. We were about 200 miles from home, about to get on the PA turn pike and I looked down to downshift and my heel/toe shifter was gone along with the shifter spline 
! Once we realized that everything was closed (2 pm on a Sunday) we devised a plan that I would use the shifter rod like a suicide shifter to get home.
You should have seen the look on the tollway attendants face when I pulled up to pay the toll
.
Been there done that...
! Once we realized that everything was closed (2 pm on a Sunday) we devised a plan that I would use the shifter rod like a suicide shifter to get home. You should have seen the look on the tollway attendants face when I pulled up to pay the toll
.Been there done that...
Thread Starter
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,067
Likes: 60
From: Chesterfield, VA
Before I read this, just picked one up from the HD dealer down the street. Same price. They tried to get me to buy the one with the heim joints for 149 bucks .. yeah sure. I'll keep my bundgy cord in the saddle bag thanks.
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 770
Likes: 3
From: Maryland
@SG Mike - I had a similar issue on the way home from work the other day. Cruising on the highway and tried to downshift to slow for traffic to find no levers. Suicide shifting it allowed me to limp home, and I got a few looks as I kept grabbing at my crotch as I accelerated from a traffic light.
6th Gear
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Plain City Ohio
Happened to 500 miles from home. Was able to get it to the hotel and a quick trip to the local HD store and 10 mins later I was good to go. One strange feeling going to shift and nothing there.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 2,062
Likes: 4
From: Boca Raton, FL
my buddy's sister in law broke two of them (stock ones) off her 09 SG in less then 10000 miles - so once I got my SG the first advice was to pick out one of those fancy shift linkages that I liked and get it swapped out quickly.
I now have the blk FLHX one on order from Zanotti
I now have the blk FLHX one on order from Zanotti
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,999
Likes: 55
From: Bay Area
I think the reason the oem ones fail is they have a plastic bushing in the heim joint, aftermarket ones are all metal.
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Tourer
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 447
Likes: 2
From: Sooner Central
Replaced the POS OEM shift linkage with the $50 Landmark round chrome linkage w/heim joints - http://www.landmarkmfg.com/Linkage_Round.html - looks good and has been trouble-free for years.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 20,616
Likes: 4,440
From: anacoco, la
There's a cheap and easy upgrade for the shifter linkage.
It takes 2 heim joints 5/16-24 (female, right hand), 2 5/16-24 x 1 in hex head cap screws, and 1 5/16-24 nut. The cap screw will thread into the lever on the transmission. but on the foot shift lever, you need a nut. I have the cap screw facing towards the motor, and a chrome acorn nut facing out. (Use blue loctite.) You reuse the original shifter rod, and you can pick everything else you need at the hardware store for about 10 bucks.
It takes 2 heim joints 5/16-24 (female, right hand), 2 5/16-24 x 1 in hex head cap screws, and 1 5/16-24 nut. The cap screw will thread into the lever on the transmission. but on the foot shift lever, you need a nut. I have the cap screw facing towards the motor, and a chrome acorn nut facing out. (Use blue loctite.) You reuse the original shifter rod, and you can pick everything else you need at the hardware store for about 10 bucks.
Last edited by skratch; Jul 12, 2011 at 02:16 PM.