As most riders know, so or later you are going to breakdown, well mine came yesterday on I-44 in Missouri in the midst of a severe rain storm. My shifter rod lever(one behind primaries)desided it was time to finally strip out and so it did. There the wife and I was with two other riders sitting on the side of the road. I called a very good friend, Michael Yashida(Dr.Samari)and he dropped all he had going and came with his truck and auto loader to pick us up and take us home. We were only on the side of the road about an hour, but it never stopped raining and raining. We were on our way to Arkansas to the FMRC Rally, which we did make, just in our truck. So lesson learned about stretching parts going bad. From now on if it acts like it wants to break or is wore out, it gets replaced. I consider myself real lucky to have a friend like Doc, and will always remember his act of kindness to my wife and I . Thanks Doc.

Joe

 

you are talking about the shifter linkage that goes alongside the top of the primary, with a funky pressed in rod end on either end of the rod? that is one weak part in harleys design. i kept the old one from my 08, because ya never know when someone else might need it. replaced the stock one with the harley aftermarket one which has real rod end bearings rather than the cheaper rod ends of the stock rod.

 

Since ya got to take off the primary to change out the shifter lever I'd take the opportunity to do all the seals and bearings in the primary whilst you're at it.

 

That is a very good point DAWG..most people dont think about that stuff when they are just fixing what broke....

 

I keep a spare one in my tool roll now that two different Harleys I was riding with this summer had the forward joint fail...

 

Thanks for the tip Dawg, my indy has already ordered the parts and has the bearings and seals in stock, so I will be doing the teardown and repair using his shop and tools. He is a real good guy, not many shops will let the customer do the work and only get paid for the parts and a little for the use of the shop. To clear up what broke, it was the lever that goes on the tranny shaft, not the shifter rod(I had already replaced the funky factory ends on it with good stuff). Should be back on the road by the end of next week.

Joe