down shifting

mml03102

Active Member
I had it out today and it started doing the same thing, so I backed off the bolt at the rear of the shifting rod and it was fine, obviously its been binding up, Ill grease it again but isn't that bolt suppose to be tight and is their suppose to be a washer there?
 
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francoblay1

The Spaniard
Just went downstairs to have a look at mine.... the bolts need to be tight (obviously), not sure about a washer... forgot my glasses, lol.

I would think your heim joint ball is very dry (and maybe a bit of rust in it).... I would soak it with penetrating oil till it frees up. then keep it lubed regularly.

When was last time you lubed it???
 

mml03102

Active Member
I just bought it in Feb and I lubed it about a month ago but I just went out to do it again and I noticed the one in the rear moves but not real well especially compared to the front so I carefully lubed them again working the joint back and forth and it was still moving hard so for now I reversed the shifting rod so its now in the front, it seems okay but a test drive will tell for sure and Ill try the soaking in pen fluid but do you have any idea where I can get a new one, Harley dealer?
 

mml03102

Active Member
Just went downstairs to have a look at mine.... the bolts need to be tight (obviously), not sure about a washer... forgot my glasses, lol.

I would think your heim joint ball is very dry (and maybe a bit of rust in it).... I would soak it with penetrating oil till it frees up. then keep it lubed regularly.

When was last time you lubed it???
Thanks for checking that for me Franco and I know what you mean about the glasses. lol
 

Tdubb

Active Member
When I had a problem, my mechanic (big dog certified) said to replace the heim joints with a good quality replacements. He said the ones that big dog used were cheap and that this was a common issue. He said in the meantime to lube mine until I replaced them. Well I've gotten by for a year with no issue.

Maybe yours are shot and need to be replaced.
 

mml03102

Active Member
I agree , I just realized today how one is moving freely and the other one is binding up I called the HD dealer and they said to bring it in and they will try to match it up.
 
The shift linkage absolutely has an effect on shifting. Although that shouldn't have changed just from installing a clutch cable. Forget about lining it up with your brake pedal. Take the shift linkage loose at the front.(3/16" allen on the front 1/2" hex nylock on the back) Make a mark with a sharpie in the middle of your shifter. Move it all the way to the front of it's travel, and make a mark on the cleve block(for lack of a better term) with a sharpie, then move it all the way to the back and make another mark. Loosen up the jams on the linkage and line it up right in middle of the two marks. C.A.Jones V-Twin | Custom Builds, Parts & Service
what is a cleve block? I adjusted my shift cable at the rod adjustment unit. cracked the retaining nut and tightened the allen screw and rod until the lever moved to a tightened position. all this was done after the cable was backed off on the down tube. now my bike was doing fine after re assembly and the shifting became so tight it would not go past 2nd. when I got home the shift pedal was grinding. WD 40 helped for a second giving me previous spring back but after the bike was running and got hot it reverted to the tightness. did my clutch cable adjusting do too much?
 
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