My story!

Energy One
I have been riding for 20 years. Always wanted a chopper, hell I have CFL tattooed on my arm. I have had many Harley's. Started on a 99 Sportster 1200. Did 10000 miles in a year on that thing. Mostly two up. Then moved up to a 98 Dyna Wide Glide. Had that one for 13 years, did well over 100000 miles. I don't know the exact number because the speedo sensor went out a few times. From there I bought a 98 Electra Glide off my really good friends widow. Re-built this one a couple times. Still have it, although it looks nothing like it did. A 2012 Wide Glide I bought while at home with my Mom fighting cancer, sold that to re-build the Electra Glide. A 2012 Road Glide, which I loved, but sold to re-build the Electra Glide. Finally, a 2016 Victory Magnum in Feb 0f 17. She has 63k miles on her now. Best touring bike EVER! With that said, short rides in town/locally were fun, but were missing something. I wanted a "small" bike...a CHOPPER! The decision was made! So I hit the computer. Searched all over the internet and found an 04 Chopper that I fell in love with. Contacted the owner, asked questions, didn't get answers to all of them. Asked for the VIN so I could finalize the loan paperwork...nothing...for three days...I asked every day! So, back on line. Found an 05. She was pretty. Contacted the owner, asked questions, got answers immediately. Decide to road trip and go get it! The trip was another story. Ugh. Get to the bike and she wasn't all that I expected. Still beautiful, but needed some more TLC than I thought. Negotiated a better price to offset what I knew I had to fix and loaded her up! Started pulling off parts I didn't want. Sold what I could. I LOVE LOVE LOVE riding this bike. I bought the bike knowing the speedo was broke. Ordered a dakota digital. Replaced the two up seat with a new solo. Had the handle bars modified. Replaced the handlebar wiring as I broke the original getting the controls off. 1BMF pointed out a bad rear caliper and brake switch. Then the electrical issues started. 1st time running down I-10 and she started randomly cutting out. Pull over, horn bracket had broke and the horn was skipping off my belt. Pull the "oil tank" covers and found some exposed wires. Separated them the best I could. Took off, made it about three miles. She died again. Coasted to a gas station. Found a bad grounding strap to the starter, couldn't find anything to make work, so got trailered home. Went through every wire under the seat. Replaced any I found that were bare or getting there. Strapped them all up nice and tight. Replaced the grounding strap and took off for another ride. 20 miles later, dead on the side of the road. No juice to the battery...wouldn't even spark. Trailered home. Got home after stopping for lunch. Off the trailer. Started right up. Replaced the battery, and so far no more electrical issues. Riding home from work one day, shift in to third, and in and out it goes, like I am popping the clutch over and over. I can actually feel the clutch lever pulling in. Message Baker. They say shifter pawl adjustment. Get a primary gasket kit, as it's been leaking this whole time, and pulling the primary would make the shifter pawl adjustment easier. Pull it all apart. Put it back together. Take it for a ride. Nothing has changed. NOTHING. Still leaks, still pops out of third. Back on the lift. Pull the primary and I had pinched one of the numerous o rings. Adjust the shifter pawl. Back together. Ride. No leaks, but still pops out of gear and now the rear cylinder compression release isn't working correctly! Seems like it won't close all the way. Research some more on line. Next step...shifter forks. I didn't want to pull the primary again, I have never been inside the trans, and I don't have the tool for the compression release, so I take it to a local shop. They fix the shifter arm off the trans, that was very very sloppy and found some debris in the clutch and call me to test ride it. Owner wants to concentrate on one issue at the time, so he didn't address the compression release. Paid the bill, took her out. Clutch is way smoother. still pops out of third gear. So here I sit, owning a chopper I can't ride!! I attached some pictures. All bikes right side.jpgJosephine.jpgFred's_Bike_10-6-20.jpgMagnum New Bars.jpegBig Dog.jpgNM Chopper.jpg
 

1 B.M.F.

Well-Known Member
Man I hate to hear that. that’s a very nice bike now that you got it the way you want it. I’m sure you will figure it out.
 

Th3InfamousI

Administrator
Staff member
Shifter pawl adjustment might still be the culprit and 3rd gear is the one you adjust in so ends up being the most noticeable

If you've done it all basically twice and no difference ever?

Shifts through the gears smoothly? Just pops out?

Sent from my Pixel 3a using Tapatalk
 

awg

Guru
Boy what a mess you have. Seems like some BD's have no issues while other's make up for it. Good luck with all you have done and will still have to do.
 
@awg I am not 100% all my issues are because it's a BDM. I think the previous owner/s are part of my headaches. I will get her right...some day. I just ordered the compression release and TP rocker box gasket set. Still stumped as to how to proceed with the trans.
 

awg

Guru
That's good to hear. These monsters need attention. Like a Indy car. You just don't get in and drive it.
 

