3 touring bikes, all had shift linkage issues.
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 364
Likes: 8
From: Newberry SC
http://www.mcmaster.com/#4483t231/=stgwba
If you're buying from McMaster-Carr, then get some O-rings while you're at it.
http://www.mcmaster.com/#9452k57/=stgxgg
Hope this helps,
'fooz
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 126
Likes: 0
From: Sugar Land, Tx
If it broke during what I consider normal use, yes. Would you complain if the clutch peddle in your car broke in under a year because you were 'stomping on it'? I expect a component designed to be operated by my foot to be designed to withstand any strain placed on it during normal use.
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 983
Likes: 4
From: Indiana
If it broke during what I consider normal use, yes. Would you complain if the clutch peddle in your car broke in under a year because you were 'stomping on it'? I expect a component designed to be operated by my foot to be designed to withstand any strain placed on it during normal use.
This is not the case with the shift linkage on our bikes.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 2,059
Likes: 4
From: Florida
I donlt think the heel shifter is the problem, it's the rider and the stock position of the lever. I don't shift any harder with my heel than with my toe and while I check the pinch bolt, I've never had any issues on any of my FL's. I put the heel shifter as close to the board as I can and still have the tranny fully engage. If left in the stock position, I will put too much pressure on it because it's so high.
Not doing time trials at every stop light helps too!
Not doing time trials at every stop light helps too!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 20,616
Likes: 4,440
From: anacoco, la
If it broke during what I consider normal use, yes. Would you complain if the clutch peddle in your car broke in under a year because you were 'stomping on it'? I expect a component designed to be operated by my foot to be designed to withstand any strain placed on it during normal use.
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 71
Likes: 1
From: virginia
Under 10K miles and it comes apart on I40 (at highway speed) in the TN Mountains
I just turned 10K on my '14 FLHTK and the linkage came apart and was dangling in the air. My ankle was the only thing that was keeping the shifter mech from falling of and bouncing along the road.
I could not fix it with the tool that comes with the limited and got towed to Smokey Mountain HD in Pigeon Forge, TN. They fixed it in less then 30 min from the moment it was off the tow truck.
From the research I have done.... why has this not become a recall? It appears that MANY have suffered from this problem and it could be a safety issue. Lots of folks are performing their own engineering to fix a problem that appears to be a design flaw.
BTW, I do not stomp on my heel shifter as a regular practice.
I could not fix it with the tool that comes with the limited and got towed to Smokey Mountain HD in Pigeon Forge, TN. They fixed it in less then 30 min from the moment it was off the tow truck.
From the research I have done.... why has this not become a recall? It appears that MANY have suffered from this problem and it could be a safety issue. Lots of folks are performing their own engineering to fix a problem that appears to be a design flaw.
BTW, I do not stomp on my heel shifter as a regular practice.
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 131
Likes: 0
From: Lower Alabama
I agree that it is a design flaw. Basically, we have expensive motorcycles with a dime store shift linkage. The linkage on my 2005 Road King failed at 30k miles, and I replaced it with a linkage with heim joints. Because of that experience, I replaced the linkage on my 2007 Low Rider preemptively at 20k.
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Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 204
Likes: 4
From: Fort Worth, TX
Just my 2 cents. On my '10 Limited it was the toe shifter that stripped and flopped. I use both the heel and toe shifter and have the heel positioned so that it bottoms on the footboard during an upshift.
When I replaced the toe shifter I had to replace the shaft it attaches to as well since the splines were stripped. During the replacement I noticed the shaft was dry and showed some corrosion. I made sure to grease the new shaft and am contemplating drilling and tapping the case it slides through for a zerk so it can be greased easily in the future. The corrosion on mine Im sure is present on most others and may result in it taking more pressure to shift which could put more stress on the splines leading to failure.
So I guess my message is grease your shafts.
When I replaced the toe shifter I had to replace the shaft it attaches to as well since the splines were stripped. During the replacement I noticed the shaft was dry and showed some corrosion. I made sure to grease the new shaft and am contemplating drilling and tapping the case it slides through for a zerk so it can be greased easily in the future. The corrosion on mine Im sure is present on most others and may result in it taking more pressure to shift which could put more stress on the splines leading to failure.
So I guess my message is grease your shafts.
Club Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,192
Likes: 168
From: Knoxville, Tn
Zerk Fitting
I'm getting ready to put a zerk fitting on the splined shaft housing to take care of greasing the shaft. I currently have some Teflon grease on the shaft that is good to 650 degrees. I wish I could find pure Teflon grease in a grease gun cartridge.