Harley Shift Linkage

Question Here’s a couple questions for your guys:

1. How much slack should be in the Harley shift linkage? The transmission shift pawl allen bolt is tight, but has a lot of free play!

2. When are you coming out with the removing and replacing a transmission? Dave F

Answer Dave, the shift arm should be locked tight to the shift shaft. Sometimes the pinch bolt on the shifter arm may feel tight but if you can get a good bite on it with a good 1/4″ allen and a long handle ratchet, you may be able to snug it up another 1/2 a turn. If that does not work out, the shift arm is too worn and will need to be replaced. We are currently posting videos in the Harley Transmission Project Class. Thanks for your question.

Related Videos:

Forward Control Install

Harley Transmission Project Class

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22 Responses to “Harley Shift Linkage”

  1. Travis Oxford

    I have a 2005 Electra Glide. First Harley, first time seeing this problem. The splines on my shifter pawl are stripped due to excessive wear from the shift arm. How hard of a job is it to replace the pawl inside the transmission?

  2. Tom

    Shifter will not return to the next shift position.

  3. John P Bruen

    How to remove the Inner Shifter Lever Shaft on a 1983 harley davidson FLHT

  4. Tretall

    How do you adjust shocks on a soft tail. Mine is too low and will bottom out on a hard bump.

  5. John Moore

    Hi Guy's, When do you think you will be able to start posting out your products to the U.K.?

  6. Rick

    I have a jockey shift on my 2015 freewheeler and I would like to install a set of mother jug fans but I have a clearance issue is there any way to offset the shift linkage so I can move my shifter away from the head to gain the little bit of clearance I need

  7. Orlando

    I want to remove the heel shifter on my 2012 ultra lim. What do I need to have before I start?

  8. paul r. terrazas

    REPLACED FRONT GEAR SHIFT LEVER, AND SHIFTER SHAFT LEVER GEAR, WENT TO TRY OUT NEW PARTS AND CANNOT GET, INTO FIRST GEAR, AND GET GRINDING GEAR NOISE WHEN I GO PAST NEUTRAL INTO 2ND GEAR.

  9. Jerry Kubik

    I have issues on my 2000 Dyna with the shift arm falling off. The bolt that should sit into the groove on the shift shaft is engineered by HD to be below the machined groove so is totally ineffectual. Has any company or machinist ever remedied this issue. I looked at a brand new shift arm today at Harley Davidson in Oakland and it is made exactly the same way. Not very well engineered. JK

  10. Gary

    Shifter Chatter - 2008 FLHTCU - 48,022 miles When idling, the heal/toe shifter puts out a lot of chatter. I can rest my boot heal against the shifter and the chattering sound stops. I've been slowly going through the site looking for something similar but haven't found any answers yet. Insight please. Thanks - Gary in Hawaii