Heel Toe Shifter

By Mark DiPietro

Question for Fix My Hog I have a heel-toe shifter it seams to have a bit more play in it than normal. I have to put my foot on both shifters to up-shift, the downshift seams normal. I am also having a hard time getting videos for my 1991 Fat Boy the videos show me newer Soft tails. What am I doing wrong? Via Email
Fix My Hog Answers On an m/c this old, a number of things can be worn or incorrect. You need to inspect everything from your toe shift arm back to the transmission shift arm and beyond. You may even need to replace your shift pawl assembly. Related Fix My Hog Videos: https://www.fixmyhog.com/video/harley-davidson-gear-shift-linkage-and-neutral-issues-008726/ https://www.fixmyhog.com/video/stripped-harley-shifter-shaft-009555/ https://www.fixmyhog.com/video/motorcycle-pegs-shifter-upgrade-007166/ https://www.fixmyhog.com/video/harley-forward-controls-shift-lever-removal-upgrade-005039/ Have more questions? Check out our Q&A index page to find some answers.

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5 Responses to “Heel Toe Shifter”

  1. bruce

    i am wondering why the questioner has to put his foot on top of both shift levers it sounds like an incorrect idea to say the least ,seems like self defeating process?

  2. Bill

    I had the same problem with my 95 Ultra Classic. I could literally watch the shifter arm and heel/toe shifter go back and forth more than an inch as the bike idled although luckily the arm never slipped on the pawl or it would have started stripping it. The allen head bolt that secures the transmission shift arm to the pawl are notoriously soft metal and are very hard to tighten down and keep tight. I finally replaced mine with a Grade 8, 5/16"x1" 24tpi hex head bolt which is very strong. I used a split washer and blue Loctite on the threads and was able to tighten it down very well without stripping it or worrying about it breaking. No more play at all and it has not loosened at all in over 15k miles.

  3. HDMania

    Maybe the clutch needs adjustment ?..dragging clutch will make it hard to downshift into first or into neutral from a stop..

  4. Michael

    I replaced the shift paw in trans and it would not downshift into 1st gear,I readjust it and that is no problem now but it don't want to go into first gear after you start,you can take off in second and go about 10' and it will go in first,downshifts good,the readjustment was made in 3rd gear and it was out but now won't go to 1st,could I have backed it out to far and is there a certain times it needs to be backed out to start adjustments

  5. Laudo

    I find a hard time searching for my 97 fatboy either. Think we could have a more specific set of videos and overall material related to old bikes issues. The turning signal blinking module is something I can't find anywhere and I can't even be sure if the circuits at my bike are ok, since I don't know how the originals looks like. Thank's for any help here.