peeps, as I do a bit of reading on the US HD forums, I always come across a topic on loose or lost shift linkages and broken shift rod ball joints. This has probably been covered before but thought I'd throw it up again.

A cheap fix for the linkage rod is to replace the ball joints with heim joints, I recently bought 2 off ebay thru an aussie seller for ~$18 delivered. Mine were 5/16 X 5/16-24 (measure yours b4 buying as they may be a different size) and simply replace the existing ball joints, I did end up also buying some ali spacers to help the joint alignment front to back for $10 for a 4 pack thru the same seller. I had some stainless bolts in the correct thread at home already -you'll need 2.

May have never had a problem myself (with the joints;)) but cheap peace of mind mod. Think they are standard on the CVO's and didn't really want or need an aftermarket shift linkage.

Also, the shift arms - always hated the heel shifter but didn't want to just cap the shaft after removing, so I removed the peg from the heel shifter, removed both shift levers and refitted with the heel shifter rotated 180deg but now closest to the primary and the toe shifter now on the outside of the shaft, placed them in the same alignment - this placed the toe shifter out the width of the shift lever which gives it a better placement for me as I was always turning my foot in a little bit to reach the toe peg. Threw the now spare peg in the saddle bag just in case.

Lastly, check the torque on the linkages where they attach to the g/box and shift shaft  - 4 all up. Coincidently, was talking to a friend today who has a 2014 RoadKing and his toe lever fell off the day before, managed to find it and limped home but he is going to check everything is tight.

cheers

DocGreen 

since you asked nicely ;)

I have attached the links for the site they were purchased thru, oddly, looking at their site it didn't show the 5/16" rod ends now??

https://www.ebay.com.au/str/bullantperformanceproducts/Rod-Ends/_i.html?_storecat=5096521011

spacers I ordered - not here yet, but in their store, they were 5/16 X 1/4 tapered ali spacers

while I haven't received the spacers yet, the heim joints arrived very quickly considering SA to NSW.

I have brought from them A few years after import chopper recommended them in a post