SUPPORT US AND GET KURAYAKYN SHIFT LINKAGE IN OUR STORE 👉 shop.lawabidingbiker.com/products/kuryakyn-shift-linkage-for-harley-davidson-sculpted-gloss-black?variant=42108387262620 HELP SUPPORT US! JOIN THE BIKER REVOLUTION! #BikerRevolution #LawAbidingBiker #Bikaholics #RyanUrlacher 🛒 SHOP IN THE LAW ABIDING BIKER STORE 🛒 shop.lawabidingbiker.com 😎 BECOME A MEMBER AND GET BENEFITS 😎 www.patreon.com/lawabidingbiker 📹 GET PREMIUM MOTORCYCLE TUTORIAL VIDEOS 📹 www.lawabidingbiker.com/buyvideos 🎬 WATCH OUR MOTORCYCLE DOCUMENTARY FILMS HERE🎬 www.lawabidingbiker.com/motorcycle-documentary-films 💰LEAVE A FLAT DONATION 💰 www.lawabidingbiker.com/donate 📱SHOP AMAZON RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS 📱 www.amazon.com/shop/ryanurlacher 📺 SUBSCRIBE TO OUR TH-cam CHANNEL 📺 goo.gl/EtxUnW 🎙CHECK OUT THE WEEKLY PODCAST 🎙 www.lawabidingbiker.com/app ⓕ FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK ⓕ facebook.com/lawabidingbiker 🐦 FOLLOW US ON TWITTER 🐦 twitter.com/LawAbidingBiker 📷 FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM 📷 instagram.com/LawAbidingBiker 🙈 FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK 🙈 www.tiktok.com/@lawabidingbiker
I am so glad 😊 l have a great Sportster 883. I have had my Sportster for 25 years and 400,000 miles on the original engine and 37 back tires and 17 front ones and 3 belts in 25 years. She is my daily driver as I don't have a car. I have had my Triumph Tr-6 with a hard tail and magneto for 40 years. When she was 50 years old she needed new camshafts we split the cases and new ones and changed the sludge trap. Put her back together and now she is good for another 50 years. It's a shame that HD big twins have so many quality issues for such a expensive motorcycle 😢.
I too have never heard of shift linkage or arms coming loose or breaking in my 30 plus years of riding. Neither me nor anyone I have rode with ever had these problems you describe. Periodically check all your fasteners is good advice.
Glad it hasn't happened to you yet. check out the overwhelming comments on this video of riders it's happened to over many years. It's a widespread issue ==> th-cam.com/video/_GJz_J8IgqI/w-d-xo.html
88,000 on one evo never a problem. 74,000 on the twink never a problem. 67,000 on the 2017 m8 no problem. I have seen it happen on bikes not maintained. In my shop probably done 5 in 40 years. Guess your just lucky 🤣
Yep my OEM linkage failed riding down the highway. I got lucky and the nut and bolt came loose rather than the ball socket popping. So I hand tightened and made it home. Ended up swapping with a Heim joint linkage sold by Kustom Cycle Parts on Amazon. Company out of Nebraska I believe. Anodized billet aluminum. And they will engrave so you can customize. I also replaced the shift arm, shaft and those shaft bushings that require a special bearing tool. But the end result is much more stable and failure-proof. So if Kury stops making these, there are other options.
Did 100 k on evo not a problem with shifter rod but I grease it when doing service.same as my street bob 30 k & not a problem .just a tiny bit of grease does wonders .thats why I do all my own work shops skip the small things same as gear shifter & break peddles grease there pivot points .just like you should lube cables witch is another thing shops don’t do .
I replaced the rod ends with heim joints years ago but retained the stock pushrod. The rod is not the weak link, the rod ends are. I bought rod ends from McMaster Carr, a huge parts house for everything industrial. I keep one of the old stock rod ends in my tool pouch in case another rider has a stock one fail on the road. I had to replace my worn out rear shift arm last summer. On six speed bikes it’s an easy replacement, older 5 speeds requires the primary cases to be removed. Check the fasteners on front and back arms with a torque wrench at each fluid change.
Bought one from you and kicking myself for not doing this in the past. No lugging or clunking like OEM, what a freaking difference. Took 10 minutes to change out.
I had my shift linkage fail last summer half way through a 10 day ride. thankfully I did notice on my pre ride check i was getting some movement in the linkage before heading on on the ride. I recalled your video about this Ryan. on day 2 of the ride just happen to stop in a HD dealership to check things out. while there i checked with service department and picked up a new shifter linkage. Planning to swap it out once I got home. Well on around Day 5 of the ride it failed , and thankfully between myself an the buddies i was riding with , I was able to swap it out , and get back on the road in about 1/2 hour. Thanks Ryan love the videos. you save me some hardship and let me get back on my bike to enjoy the ride.
I feel you on the linkage failure. I zip tied my linkage in 2015, I replaced the zip tie last year 2023 in Nebraska (i run South Texas to Sturgis). No need for a shifter replacement. I just carry plenty of handcuff grade zip ties. Also bring black gorilla tape.
@@nelsongn9 yep. Zip ties really held it together Nut came off on front of primary. slid out. I zip tied as an emergency. It held indefinitely. Then the pivot above that came apart, zip tied that too. Many years ago. Might replace it some day. I have 2000 FLHTCUI. Note: 70k on Magnetti Marelli electronics. No issues. EDIT: not every issue can be fixed on the road, but for the ones that can, gorilla tape, Zip ties, and superglue is worth every square inch it takes up in the saddle bag.
