When riding my shifter rattles. So I usually just hold my foot gently against the heel shifter. It's not the legs that are loose, it's the whole thing (the axle that They're mounted to). I didn't see any bolt, so I did some searches, and I guess there is one, but some people are saying "just tighten up the bolt" ? and some are saying, "DON'T tighten, but REPLACE it. Something about it snapping off ??

Anybody have this problem & fix it ?

ANY help would be great


Sorry....2001 Road King 15,000 miles

 

There should be a bolt that holds the shaft ("axle" which the shift "legs" attach to) to the lever which attaches to the shifter rod.

You said you didn't see the bolt. Is the problem that you are missing this bolt? If so, replace and tighten the bolt. If the bolt is there, see if it is loose. If so, re-tighten it. Only tighten it until the axle becomes secure and no longer rattles. Use blue Loc-Tite.

Now, if you snug down the bolt and the axle does not become secure then there are other issues at hand.

 

You must have mighty good hearing. Or you have a very worn shaft and the only way around that would be a replacement shaft. But I guess the question is, is it the shaft or one or both levers? The levers you can simply re-tighten the allen bolts or as stated above replace them if they are missing.

 

Rarely does the shaft wear out. There are 2 bushings in the bore that the shaft passes through, and they do wear out. The bushings are pretty easy to replace and shouled take care of the slop.

 

15,000 miles and the shifter is loose? Somebody is hard on the shifter! Tighten the pinch bolt. But make sure the shifter is all the way on the splined shaft. Put a drop of blue locktite on the bolt. No way the bushing should be worn with those few miles.

 

Had the same problem on our '02 Ultra. You could physically move the shaft up and down. Never leaked and the dealer didn't seem to concerned about it.

 

The tow shifters have bolts that clamp the arm to the shaft. See if yours is loose.

 

Tightening the bolts will not take up play in the 'axel' as you call it. I would call it a pivot or spindle.

The shift levers when tightened onto the pivot hold it snug into the pivot sleeve with the bushings. If the complete assembly is slopping about then the bushings have a lot of free play, or possibly have cracked broken and fallen out, as they are only plastic.

I suggest taking the shift levers off, pulling the pivot out and checking the bushings are intact, then if all is complete, pack it all with grease and re-assemble. The grease will take up any free play, and stop the rattle.

 

http://partsfinder.onlinemicrofiche....&b=20&Action=O

Part #21 is my guess based on the description

 

I smell crap.