Dispatch

Active Member
I have been riding for 20 years. Always wanted a chopper, hell I have CFL tattooed on my arm. I have had many Harley's. Started on a 99 Sportster 1200. Did 10000 miles in a year on that thing. Mostly two up. Then moved up to a 98 Dyna Wide Glide. Had that one for 13 years, did well over 100000 miles. I don't know the exact number because the speedo sensor went out a few times. From there I bought a 98 Electra Glide off my really good friends widow. Re-built this one a couple times. Still have it, although it looks nothing like it did. A 2012 Wide Glide I bought while at home with my Mom fighting cancer, sold that to re-build the Electra Glide. A 2012 Road Glide, which I loved, but sold to re-build the Electra Glide. Finally, a 2016 Victory Magnum in Feb 0f 17. She has 63k miles on her now. Best touring bike EVER! With that said, short rides in town/locally were fun, but were missing something. I wanted a "small" bike...a CHOPPER! The decision was made! So I hit the computer. Searched all over the internet and found an 04 Chopper that I fell in love with. Contacted the owner, asked questions, didn't get answers to all of them. Asked for the VIN so I could finalize the loan paperwork...nothing...for three days...I asked every day! So, back on line. Found an 05. She was pretty. Contacted the owner, asked questions, got answers immediately. Decide to road trip and go get it! The trip was another story. Ugh. Get to the bike and she wasn't all that I expected. Still beautiful, but needed some more TLC than I thought. Negotiated a better price to offset what I knew I had to fix and loaded her up! Started pulling off parts I didn't want. Sold what I could. I LOVE LOVE LOVE riding this bike. I bought the bike knowing the speedo was broke. Ordered a dakota digital. Replaced the two up seat with a new solo. Had the handle bars modified. Replaced the handlebar wiring as I broke the original getting the controls off. 1BMF pointed out a bad rear caliper and brake switch. Then the electrical issues started. 1st time running down I-10 and she started randomly cutting out. Pull over, horn bracket had broke and the horn was skipping off my belt. Pull the "oil tank" covers and found some exposed wires. Separated them the best I could. Took off, made it about three miles. She died again. Coasted to a gas station. Found a bad grounding strap to the starter, couldn't find anything to make work, so got trailered home. Went through every wire under the seat. Replaced any I found that were bare or getting there. Strapped them all up nice and tight. Replaced the grounding strap and took off for another ride. 20 miles later, dead on the side of the road. No juice to the battery...wouldn't even spark. Trailered home. Got home after stopping for lunch. Off the trailer. Started right up. Replaced the battery, and so far no more electrical issues. Riding home from work one day, shift in to third, and in and out it goes, like I am popping the clutch over and over. I can actually feel the clutch lever pulling in. Message Baker. They say shifter pawl adjustment. Get a primary gasket kit, as it's been leaking this whole time, and pulling the primary would make the shifter pawl adjustment easier. Pull it all apart. Put it back together. Take it for a ride. Nothing has changed. NOTHING. Still leaks, still pops out of third. Back on the lift. Pull the primary and I had pinched one of the numerous o rings. Adjust the shifter pawl. Back together. Ride. No leaks, but still pops out of gear and now the rear cylinder compression release isn't working correctly! Seems like it won't close all the way. Research some more on line. Next step...shifter forks. I didn't want to pull the primary again, I have never been inside the trans, and I don't have the tool for the compression release, so I take it to a local shop. They fix the shifter arm off the trans, that was very very sloppy and found some debris in the clutch and call me to test ride it. Owner wants to concentrate on one issue at the time, so he didn't address the compression release. Paid the bill, took her out. Clutch is way smoother. still pops out of third gear. So here I sit, owning a chopper I can't ride!! I attached some pictures. View attachment 78296View attachment 78290View attachment 78291View attachment 78293View attachment 78294View attachment 78295
Damn man, sentence spacing, easier on the eyes.

Nice BD by the way...
 

Mikeinjersey

Well-Known Member
@awg I am not 100% all my issues are because it's a BDM. I think the previous owner/s are part of my headaches. I will get her right...some day. I just ordered the compression release and TP rocker box gasket set. Still stumped as to how to proceed with the trans.
Welcome from NJ,
Up front full disclosure I'm not a trans expert . My first question is when your trans pops out what happens? Does it ever pop into a different gear ? Your description , Riding home from work one day, shift in to third, and in and out it goes, like I am popping the clutch over and over. I can actually feel the clutch lever pulling in. You also mention that the shop found debris in the clutch. Why don't you think it's a possible clutch issue?
Did the shop ever tell you what they did to fix the shifter arm that was "very very sloppy"? If I'm not mistaken that arm connects to the shaft which operates the shift pawl. That could explain why your pawl adjustment is hard to get. Did the shop also adj the shift pawl when they had it or did you do the adj after the shop visit? It would not be the first time I've heard of a shop making things worse than the original problem.
 
@Mikeinjersey I was born in Md and lived in De before joining the Army! When it pops it feels like I am actuating the clutch and releasing repeatedly. It could be a clutch issue, I assumed trans because of info on the net (Bonjour!). Baker said shifter pawl immediately when I contacted them. He replaced the shifter arm, never opened the trans. I adjusted pawl before and after shop, no change.
 
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