Had mine fail on a trip to Sturgis, it stripped coming into Missoula in the evening. Rode it through the night to Billings HD and had it fixed under warranty. Had to shift by hand all the way to the dealership.
Love your stuff here in the UK, this reminds me of my next task, I fabricate stuff like this just for myself, mines an 08 Dyna, suspension sorted, cammed, followers,oil pump etc,primary sorted throughout, these little things can be a big downer on a run, thank you😊
Haven't had the shift linkage fail but I have had the shifter shaft fail on a long ride. A lace from my wife's extra pair of boots worked find to upshift. I'd rev it, pull in the clutch and tell her to shift and she'd pull back on the shoe lace. Luckily it would still catch to down shift to get to the next dealer for repair. It's made a good story over the years!
Back in 2006 my shift rod failed 2400 miles from home at a stop sign. I packed along cable ties which worked to get me moving again. Replacement has always been the number one item for my Harleys since.
I appreciate all the help that you give to people with big twins. With all the trouble with big twins across the board I just keep driving my trouble-free Evo Sportster. Amen
While it's never happened to me, more about the number of miles on the bikes, but it did to one of my riding buddies on a long ride. I've been thinking about changing it anyway just for fun and making my bike more personal. This decided it for me. Just ordered on. Thanks for the discount. Very appriciated.
Just replaced mine a week ago with a billet Aluminum chrome plated one. Looks great and inspected the shift arm too all is good. 08 SG just turned 70K miles...
Replaced mine when I moved my mid controls to forward. Also put some Loctite on the threads on (Sportster) the nuts don't back off during vibration. Shaft arm - other of a different design than that. Those linkages are very beefy! I like those! Cut out Roland Sands style.
So true. It failed on my '07 Low Rider with less than 30K on it. The replacement is so superior I recommend doing it NOW. Don't wait. In case you're wondering, low mileage because the guy I bought it from didn't ride much. .
I just went down to my local hardware store and bought two Heim joints with the same thread pitch. Sixteen dollars and done. Got a matching bolt for the rear.
I own a 2007 RG. My shift linkage is ALL stock. I have the bike since Memorial Day weekend 2007. I have over 103K miles on the bike. I clean and lube all pivot points at every service level. I have not had an issue with the shift linkage. I am now replacing inner primary seal and gasket. Also the shift shaft seal into tyranny. I will probably get a new linkage now and replace the stock one for astetics and prevent an issue this season. JRH
This is another reason why I will never trade mine in for a new one. After replacing way too many parts on the one I have I don't ever want to start over from scratch...not at the premium price the Harley charges for unfinished bikes.
How many motorcycles have you had that will last you your entires adut life? Let us call that 40 years. You pay 30,000 dollars for a pretty well loaded one. That is 750 dollars a year. I've had 12 or 14 metric bikes... not one of them has lasted even 8 years. They just wear out. Nearsighted people get to bothering the vibrations of life. Stop being a bad vibration.
The ball & socket joints failed after 8 years on my Road King so I went to Ace Hardware and picked up 2 heim joints installed them on the stock shift rod. Shifts just fine. Cost ? $10.
Iam so happy I just bought a 2002 Dyna Wide glid non running in really great shape chrome and paint really nice got it for 1300 on ebay auction. What I've found so far is broken cam gear on crankshaft got more to investigate of course but I have a good looking bike to work with.
05 Softail and my linkage "fell off" thankfully while washing my bike in the driveway amd not at speed in LA traffic. Was really surprised how cheap amd janky this part is compared to the replacement. I guess its fine for the low mile donut shop rider, but not for a daily rider that will see many miles.
At the start of a long trip mine fell off. Tied it up with Para Cord and drove straight to the dealer. Install a Gimble bearing type and used it on my 2012 Ultra and now on my 2020 TriGlide.
Agreed. the stock linkage rods do fail. We always upgrade to custom rods with real Heim joints. However along with tools, I carry a complete (nearly new) stock linkage rod in the bottom of my bag.
Thank you for reminding me to change these two items. I fixed one before on a friends bike and he had less than 8000 miles. My zip ties worked great. I’ve put over 73000 miles on my bike and everything has been replaced “except” these two items. 😂
My first Harley was a 2003 Anniversary Road Glide and my wife and I were on a ride but headed home and was maybe 5 miles from home and that shift linkage broke. I was lucky I was in 2nd and we made it home. I have since had 2 new Harleys and it s one the first mods I make.
Got my Kurayakyn linkage (chrome) in this week from your store and got it mounted, very pleased. Well made very good quality. Got the order in after 3 days. Got the 10 percent off too! Thank you Ryan.
Happened to me too, coincidentally on a long trip. Didn't have the tool kit, but the NAPA in the next town had bailing wire. 45 minutes later we were down the road
Oh boy are you right about the shifter shaft arm and the linkage going bad at the worst time. I had the shaft arm splines go bad on my ‘15 RG on my way to Laconia last year. Coming out of a toll booth it failed. I could only get into first and second gear. By the grace of god I was only a few miles from Manchester HD. I was able to ride to the dealer and change out the shaft arm and the linkage in the parking lot.
