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[erniezap]

I was heading over to HD-Dude's yesterday when I go to downshift into 2nd and find that the front shifter pedal isn't there.  Reach for the heel shifter and it's gone too!  Turns out that the shaft that holds the shifter pedals sheared and that my shifter pedals were laying on the floorboard and the lower fairing.  I ended up riding the last 20 or so miles shifting without the clutch and reaching down with my hand and shifting by grabbing the horizontal linkage.  Couldn't clutch and shift since you need your left hand for both.  I'm just real glad that the pedals stayed on the bike instead of me shelling out ~$400 for new ones!  Thanks Jim for replacing the shaft and I'm glad that it happened yesterday and not during our Ft Bragg ride this weekend!

[RJ749]

Wow Ernie, good thing you didn't lose the shifters and you were someplsace you could handle the shifting. 

Imagine it happening out on the road in cruise mode, you may not have been able to find the shifters and been in a pickle finding a shop too.

We sure have had our share of shifter issues lately with WFP's stripping out and Fuzzy's wife crashing.....

Glad your event was  more mellow.

[Fired00d]

I was heading over to HD-Dude's yesterday when I go to downshift into 2nd and find that the front shifter pedal isn't there.  Reach for the heel shifter and it's gone too!  Turns out that the shaft that holds the shifter pedals sheared and that my shifter pedals were laying on the floorboard and the lower fairing.  I ended up riding the last 20 or so miles shifting without the clutch and reaching down with my hand and shifting by grabbing the horizontal linkage.  Couldn't clutch and shift since you need your left hand for both.  I'm just real glad that the pedals stayed on the bike instead of me shelling out ~$400 for new ones!  Thanks Jim for replacing the shaft and I'm glad that it happened yesterday and not during our Ft Bragg ride this weekend!

Ernie,
Glad to hear that you didn't loose the pedals and were able to get to your destination. The more and more that I hear about this the more and more it makes me want to look down everytime I shift. Something you take for granted and expect to be there seems to be not so.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[Tros]

Hmmmm....AutoClutch or...

"old school"

I'm not being a smartass, just offering alternatives.

[Midnight Rider]

I'm posing this question as food for thought, but...it has always seemed to me that heel shifting puts more stress on the shifter and thus the shaft than would toe shifting...isn't the heel shifter on the outside of the shaft?  So, it would seem there might be a bit more shear forces involved, plus more stress on the splines.

I have more "feel" with my toe than with my heel of when the bike actually clicks into gear.  I'm just thinking out loud here...and this is not meant to be a discussion about which method is "better", just one of mechanical forces at work, one vs the other.  No other bike I can think of utilizes a heel shifter...maybe there's a reason for that?

[erniezap]

I'm posing this question as food for thought, but...it has always seemed to me that heel shifting puts more stress on the shifter and thus the shaft than would toe shifting...isn't the heel shifter on the outside of the shaft?  So, it would seem there might be a bit more shear forces involved, plus more stress on the splines.

I have more "feel" with my toe than with my heel of when the bike actually clicks into gear.  I'm just thinking out loud here...and this is not meant to be a discussion about which method is "better", just one of mechanical forces at work, one vs the other.  No other bike I can think of utilizes a heel shifter...maybe there's a reason for that?

I have to agree that heel shifting puts more stress, but you would think that a 1/2" steel shaft with no tension on it would be able to handle this.

Rjob, once you get used to shifting by hand with no clutch, it wasn't a really big deal.  If I was in the middle of Monatana or somewhere similar, it probably would have been even easier since I wouldn't have to shift as often 

Just one more thing to keep an eye on when maintaining your scoot...

[The Mysterious Q!]

Very interesting thread. Its something to look at before your Sunday ride. The only thing similar that happened to me was the 7/16" nut came loose on the linkage to my forwards on my Fatboy and the shift lever fell limp and almost dragged on the ground. More Loctite I guess. Have fun Ernie. Later,Q

[Tros]

I'm posing this question as food for thought, but...it has always seemed to me that heel shifting puts more stress on the shifter and thus the shaft than would toe shifting...isn't the heel shifter on the outside of the shaft?  So, it would seem there might be a bit more shear forces involved, plus more stress on the splines.

I have more "feel" with my toe than with my heel of when the bike actually clicks into gear.  I'm just thinking out loud here...and this is not meant to be a discussion about which method is "better", just one of mechanical forces at work, one vs the other.  No other bike I can think of utilizes a heel shifter...maybe there's a reason for that?

The Star (yamaha) RoadStar & larger bikes use heel & toe shifters.  FL Softails use'em too.  I agree with the toe shift having a better feel than a heel shift. This is the first bike I've had with floor boards and I have rearranged the shifters several times.  Wearing different kinds of boots/shoes also has an effect.  There seems to be very loose tolerance on the fit of the pivot shaft, at least on my bike, sloppy would be the phrase that comes to mind.  I figure it's that way to prevent binding or seizing for those that don't oil it.

[Screamin]

The Star (yamaha) RoadStar & larger bikes use heel & toe shifters.  FL Softails use'em too.  I agree with the toe shift having a better feel than a heel shift. This is the first bike I've had with floor boards and I have rearranged the shifters several times.  Wearing different kinds of boots/shoes also has an effect.  There seems to be very loose tolerance on the fit of the pivot shaft, at least on my bike, sloppy would be the phrase that comes to mind.  I figure it's that way to prevent binding or seizing for those that don't oil it.

If it's "sloppy" while the shaft is solid you're about to lose it (stipped on the inside). I've no idea why they don't put a grease fitting on it. 

[Chief]

If it's "sloppy" while the shaft is solid you're about to lose it (stipped on the inside). I've no idea why they don't put a grease fitting on it. 

On the new bikes the bushings are replaceable. On my '99, there is a zerk fitting in the boss, but no replaceable bushings. I guess there's more money in replacing worn out bushings than simply putting in 1/10 oz. of grease at each service.

[Hoist!]

If it's "sloppy" while the shaft is solid you're about to lose it (stipped on the inside). I've no idea why they don't put a grease fitting on it. 

If you only use a toe shifter, they make a cap to cover the end of the shaft. This will help keep the toe shifter from coming off. You do without your heel shifter with it. But it's an option for keeping the toe shifter on the bike at least! Hoist!

[Tros]

If it's "sloppy" while the shaft is solid you're about to lose it (stipped on the inside). I've no idea why they don't put a grease fitting on it. 

I mean in the bushing area not the splined area.  I just put a few drops of oil on the bushing from time to time.  

[Gettinold]

Hmmmm....AutoClutch or...

"old school"

I'm not being a smartass, just offering alternatives.

bet ya dood wants one with a 9 ball.

[Tros]

With the auto clutch and cruise control you could have hands free riding. 

[SPIDERMAN]

Never heard of this happening before. They shifter levers come off all the time ( usually in the middle of nowhere) but that's one of those things that endears us to our Harley's so much - - - - - - - - NOT I'd be on my dealer about this for full warranty coverage big time. Make the MoCO pay hd dude's bill 

B B