Gday guys, just got myself a 76 FX Shovel. However it has been retrofitted with a lot of things such as a CV carb and cheap home made forward controls.

I am looking to replace the forward controls because they stick and have a lot of issues. However I noticed a lot of play on the arm, I want to know if it is normal or where should I find the parts to replace it along with the new forward controls.

It is not returning on upshifts and sometimes downshifts at the moment. I am not sure if its due to the homemade forward controls or worn linkages or something else.

Any insight or help would be greatly appreciated.

Some pics of bike up shortly, in new intro section!

 

 G'Day Seevip,

First thing is you have a "castletop"  gearbox, 1979-on. I pressume the bike may be a Bitsa, not uncommon for it's age and possible number of owners. There is a lot of slop in the video you posted, most of it seems to be in the shifter rod to shifter arm connection. The shifter arm has a grease nipple you can see, this lubricates a bushing in the shifter arm. This bushing can be replaced and if there is nothing wrong with the gearbox internals and the shifter arm is ok or you re-bush, the slop should then be all in the forward controls (best case scenario).

There are a few other tricks setting that up, but see how you go changing over to new controls,

Cheers,

Cris 

 Hi Doc,

Thanks for the quick reply.

1. I had a look at the parts catalogue and it seems that there are two different lever setups, one is post 79 onwards34655-79 , and one is post 80 FXWG 33177-79(current one installed is closest to this one). Am I best replacing it with another of the same, or is there no benefit choosing either one? 33187-79 Bushing is the same however I guess I am worried about an enlarged hole and play in the rod.

 

2. Having the part numbers, what is usually the quickest way to order parts, call up local dealer or is there a secret source you guys know to have the item quicker?

Hi Seevip
Here's a link to the parts.
http://www.harleyaustraliaaccessories.com/Drag_Specialties.php?pn=58%20&review=&make=&minprice=&maxprice=&model_id=&cat=&cat2=&manuf=&searchtext=

And yes, the lever on your video seems to be the FXWG type. I can't recommend the local dealers as they usually won't keep or supply "obsolete" parts.
I'm a bit old school, usually make or fix it myself if I can.
Regards,
Cris

Try Choppaweeza he has containers coming in quite often with various shovel and early evo bits.

 

As you can see above the hole is warped. 

The "bushning" was not the proper bushing, its 1 piece of bushing like metal, other piece wassome thing metal that was warped. There are 3 washers used instead of 1, so I am a little suss that the bolt is not even the true one. I think I will have to order a new bolt from harley, anyone else sell harley sized bolts and washers?

 

I fond both the shift lever and lever arm on ebay luckily. Shit lever arm hole had inconsistent wear to one side which may cause the shifter to catch so I bought that too. It is also missing a washer.

 32535-48 thrust washer shift lever

2818 BOLT 5/16-18x 1-1/2 hex. hd

7775 locknut 3/8-24 x 7/16 x 9/16 hex

6701 washer 3/8 x 13/16 x 1/16 

 that model always wears @ the linkage thats why it been got @ , buy all new parts   & keep it well greese , & around town bike will wear more that a country bike ,

 G'Day,

As Dave recommended, your local fastener supplier will have the supplies you need. If not exact length, buy longer and cut to fit. When I was in Sydney I found Bomond Trading in Brookvale a good source of nuts and bolts in stainless.

When I had my Shovel I made up a shifter part that replaced all the inkage bits.  Basically I replaced the shifter lever arm (that's the piece that bolts to the gearbox and has the slot on the other side. I found a spanner with a ring end that fit the shifter lever shaft coming out of the gearbox, measured the space between the shaft and the oil tank and cut the spanner so it would fit upright without  touching anything. I then drilled a hole on the flat of the spanner end to attach the shifter rod from the forward controls (made a longer rod out of stainless .) This made for very short, slop-less shifts. It was a bit tricky finding neutral sometimes with such a short throw, but I could live with it.

Hell, those were the days you didn't have a choice most of the time, you either made or modified or went without.

Cheers ,

Cris

Found linkages on ebay.

Found washer and bolt sydney dealer.

Now am hoping to find thrustwasher and bolt, through keables.com.au fasteners or will shell out 60 bucks for them in the states.

Will let you know how it goes, really appreciate the info guys.