Was thinking of the shift shift linkage for a while now , just ben putting it off, was gonna buy factory but haven't seen one i liked and didn't know if one from the dealership would've ben same as one that came on my bike ? your video just reminded and convinced me seen one i liked. I just ordered one black and raw . thank you
I purchased one online. Aluminum with Maltese cross, “ Ebay“. When I received it, I thought it was plastic, I did the bite test 😂, it was a very cheap “Chinese“ aluminum. While on a ride, it split in half. I Thank God I had the original in my side bag and was able to change it out quickly then catch up for the ride. I learned my lesson from online aftermarket bike parts.
Yep mine failed going thru Ark . Ball joint came apart . Good thing was my boot laces were a little long so I cut about 10 in off my boot laces a tied it on. It got me back home in southeast Texas.
I've got 75k on my '07 Road King and I've had no problems with the shifter parts. I'd have way more miles on it, but I gotta share the love with my other bikes. 🤷🏻♂
There's a shop called Baker Custom Inc that has a wide selection if needed... U.S based .. I want to say California.. they had a Vendor set up at Ohio Bike Week last year and were packing up when I stumbled across them ... They stopped and took the time to set me up for both my RG and the wife's Dyna ... If Kuryakin becomes unavailable.. might be a viable option., ... Ride em, don't hide em y'all
I just saw this video today. I have a 2023 Road glide. Do the 2023 Harley's have this same issues with these 2 parts, and if so approx what is amount of milage on the bike are we talking about that this problem may occur?
I have an 04 Electra and I'm going through the gear shafts annually. The teeth on the inside of the shaft (closest to the motor) keep getting stripped. This time around, I noticed the bolt threads are also chewed up, so I am replacing that too. I've done the blue loctite and checked everything else. I just cant figure out why this keeps happening. I've had to make it home with zip ties several times now and I'm looking for answers!
Yah, definitely wide spread. Glad you've been a lucky one. Tons of comments on this video and other shift linkage and shift arm videos on this channel. Plus, it's happened to those around me and while on trips. Some do and some don't. I don't take chances anymore and just replace it.
I now ride the Polaris Challenger. In all honesty I really never had any issues with the HD I owned other than scheduled maintenance. My last HD had 68k when I traded it. Brand loyalty blinds some people. There is no perfect motorcycle.
another problem on the linkage is the back that goes to the transmition the little arm that sticks up has a bolt on the bottom like the front and it comes loose if it falls off you have to remove the whole primary you can get a hold of it and see if it moves back and forth,, it shifts front and back if it moves back and forth its loose you can get an allen key or allen wrench in there and tighten it up.... i saw a video on it and caught mine just in time.................i thin it may have been one of your video's 4-5 years back.......
I am trying to puchase a sculpted chrome linkage, part #9677. Your store says "full stock", but only Groove black is available for purchase. Do you actually have these or are you still out of them? thank you
Your out stock now. I saw these on jpcycles (Santoro Fabworx Shift Linkage For Harley Touring 1986-2024) they still have some linkages (K) there for $99.
Head hoggers, has the only ultimate fix as far as I know. The free play comes from the bushing inside the bike. The kit will give you a printed bushing to completely remove the "play". Paired with a good shifter linkage it will be more solid than stock with zero play.
You should never have to replace the linkage rod , you don't need to hammer on it to shift gears. Adding a drop or two of oil to each of the the heim joint when your changing the oil, will make a world of difference in longevity. If you have to change the front shift lever, this is a good time to drill and tap a hole for a zerk fitting. They used to have them on touring bikes, but I guess Harley decided to not install them anymore. And every oil change , put a wrench on the rear shift lever clamp on the transmission bolt. If that gets loose and rounds out, it's a pita tp replace. The whole primary has to come off to remove it.,,,
The stock don't have heim joints. Pressed ball and socket. Glad it hasn't happened to you YET. So many have dealt with this over the years. Here's some comments and info to see how wide spread it its ==> th-cam.com/video/fBrlm2KW5Xo/w-d-xo.html
Here is the linkage and fitment info ==> shop.lawabidingbiker.com/products/kuryakyn-shift-linkage-for-harley-davidson-sculpted-gloss-black?variant=42821840076956
LIKE TO KNOW OF ANYTHING ABOUT THE LEVER OFF THE TRANS TO THE LINKAGE IN QUESTION? MINE IS LOOSE AND GETTING ME WORRIED ! ANY GOOD REPLACEMENTS AND CAN IT BE DONE WITHOUT R&R ING THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE?
@@RyanUrlacher2012 ULTRA TRI GLIDE. THE LEVER BEHIND THE PRIMARY IS LOOSE AT SPLINED TRANS SHAFT. BOLT IS TIGHT ? WHAT IS THE FIX ? TAKE PRIMARY OFF TO FIX...PULL TRANS ? WENT TO DEALER AND FOUND 3 LOOSE TWO TIGHT ! DOESN'T SOUND LIKE A EASY FIX LIKE VIDEO...BOUGHT THIS NEW IN 2012. IS THIS COMMON?
