I have a 07 Dyna 96/6-speed, 20,000 miles on it, the tranny always shifts like butter until yesterday. When I put it in first gear start off the line, the shifter dropped about an inch, once I upshift, it stayed. I upshifted all the way to 6th then down shift, same thing happened, the shifter seemed to drop an inch again. If I use my toe to slightly lift the shifter peg up, it stays tight again. I see the shifter dropped and became loose only when I downshift. I am not familiar with motorcycle gearbox, don't know what makes the shifter to stay in place. Other than that, it runs smooth, not gearbox noise whatsoever. I want to find out what that is before something big happen lol . Any idea?

 

If you have forwards try lubing all the linkage first in case it's binding or loose. There is also a shift lever centering spring on the shifter arm assembly.

 

Have you checked to see if the shifter itself slipped on the input shaft? Also when the shifter started to move about yesterday, did the shifting change? What I mean in, did the bike still shift through all the gears correctly and did it run as before? Any new noises?

 

RAWHIDE07, you are a genius! I took the forward control shifter rod off, the rubber bushings are deformed for some reasons. The shaft doesn't move freely no matter how much lube I apply to the shaft. I end up using a round file to clean and ream the bushings a bit, now it shifts like butter. Downshift is good, no more dropping. Thanks for your help, what a relief!

 

The forwards are out front where they can catch all the road dust and sand,probably a good idea to clean them every year.

 

if you have the stock shift linkage with the rubber boot front and rear, i highly recommend you change the ends. they will break at the worst time. you can buy a fancy one or, what i did, was buy two hiems joints and screwed one to each end of the rod. you can buy them at parts houses like napa and they dont break.

 

I know the stock ends are horrible, that's why ppl carry duct tape on the bike lol . My forward control isn't stock, made by Kurykyn. I also change the shifter rod with new ends recently, it should be fine . Thanks!