I'm thinking about installing forward controls on 03 low rider. Couple of questions which brand do you recomend? Harley or aftermarket. Also do you have to pull the primary to remove the mid shifter shaft? Thanks in advance for your help....

 

The question about the shifter shaft. Yes, and the inner primary case to remove it completely then find a plug to fill the hole. To remove the inner case the clutch/starter ring gear and primary chain comes out. I used the HD kit on my L/R part no. 49080-03 this kit has a little cover that will fit on the shaft stub. If you remove the shifter shaft get an inspection cover for the 03 Wide Glide model.

 

To clarify, you typically have to open the primary and remove components if you install the HD forwards kit. The Kuryakyn forwards kit comes with a chrome cover to install over the shaft spline and is overall very easy to install. I believe the HD kit can be installed the same way if you can get the right parts.

 

You do not have to remove the primary to get the shaft out. If your NOT concerned with saving that shaft, you can cut it out from the bottom of the bike. Of course, if you want to ever sell or reuse the mid controls, you have to do as instructed above.

 

The HD kit has everything needed for this job. It's the same on the FXDL of the same year bike, an 03. The 99 thru 05 Dyna's are basically the same bike and primaries. The 06's and newer have slightly different primaries and yes I think you can remove the shaft on those bikes. When the shaft is removed on the 07's don't you have to seal the hole in the inner case? I was only relating my experience with that generation of Dyna's.

 

I installed the HD forward controls on my 07 FXDC using kit no. 49080-06A. For your bike you would use kit no. 49080-03A. The way I understand it, the kit for your year bike has brackets in it that are used to hold the existing shifter shaft in place, so you don't have to remove it. When I did mine I left the shifter shaft in and just tucked the part that the shift linkage attached to, behind a bolt on the engine. It stays in place and doesn't rattle at all. Take a look at the attached pic and it'll show what I'm talking about. Just saying it's another option for you.

 

I got mine from Custom Chrome - didn't do anything to the shaft except put the HD cover on it. It took me all of about 20 minutes to put them on. Why go through all the hassles and headaches. I think mine look good as any.

 

Alot of guys (including myself) have used Kuryakyn forward controls over the years. They're an affordable alternative to Harley's forward controls. Most people that I've seen who've went to forward controls have not removed the midline shifter shaft.

 

Sound good. i think I will leave shifter shaft in. Found a good deal on harly part. I have the frontend apart doing forkseals so will install this weekend. Thanks for the advice.

 

i cut my mid-shaft with a sawzall. took about ten mins to prepare and 2 two cut it. I used the harley forward controls, it sure is a great upgrade, feels so much better now. I would like to know if anybody has a line on a plug for that hole.