@@mikechristensen3300 Yep hafta pull inner-Primary off to access. As long as the spline on the trans ( gearbox ) shaft is okay, get a new lever, use red-loctite, and do that bolt up until it feel like its going to snap off ( ie=tight as possible ! ) Spline on my gearbox-shaft ( '95 Dyna ) is well-worn ( farked badly ) and i have pieces of beer-can wedged in, and used Green Loctite..... Good Luck !
Nope, read all the comments. It's widespread for many years now. Consider yourself just lucky. Also, look at my other shift linkage videos and shifter arm videos on this channel. You won't be able to keep up with the comments of this happening to so many bikers. Ride safe.
I'm just going to go ahead and purchase two of them and also shifter arms and everything the whole thing the whole mechanism for the shifting things I'm going to purchase two of them and put them in the trunk in in case
This Kurayakyn linkage doesn't seem right. I have a 2003 Electra Glide. Bought it new. I've put 51K on it over 21 years now. Original linkage. After watching this video It seemed like a good preventative maintenance move. I bought one from your store. Per the instructions, I've adjusted and tightened the Jam nuts to the proper length but the center rod still has some wiggle/movement at those connections. This doesn't feel right. Not as solid as the original. Well, I put the 21 year old part back on and contacted Kuryakyn. I'm still waiting their response.
Okay, this was the reply I got. Guess I'll just pray about putting it back on. Thanks Ryan. Hello Gary, Thank you for contacting Kuryakyn Support. This is common but should be no cause for concern. As long as everything can be properly tightened, there should be no issue. Best regards, Joseph Petry Customer Support Representative
SUPPORT US AND GET KURAYAKYN SHIFT LINKAGE IN OUR STORE 👉 shop.lawabidingbiker.com/products/kuryakyn-shift-linkage-for-harley-davidson-sculpted-gloss-black?variant=42108387262620
HELP SUPPORT US! JOIN THE BIKER REVOLUTION! #BikerRevolution #LawAbidingBiker #Bikaholics #RyanUrlacher
🛒 SHOP IN THE LAW ABIDING BIKER STORE 🛒
shop.lawabidingbiker.com
😎 BECOME A MEMBER AND GET BENEFITS 😎
www.patreon.com/lawabidingbiker
📹 GET PREMIUM MOTORCYCLE TUTORIAL VIDEOS 📹
www.lawabidingbiker.com/buyvideos
🎬 WATCH OUR MOTORCYCLE DOCUMENTARY FILMS HERE🎬
www.lawabidingbiker.com/motorcycle-documentary-films
💰LEAVE A FLAT DONATION 💰
www.lawabidingbiker.com/donate
📱SHOP AMAZON RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS 📱
www.amazon.com/shop/ryanurlacher
📺 SUBSCRIBE TO OUR TH-cam CHANNEL 📺
goo.gl/EtxUnW
🎙CHECK OUT THE WEEKLY PODCAST 🎙
www.lawabidingbiker.com/app
ⓕ FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK ⓕ
facebook.com/lawabidingbiker
🐦 FOLLOW US ON TWITTER 🐦
twitter.com/LawAbidingBiker
📷 FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM 📷
instagram.com/LawAbidingBiker
🙈 FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK 🙈
www.tiktok.com/@lawabidingbiker
I am so glad 😊 l have a great Sportster 883. I have had my Sportster for 25 years and 400,000 miles on the original engine and 37 back tires and 17 front ones and 3 belts in 25 years. She is my daily driver as I don't have a car. I have had my Triumph Tr-6 with a hard tail and magneto for 40 years. When she was 50 years old she needed new camshafts we split the cases and new ones and changed the sludge trap. Put her back together and now she is good for another 50 years. It's a shame that HD big twins have so many quality issues for such a expensive motorcycle 😢.
Rock on sportsters ! , 94k + on my 02
Ive got 135,000kms on my 09 Nightster, still mint
I’ve riding Harley since 40 years back. I’ve never had any problem like this.
I too have never heard of shift linkage or arms coming loose or breaking in my 30 plus years of riding. Neither me nor anyone I have rode with ever had these problems you describe. Periodically check all your fasteners is good advice.
Glad it hasn't happened to you yet. check out the overwhelming comments on this video of riders it's happened to over many years. It's a widespread issue ==> th-cam.com/video/_GJz_J8IgqI/w-d-xo.html
88,000 on one evo never a problem. 74,000 on the twink never a problem. 67,000 on the 2017 m8 no problem. I have seen it happen on bikes not maintained. In my shop probably done 5 in 40 years. Guess your just lucky 🤣
It’s happened to me in the middle of a ride
Amen, proper maintenance and inspections of your ride, and she'll last you a lifetime.
Yep my OEM linkage failed riding down the highway. I got lucky and the nut and bolt came loose rather than the ball socket popping. So I hand tightened and made it home. Ended up swapping with a Heim joint linkage sold by Kustom Cycle Parts on Amazon. Company out of Nebraska I believe. Anodized billet aluminum. And they will engrave so you can customize. I also replaced the shift arm, shaft and those shaft bushings that require a special bearing tool. But the end result is much more stable and failure-proof. So if Kury stops making these, there are other options.
Did 100 k on evo not a problem with shifter rod but I grease it when doing service.same as my street bob 30 k & not a problem .just a tiny bit of grease does wonders .thats why I do all my own work shops skip the small things same as gear shifter & break peddles grease there pivot points .just like you should lube cables witch is another thing shops don’t do .
