2006 Ultra

I have both the toe and heel shifter levers. The heel shifter has no movement that does not also move the shaft. The toe shifter has some movement before it will move the shaft. Just wiggling it by hand I would say there is perhaps 3/16" or 1/4" of movement before it moves the shaft.

Both heel and toe shifters have the same small gap around the shaft (where the allen bolt tightens them). The toe shifter bolt is tight--no more tightening is possible.

When you get around to it, would you wiggle your toe shifter and see if you have the same small wiggle around the shaft?

Thank you.

 

Should not be any slop like that. I suspect the splines on either the shaft or the lever are worn.

 

The spline on either the front lever or the shaft itself can ware out. If memory serves I had to replace the shaft on my 98 road king when I had it. It was not a big deal to do. I think I bought a new lever first but the slop was in the shaft.

 

take the toe shifter off and check out the splines. If you catch it soon enough the shaft may be OK. (the shaft is made of harder material) You can remove the heel shifter and use it for a toe shifter till you get a new one. If the spline on the shaft is bad, replacing the shaft is not a hard job. The longer you shift with it loose the more wear you will put on the shaft.

 

Are you sure you're not misinterpretting some play in the shifter linkage as the slop you're describing? I would think if the shift lever to shaft had that much play in it the slines would need to be almost completely gone and the bolt is the only thing keeping it from spinning all the way around and/or falling off.

 

if splines are worn, swap the heel and toe shifters, if that doesn't give enough grip, you could drill through and use a pin.

but fewer surprises on the road if you replace with new parts.

levers are always showing up used as many riders "upgrade"

mike

 

No drill

 

The poster said that the heel shifter is tight. That rules out loose linkage. While the bolt will keep the shifter from falling off, it will not keep it from turning if the splines get completely worn off.

 

do not drill and pin!!!!!!!!!!

 

I'm not saying that I would do this or that this would be the best option, but why do you say not to do it? If done correctly, I can't see any technical reason not to.