[Ouijonbu]

GLIDERS,
Check this out, my club called for a ride last weekend, very nice day, in North click, so I get geared up, pull bike out started her up. I went to the first stop sign in my hood, stopped, down shifted and took off. The bike bogged down like I wasn't in first. So, no problem, I got on the road and came to a intersection to get on main highway. I tapped down but didn't get any resistance. The gear shifter just went to the floorboar. I pulled into a gas station and parked it, well, I almost fainted...lol. My whole gear shifter had fell out. I mean out whole. I said easy enough, the screw must have vibrated out or broke or something. The screw was totally intact, and was not loose at all. Talked to another rider who has a 15 CVO and he said the same thing happened to him also. So I get it together and get over to my local dealer, they fixed it with no problem and no cost to me, and they had the parts in stock. When I asked why wasn't this a recall they had no answer, apparently it only happens to the bikes that are sold at that store, 100 bikes
so far and counting. Has anybody else experienced this....?:surprise:

 

[Chuck1073]

It's not rare for the shaft that the shift lever rides on to strip it's splines. There are aftermarket solutions. I always try to shift fairly gently, for that reason, rather than stomping on the shifter.

 

[ironmark]

Not a uncommon problem, been happening since Harleys been made. HD puts on cheap gear shift rods because they want you to upgrade to a better hemi joint shifter rod for $100+.

 

[Nordic Berserker]

Yea happens way too often, on one of my brothers bikes his came off less then a mile down the road on ride home after he bought it

 

[Redfish-Joe]

I have fixed a couple of bikes with the stripped heel toe shifter. The heel shifter takes a beating, in my opinion, I removed mine when I first got the bike. 91k miles later never a problem with it. May be something to consider or pay attention how much weight you are applying to the heel.

 

[BobRG15]

Identical problem on my 15 CVO. thankfully made it to a dealer, repaired the bike at no cost and on my way. Agree with Redfish-Joe the heel shifter takes alot of abuse.

 

[Smarty]

On the shifter arm that goes on the transmission shaft, it's always a good idea to buy you a grade 8 allen head bolt and replace the bolt that is in it. With the grade 8 you can really cranck down on it without stripping out the allen head. Once you do this, normally you will never have another problem with it. Been a problem with Harley for years.

 

[Ohiobellboy]

Another fix is to add a small lock washer to that bolt so it will squeeze the shifter arm clamp around the shaft a little tighter.

 

[staush]

wtf ; shifter

Question, what did they do to fix it? My 11 w/ 36k is getting sloppy on the tranny shaft. Bolt is torqued down, no difference, still sloppy. Did they put on a new shifter arm? If so did they pull your primary to install new arm? Saw that someone makes a replacement but don't know how you can get a dremel in there to cut off old arm. Anyone install this new arm?

 

[FDR's RGC]

Question, what did they do to fix it? My 11 w/ 36k is getting sloppy on the tranny shaft. Bolt is torqued down, no difference, still sloppy. Did they put on a new shifter arm? If so did they pull your primary to install new arm? Saw that someone makes a replacement but don't know how you can get a dremel in there to cut off old arm. Anyone install this new arm?

Don't have to pull primary to install new arm. Put a grade 8 bolt in place of the allen,you can crank down on it. Did my 10 RGC 60k ago,still good. I check it every oil change.

 

[smitty901]

Never had one come off. Had them loosen up . I did replace the shaft in front at 75,000 miles splines were good but a bit of wear in the Shaft from vibrating all those miles.

 

[Swomack]

27,000 Miles and I've had to get the same deal fixed twice on my 2015 RGS. Dealer took care of it both times. IMO it's just a bad design.
Swomack

 

[perrykw]

Bad design. I check mine pretty often and haven't had any issues so far at 36k. Wife never checks hers and has had them replaced on last 2 bikes. Go figure lol

 

[Ouijonbu]

Stash,
I didn't watch them do it, I would venture to say they prolly changed all things at the shifter and not the tranny. Only took them about 20mins top. Is there after market replacements or upgrades? If so who ?

 

[Smarty]

As a side note, when you go with the grade 8 allen head bolt, use a washer and put a dab of grease between the bolt and the washer. It will let you really crank down on it and it will not come loose again. The problem with the original design is the bolt and arm are somewhat soft metals and they gaul together when you tighten them and won't let you really get it as tight as it needs to be. Got an 04 Ultra that has the same transmission arm that came with it. It used to come loose at least once a year. Once I did the bolt and washer fix, no more problems.

 

[FDR's RGC]

Use a hex head bolt,you can really crank it down. Grade 8 of course.

 

[staush]

wtf?

I'll give the grade 8 bolt a try. The replacement lever is called The Better Lever. Google them for the website.

 

[Sleepybagger]

Over the years wife and I both have had to change out our shift levers to get home (one good thing about having a heel shifter)

One year returning from Fort Bragg I broke the shift rod lever on my shift shaft and I had to hand shift using the shift rod from 1/2 way through 20 all the way home. I pulled both our shift shafts and welded the lever to the splined ring myself. The Rushmore's have a redesigned lever, one piece and much heavier. but remains a pot metal POS.

Yes heel shifting is hard on splines and my size 12 hard on everything.

 

[bucketlisthd]

I take it easy on my shift levers these days.

 

[ironmark]

I never had one loosen up either but I also take the heel shifter off, for me the heel shifter just takes away floorboard room and I can move my foot back without the heel shifter in the way.