I replaced the rod ends with heim joints years ago but retained the stock pushrod. The rod is not the weak link, the rod ends are. I bought rod ends from McMaster Carr, a huge parts house for everything industrial. I keep one of the old stock rod ends in my tool pouch in case another rider has a stock one fail on the road.
I had to replace my worn out rear shift arm last summer. On six speed bikes it’s an easy replacement, older 5 speeds requires the primary cases to be removed. Check the fasteners on front and back arms with a torque wrench at each fluid change.
Correct. Pressed ball and socket/stock.
Bought one from you and kicking myself for not doing this in the past. No lugging or clunking like OEM, what a freaking difference. Took 10 minutes to change out.
I had my shift linkage fail last summer half way through a 10 day ride. thankfully I did notice on my pre ride check i was getting some movement in the linkage before heading on on the ride. I recalled your video about this Ryan. on day 2 of the ride just happen to stop in a HD dealership to check things out. while there i checked with service department and picked up a new shifter linkage. Planning to swap it out once I got home. Well on around Day 5 of the ride it failed , and thankfully between myself an the buddies i was riding with , I was able to swap it out , and get back on the road in about 1/2 hour. Thanks Ryan love the videos. you save me some hardship and let me get back on my bike to enjoy the ride.
Just awesome story. Thanks for sharing. That's my aim, is just to help bikers know about stuff like this, so they aren't stranded.
I feel you on the linkage failure. I zip tied my linkage in 2015, I replaced the zip tie last year 2023 in Nebraska (i run South Texas to Sturgis). No need for a shifter replacement. I just carry plenty of handcuff grade zip ties. Also bring black gorilla tape.
wow. did zipties really work?? i have a 2013 ultra, always concerned about breakdowns far from home
@@nelsongn9 yep. Zip ties really held it together
Nut came off on front of primary. slid out. I zip tied as an emergency. It held indefinitely. Then the pivot above that came apart, zip tied that too. Many years ago. Might replace it some day. I have 2000 FLHTCUI. Note: 70k on Magnetti Marelli electronics. No issues. EDIT: not every issue can be fixed on the road, but for the ones that can, gorilla tape, Zip ties, and superglue is worth every square inch it takes up in the saddle bag.
Thanks Ryan I bought two and the discount code is still good! I appreciate you and all you do for us Bikers!
Had mine fail on a trip to Sturgis, it stripped coming into Missoula in the evening. Rode it through the night to Billings HD and had it fixed under warranty. Had to shift by hand all the way to the dealership.
Yeah bro, I've been there. Hand shifting to get to where you need to. LOL!! thanks for sharing.
Love your stuff here in the UK, this reminds me of my next task, I fabricate stuff like this just for myself, mines an 08 Dyna, suspension sorted, cammed, followers,oil pump etc,primary sorted throughout, these little things can be a big downer on a run, thank you😊
Haven't had the shift linkage fail but I have had the shifter shaft fail on a long ride. A lace from my wife's extra pair of boots worked find to upshift. I'd rev it, pull in the clutch and tell her to shift and she'd pull back on the shoe lace. Luckily it would still catch to down shift to get to the next dealer for repair. It's made a good story over the years!
Yup I had the shifter shaft issues as tons of other bikers have. Check this out ==> th-cam.com/video/_GJz_J8IgqI/w-d-xo.html
Back in 2006 my shift rod failed 2400 miles from home at a stop sign. I packed along cable ties which worked to get me moving again. Replacement has always been the number one item for my Harleys since.
That Kuryakyn shift linkage is a nice piece. I replaced my OEM shifter and also used the Thrashin Supply shift lever. A very nice setup!
I appreciate all the help that you give to people with big twins. With all the trouble with big twins across the board I just keep driving my trouble-free Evo Sportster. Amen
Rock on.
@@RyanUrlacher Yes. Thank you for this very helpful video and tip Ryan!
Ride mate not driving.
While it's never happened to me, more about the number of miles on the bikes, but it did to one of my riding buddies on a long ride. I've been thinking about changing it anyway just for fun and making my bike more personal. This decided it for me. Just ordered on. Thanks for the discount. Very appriciated.
Just replaced mine a week ago with a billet Aluminum chrome plated one. Looks great and inspected the shift arm too all is good. 08 SG just turned 70K miles...
Replaced mine when I moved my mid controls to forward. Also put some Loctite on the threads on (Sportster) the nuts don't back off during vibration. Shaft arm - other of a different design than that. Those linkages are very beefy! I like those! Cut out Roland Sands style.
So true. It failed on my '07 Low Rider with less than 30K on it. The replacement is so superior I recommend doing it NOW. Don't wait. In case you're wondering, low mileage because the guy I bought it from didn't ride much. .
The Thrashin’ shift arm is s great improvement over the stock shift arm, it makes finding neutral easy & consistent…
haven't had a failure yet, but Thanks for bringing this up so I don't have a failure out on the road.
I just went down to my local hardware store and bought two Heim joints with the same thread pitch. Sixteen dollars and done. Got a matching bolt for the rear.
I own a 2007 RG. My shift linkage is ALL stock. I have the bike since Memorial Day weekend 2007. I have over 103K miles on the bike. I clean and lube all pivot points at every service level. I have not had an issue with the shift linkage. I am now replacing inner primary seal and gasket. Also the shift shaft seal into tyranny. I will probably get a new linkage now and replace the stock one for astetics and prevent an issue this season. JRH
Thank you for this video. You helped me scratch Harley-Davidson off my new bike prospects.
