I need to change the shifter rod, on my 77" the spindel where the foot shifter goes is striped out and I had to do an emergency fix, I ended up drilling a hole through the shift lever and the spindel so I could get more riding in before the snow flew, well the snow is here now so now I will fix it. my question is how hard is it to replace the shifter arm. I have the HD manual but It don't show how to replace it on a 77", The manual is for 70" thu 78". Is it easy to get to? Can I just pull the Primary cover off and it will be there, or do I need to remove The clutch plates and every thing else? Thanks guys,,,
Daryl

 

I am only familar with the right side shift Sportsters, which require the entire transmission be removed to replace a shift lever. I think it would be no different for a left side shift. I believe you will have to pull the clutch and transmission door, and thus, you will be pulling the tranny out with that. The shift lever engages with the pawl carrier and shifter cam inside the trans.
Better get your hands on a manual before you get in too deep on this one.....pg

 

I am looking now for a manual for a 77"only. Not much luck...I will keep you posted.. Thanks

 

Hey Shovel....
You will not find a manual for a 1977 only because they never printed such an animal. What you need to look for is a (Harley-Davidson.....not Clymers) Sportster Service Manual 1970 thru 1978. This is going to have an orange and white cover and is a factory manual. You do NOT want a Clymers or Hayes.
There are currently three listed on Ebay at this moment:
#140080153367.....a reprint and rather pricey for a reprint @ $24.
#200074836357.....an original now at $7 with one bid.
#130075493569.....an original also, and this looks to be the best one to me.

You better move fast on this however because the auctions end tomorrow (2-04-2007) and there are bidders out there looking. Good luck........pg

 

I say go for it.

I just put my '77 back together a couple of months ago after a spill which resulted in the shift rod spinning freely and the dog clutches on a gear snapped off.Yes, you will need to pull the clutch assyAND pull out the transmission. No, I did not think it was difficult to do but I did have to fab a compressor for the clutch spring and had to buy a few sockets and a gear puller which I did not own previously. I would also advise you go ahead and check your tolerences in the transmission while it's on the bench. I had to turn a few spacers to get the gears right and to adjust the endplay. None of this was hard to do but took me a while to do just because I had to figure out that I needed things at different stages in the breakdown. It took me about a day to get it apart the first time. That's with me never having taken a primarry cover of any bike before, working at a half-*** pace and a beer in the other hand. Now, I could pull everything apart, replace the shifter shaft, and all back together in maybe 4-5 hours. Again at a half-*** pace and a beer in the other hand. All of this was done with only a Clymer manual, I still havn't been able to locate a Harley manual yet.

When I get home tonight, I'll see if I can find the pictures I took so you can see what it looks like.

Rich


Edit: Found 'em

[IMG]local://upfiles/5737/4C5ABE736BFB4EF39B06EA1A796C5727.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]local://upfiles/5737/113B3C40EE634FEE811234EDD452809E.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]local://upfiles/5737/BE715D9326CD418187CD3C1517942B82.jpg[/IMG]

Edit (again): I just realized I failed to give much deserved kudos to the folks here on this site forthe help and advice they gave as I went through that rebuild. Sorry for the ommission guys. Here is that thread. https://www.hdforums.com/m_904354/tm.htm