Shift rod replacement.........good deal!
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Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,783
Likes: 10
From: Oh
Shift rod replacement.........good deal!
I always change out the shifter rod on every new bike I buy. Don't like the ball joint on the OEM as it always rust and fails. Came across this shift rod from Demons Cycle for $46.66 with the ball joint rod ends, all in chrome. The quality is very good and well worth the price.
Installation is easy and only takes a few minutes to swap. After removing the original rod I run a 5/16" NF 24 tap through the transmission end lever. Harley uses some type of yellow paint for thread locking and you don't want to take a chance of stripping the threads on that lever. I had some chrome allen button head bolts (1" long on rear / 1 1/4" long on front) and used a nylock nut on the front bolt, with blue locktite on the rear (don't need washers). This lever is just a little longer than stock and after installation I adjusted the front / rear shift lever one notch on the shifter spline to give my original adjustment.
Those that keep their stock rod should consider using WD40 (see pic)a couple times a year to keep that ball lubed and from rusting. The rubber boot over the stock joint cracks and deteriorates over time, allowing water to get in the joint, speeding up the rust process.
What you will find by replacing that rod is a smoother shifting, with a more positive feel to gear changes. The stock ball and socket is much smaller in diameter than the new one and this gives a looser feel to shifting. All in all a good buy and improvement for shifting, while not having to be concerned with shifter rod failure.
http://www.demonscycle.com/Forward-C...-p2770172.html
Installation is easy and only takes a few minutes to swap. After removing the original rod I run a 5/16" NF 24 tap through the transmission end lever. Harley uses some type of yellow paint for thread locking and you don't want to take a chance of stripping the threads on that lever. I had some chrome allen button head bolts (1" long on rear / 1 1/4" long on front) and used a nylock nut on the front bolt, with blue locktite on the rear (don't need washers). This lever is just a little longer than stock and after installation I adjusted the front / rear shift lever one notch on the shifter spline to give my original adjustment.
Those that keep their stock rod should consider using WD40 (see pic)a couple times a year to keep that ball lubed and from rusting. The rubber boot over the stock joint cracks and deteriorates over time, allowing water to get in the joint, speeding up the rust process.
What you will find by replacing that rod is a smoother shifting, with a more positive feel to gear changes. The stock ball and socket is much smaller in diameter than the new one and this gives a looser feel to shifting. All in all a good buy and improvement for shifting, while not having to be concerned with shifter rod failure.
http://www.demonscycle.com/Forward-C...-p2770172.html
Supporter
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,196
Likes: 10
From: Shenandoah, TX
I too have never figured why HD sells a 20,000 + bike with a 2.00 piece of crap shift linkage on them. I also always change mine as soon as I get it home. I made my own linkage rod a long time ago and it has served me well.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 25,295
Likes: 2,429
From: Eastern NE
Looks great Dave & you're correct on hitting HD's shift joints w/some WD...
Never did understand why HD's shift rods were so spendy w/the poor design so time to $pend some more ca$h on better quality/design. Thanks for the info.!
Never did understand why HD's shift rods were so spendy w/the poor design so time to $pend some more ca$h on better quality/design. Thanks for the info.!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 10,675
Likes: 95
From: Billings,Mt.
I made my own.
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 3,948
Likes: 54
From: The Burgh
I'm not into flames, tribal, zombies, skulls, barb wire and stuff like that. How come it's almost impossible to find a simple chrome shifter rod at a decent price?
Oh and decent price is not $50, it's $30.
If someone finds one, let me know. Thx.
Oh and decent price is not $50, it's $30.
If someone finds one, let me know. Thx.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 28,514
Likes: 3,951
From: Vermont
You can get a chrome rod cheap and get chrome heim joints and make your own. Or you can keep the stock rod and put on chrome heim joints after polishing up the rod.