Im on my fourth Harley. I've never had a shift linkage fail
Another harley fix the videos never end. What part on a harley does not need replacing to make it work right?
Uhhhhh….why doesn’t Harley fix these known problem things. They charge enough for the bike.
I know, same as BMW and others. There are just some things like this that have to be changed. I certainly wish it were not the case.
This is another reason why I will never trade mine in for a new one. After replacing way too many parts on the one I have I don't ever want to start over from scratch...not at the premium price the Harley charges for unfinished bikes.
Why don't they fix them?...$ that's why
How many motorcycles have you had that will last you your entires adut life? Let us call that 40 years. You pay 30,000 dollars for a pretty well loaded one. That is 750 dollars a year. I've had 12 or 14 metric bikes... not one of them has lasted even 8 years. They just wear out. Nearsighted people get to bothering the vibrations of life. Stop being a bad vibration.
Defective water pump 700 bucks the m8 2017 -2019 defective oil pumps,cam chain tensioners ,eco cam bearings the list goes on 😢and on😂
Just ordered mine up! Great imfo. Mine is good to go, but trying to be proactive, I'm getting mine while I can. Great video
Totally, I bought a 2024 Street Glide 2 weeks ago and I'm replacing it tomorrow. NO reason to get stranded. THANKS FOR SHOPPING IN OUR STORE!
The ball & socket joints failed after 8 years on my Road King so I went to Ace Hardware and picked up 2 heim joints installed them on the stock shift rod. Shifts just fine. Cost ? $10.
Iam so happy I just bought a 2002 Dyna Wide glid non running in really great shape chrome and paint really nice got it for 1300 on ebay auction. What I've found so far is broken cam gear on crankshaft got more to investigate of course but I have a good looking bike to work with.
05 Softail and my linkage "fell off" thankfully while washing my bike in the driveway amd not at speed in LA traffic. Was really surprised how cheap amd janky this part is compared to the replacement. I guess its fine for the low mile donut shop rider, but not for a daily rider that will see many miles.
I got mine in the mail today thanks 👍👍👍👍plus the two stickers bonus
Dam I missed out on that code
At the start of a long trip mine fell off. Tied it up with Para Cord and drove straight to the dealer. Install a Gimble bearing type and used it on my 2012 Ultra and now on my 2020 TriGlide.
Agreed. the stock linkage rods do fail. We always upgrade to custom rods with real Heim joints. However along with tools, I carry a complete (nearly new) stock linkage rod in the bottom of my bag.
Roger that. We too carry an old linkage just as a backup. Thanks for watching.
Thank you for reminding me to change these two items. I fixed one before on a friends bike and he had less than 8000 miles. My zip ties worked great. I’ve put over 73000 miles on my bike and everything has been replaced “except” these two items. 😂
Rock on!! Thanks for the comments.
Roosta from Chicago: My linkage went out while I was in Arkansas riding the Ozark mountains; took it to Pigtrail Harley Davidson for repair.
My first Harley was a 2003 Anniversary Road Glide and my wife and I were on a ride but headed home and was maybe 5 miles from home and that shift linkage broke. I was lucky I was in 2nd and we made it home. I have since had 2 new Harleys and it s one the first mods I make.
Yup, this has been a problem with Harley for years, only the CVO's have the shift rod with Heim joints...
Yup
42k....I get helm joints. Lol
Got my Kurayakyn linkage (chrome) in this week from your store and got it mounted, very pleased. Well made very good quality. Got the order in after 3 days. Got the 10 percent off too! Thank you Ryan.
Happened to me too, coincidentally on a long trip. Didn't have the tool kit, but the NAPA in the next town had bailing wire. 45 minutes later we were down the road
Thanks for sharing!!
I changed it on my 2012 FLHTK like 9 years ago. It didn't fail but it was a POS...As for the shift shaft arm, I carry a spare in my Cruz Tool Bag..
I just changed to heim joints. Went 80,100 miles on my 08 stock joints.
Just sayn.
But, the heim joint is more solid for sure.
Oh boy are you right about the shifter shaft arm and the linkage going bad at the worst time. I had the shaft arm splines go bad on my ‘15 RG on my way to Laconia last year. Coming out of a toll booth it failed. I could only get into first and second gear. By the grace of god I was only a few miles from Manchester HD. I was able to ride to the dealer and change out the shaft arm and the linkage in the parking lot.
Thanks for sharing.
Tried to purchase a shift linkage from your store. Unfortunately you dont ship to UK. Luckily I found them available from ARH Customs in the UK.
Was thinking of the shift shift linkage for a while now , just ben putting it off, was gonna buy factory but haven't seen one i liked and didn't know if one from the dealership would've ben same as one that came on my bike ? your video just reminded and convinced me seen one i liked. I just ordered one black and raw . thank you
Rock on. Thanks for your support. I don't want anyone to be stranded like so many bikers are when this happens.
I had the stock one fail on me out in the middle of nowhere but I managed to zip tie it back together to get home so Yes get a better one asap
I changed mine to Heim joints before the first ride. I carry the stock joints in my kit in case someone needs them on the road.
I purchased one online. Aluminum with Maltese cross, “ Ebay“. When I received it, I thought it was plastic, I did the bite test 😂, it was a very cheap “Chinese“ aluminum. While on a ride, it split in half. I Thank God I had the original in my side bag and was able to change it out quickly then catch up for the ride. I learned my lesson from online aftermarket bike parts.
Yah, Amazon is a beast for sure. Advertising so much knock of stuff these days. I feel your pain.
Yep mine failed going thru Ark . Ball joint came apart . Good thing was my boot laces were a little long so I cut about 10 in off my boot laces a tied it on. It got me back home in southeast Texas.
Thanks for sharing!!
Quality parts for sure. It's one of the first thingsnI swap out. Softbrake has some good options as well.
Awesome hoodie
Right on
shop.lawabidingbiker.com/collections/supportgear
I've got 75k on my '07 Road King and I've had no problems with the shifter parts. I'd have way more miles on it, but I gotta share the love with my other bikes. 🤷🏻♂
It’s good you share these valuable tips but makes you wonder why a bike that costs like a Harley would not fix all the known problems.
Thanks, Brother !! Had not thought of that. Ordered it right away.
Very cool!! Thx
Purchased one tonight from your store. Thank you for the discount.
Absolutely. Thanks for your support.
I’ve never had a shifter link fail, but the OEM one is definitely one of the things that I change out because it looks cheap and crap.
There's a shop called Baker Custom Inc that has a wide selection if needed... U.S based .. I want to say California.. they had a Vendor set up at Ohio Bike Week last year and were packing up when I stumbled across them ... They stopped and took the time to set me up for both my RG and the wife's Dyna ... If Kuryakin becomes unavailable.. might be a viable option., ... Ride em, don't hide em y'all
I just replaced the heim joints on mine bought from Fleetfarm !!
I just ordered my linkage thanks looking forward to installing it soon
Right on! Thx
That looks exactly like a tie rod end on my MTD lawn tractor! I keep spares around, they let go all the time. Jeez, come from the same factory?
I just saw this video today. I have a 2023 Road glide. Do the 2023 Harley's have this same issues with these 2 parts, and if so approx what is amount of milage on the bike are we talking about that this problem may occur?
Haven't had any issues with my 21 RG but purchased one to match my sexier floor boards :D
Nice!! Now you won't have a problem for sure
Looks like you are sold out of the Chrome linkage. Any chance you will have more of this one or is that it?
I have an 04 Electra and I'm going through the gear shafts annually. The teeth on the inside of the shaft (closest to the motor) keep getting stripped. This time around, I noticed the bolt threads are also chewed up, so I am replacing that too. I've done the blue loctite and checked everything else. I just cant figure out why this keeps happening. I've had to make it home with zip ties several times now and I'm looking for answers!
Wouldn't the linkage start to feel sloppy before it fails if it's a wear issue?
Yup My 03 failed on a trip. My 2018 SG I wouldn't take it home until they swapped that part.
Mine failed when I was 100 miles from home.. just took a string from my backpack and tied it together and got home thank goodness
Just bought one Ryan. Thanks for your video. Is the sticker shift bracket you also mention one from HD or aftermarket company? I have a 2014 SGS.
The shifter shaft arm is OEM ==> th-cam.com/video/_GJz_J8IgqI/w-d-xo.html
Great info 💙🏁💙
Liked Kurayakyn, easy search, had a cart full of good chrome stuff. Tucker not so much.
Happen to me shift lever came loose on a long trip “Iowa to Dallas” last 20-miles. Was Able to fix it and get home..
Thanks for sharing
60,000 + miles never replaced either of these, no problems. Honestly never heard of this problem until now
Yah, definitely wide spread. Glad you've been a lucky one. Tons of comments on this video and other shift linkage and shift arm videos on this channel. Plus, it's happened to those around me and while on trips. Some do and some don't. I don't take chances anymore and just replace it.
I now ride the Polaris Challenger. In all honesty I really never had any issues with the HD I owned other than scheduled maintenance. My last HD had 68k when I traded it. Brand loyalty blinds some people. There is no perfect motorcycle.
Correct, no perfect motorcycle. I'm still searching.
Didn't you have a factor shift rod fail out Cheyenne way a couple of years ago???
GOOD MEMORY. Yes I did. It was my shifter shaft arm that failed. ==> www.lawabidingbiker.com/harley-shifter-problems/
Thrashin Supply has a nice aftermarket shift lever that changes the torque of the shift arm & allows one to find neutral easier…
What about the trans lever ?
Do you have the arm to go with the linkage ?
another problem on the linkage is the back that goes to the transmition the little arm that sticks up has a bolt on the bottom like the front and it comes loose if it falls off you have to remove the whole primary you can get a hold of it and see if it moves back and forth,, it shifts front and back if it moves back and forth its loose you can get an allen key or allen wrench in there and tighten it up.... i saw a video on it and caught mine just in time.................i thin it may have been one of your video's 4-5 years back.......
Check this out ==> th-cam.com/video/_GJz_J8IgqI/w-d-xo.html
yeap, mine was on the back one......... thanks man....@@RyanUrlacher
What if your Harley has mid controls with something like an S shaped linkage.
And wheel bearing is a major one. Everyone I know had to replace them right away or had them seized up.
Made my shift linkage 2 years ago with heim rod ends.
been riding HD's for 48 yrs. and never had any problems with shift linkage
I am trying to puchase a sculpted chrome linkage, part #9677. Your store says "full stock", but only Groove black is available for purchase. Do you actually have these or are you still out of them? thank you
What about the Harley shifters?
Your out stock now. I saw these on jpcycles (Santoro Fabworx Shift Linkage For Harley Touring 1986-2024) they still have some linkages (K) there for $99.
Nope, not out of stock ==> shop.lawabidingbiker.com/products/kuryakyn-shift-linkage-for-harley-davidson-sculpted-gloss-black?variant=42821840076956
Great information ty 🇺🇸
Head hoggers, has the only ultimate fix as far as I know. The free play comes from the bushing inside the bike. The kit will give you a printed bushing to completely remove the "play". Paired with a good shifter linkage it will be more solid than stock with zero play.
You should never have to replace the linkage rod , you don't need to hammer on it to shift gears. Adding a drop or two of oil to each of the the heim joint when your changing the oil, will make a world of difference in longevity. If you have to change the front shift lever, this is a good time to drill and tap a hole for a zerk fitting. They used to have them on touring bikes, but I guess Harley decided to not install them anymore. And every oil change , put a wrench on the rear shift lever clamp on the transmission bolt. If that gets loose and rounds out, it's a pita tp replace. The whole primary has to come off to remove it.,,,
The stock don't have heim joints. Pressed ball and socket. Glad it hasn't happened to you YET. So many have dealt with this over the years. Here's some comments and info to see how wide spread it its ==> th-cam.com/video/fBrlm2KW5Xo/w-d-xo.html
are you going to buy a new roadglide since you make a lot of long distance rides?
true that I have Brocken 2 on my bikes ,one went bad at only 5k miles .
Do you sell Kuryakin shifter linkage for a 1995 883 Hugger Sportster ?
Thanks for the info. Just subscribed!!
Thanks for the sub!
When your rth3 kit is in stock please let me know, I'm waiting. 😎✌
Are you gonna have the linkage to fit a 99 EVO heritage softtail classic with the capability of a bend for the Samson true dual exhaust in chrome?
Here is the linkage and fitment info ==> shop.lawabidingbiker.com/products/kuryakyn-shift-linkage-for-harley-davidson-sculpted-gloss-black?variant=42821840076956
Looks like Locktite is your friend with those bikes!
LIKE TO KNOW OF ANYTHING ABOUT THE LEVER OFF THE TRANS TO THE LINKAGE IN QUESTION? MINE IS LOOSE AND GETTING ME WORRIED ! ANY GOOD REPLACEMENTS AND CAN IT BE DONE WITHOUT R&R ING THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE?
Check it now ==> th-cam.com/video/_GJz_J8IgqI/w-d-xo.html
@@RyanUrlacher2012 ULTRA TRI GLIDE. THE LEVER BEHIND THE PRIMARY IS LOOSE AT SPLINED TRANS SHAFT. BOLT IS TIGHT ? WHAT IS THE FIX ? TAKE PRIMARY OFF TO FIX...PULL TRANS ? WENT TO DEALER AND FOUND 3 LOOSE TWO TIGHT ! DOESN'T SOUND LIKE A EASY FIX LIKE VIDEO...BOUGHT THIS NEW IN 2012. IS THIS COMMON?
@@mikechristensen3300
Yep hafta pull inner-Primary off to access. As long as the spline on the trans ( gearbox ) shaft is okay, get a new lever, use red-loctite, and do that bolt up until it feel like its going to snap off ( ie=tight as possible ! ) Spline on my gearbox-shaft ( '95 Dyna ) is well-worn ( farked badly ) and i have pieces of beer-can wedged in, and used Green Loctite..... Good Luck !
Don't forget about the plastic clutch cable adjuster. Metal replacement from fat baggers
Nothing for the most popular HD on the road (dyna)?
When do you expect to have back in stock?
have a 2016 with 80 k miles not a problem, never heard of it , maybe your kicking instead of shifting?
Nope, read all the comments. It's widespread for many years now. Consider yourself just lucky. Also, look at my other shift linkage videos and shifter arm videos on this channel. You won't be able to keep up with the comments of this happening to so many bikers. Ride safe.
I'm just going to go ahead and purchase two of them and also shifter arms and everything the whole thing the whole mechanism for the shifting things I'm going to purchase two of them and put them in the trunk in in case
Good call
This Kurayakyn linkage doesn't seem right. I have a 2003 Electra Glide. Bought it new. I've put 51K on it over 21 years now. Original linkage. After watching this video It seemed like a good preventative maintenance move. I bought one from your store. Per the instructions, I've adjusted and tightened the Jam nuts to the proper length but the center rod still has some wiggle/movement at those connections. This doesn't feel right. Not as solid as the original. Well, I put the 21 year old part back on and contacted Kuryakyn. I'm still waiting their response.
Okay, this was the reply I got. Guess I'll just pray about putting it back on. Thanks Ryan.
Hello Gary,
Thank you for contacting Kuryakyn Support.
This is common but should be no cause for concern.
As long as everything can be properly tightened, there should be no issue.
Best regards,
Joseph Petry
Customer Support Representative