'12 Sportster gearbox issue?

  • Roo Ted
    Roo Ted
    4 years ago

    Hey gents. I'm having trouble with gear selection. Can only get first & neutral.

    The bike was dropped on the left side a while back fairly heavily. As a result the gear selector/mounts etc have been replaced along with the clutch lever & perch bracket. The clutch has been adjusted as per every nut jobs instruction on youtube.

    Any suggestions?

  • tussuck
    tussuck
    4 years ago
    CAn you shift up wards with the bike turned off and by rocking the bike back and forward?
  • Roo Ted
    Roo Ted
    4 years ago

    No Tussuck I can't. Even riding round the yard it doesn't even feel like shifting up. Neutral to first & back quite comfortably is all I get.


  • tussuck
    tussuck
    4 years ago
    I'm kinda thinking its not the clutch then.
    Could be a shifter pawl or something internal.
    get the bike warm and then drain the tranny oil and see if its got metal flake in it.
    If thats good, then plan B is your gonna have to dive in and havea  look.  Is it an internal or external gearbox?
  • paulybronco
    paulybronco
    4 years ago
    Quoting Roo Ted on 01 May 2020 12:48 PM

    Hey gents. I'm having trouble with gear selection. Can only get first & neutral.

    The bike was dropped on the left side a while back fairly heavily. As a result the gear selector/mounts etc have been replaced along with the clutch lever & perch bracket. The clutch has been adjusted as per every nut jobs instruction on youtube.

    Any suggestions?

    Did it have all gears prior to your adjustments or has the bike just had the mounts etc done after the accident and now wont shift
  • tussuck
    tussuck
    4 years ago
    Could be something external still bent outta shape from the drop
  • Hoodeng
    Hoodeng
    4 years ago


    Quite likely this is what your shift shaft and forks look like now. Had the similar symptoms as yours. There is also a possibility your shift drum is indented.
  • Roo Ted
    Roo Ted
    4 years ago
    Pauly, "the bike just had the mounts etc done after the accident and now wont shift". The left foot peg shaft, mount & bolts and gear selector were all bent beyond repair in the accident. I was hoping the damage was limited to the externals. Maybe not.
    Sounds like Hoodeng might be on the money. If so I might need to roll it off to the experts.
    I'm a pliers & wires bloke so gearboxes aren't really my thing. 
    Thanks for the help guys. I'll raise an isolated Boags red in your honour.
    Cheers!


  • tussuck
    tussuck
    4 years ago
    Before taking it to the pros pull the primary cover and have a gander to see if anything is obstructing the shifts.
  • paulybronco
    paulybronco
    4 years ago
    Quoting Roo Ted on 02 May 2020 03:05 AM

    Pauly, "the bike just had the mounts etc done after the accident and now wont shift". The left foot peg shaft, mount & bolts and gear selector were all bent beyond repair in the accident. I was hoping the damage was limited to the externals. Maybe not.

    Sounds like Hoodeng might be on the money. If so I might need to roll it off to the experts.
    I'm a pliers & wires bloke so gearboxes aren't really my thing. 
    Thanks for the help guys. I'll raise an isolated Boags red in your honour.
    Cheers!


    What is boags?
  • brucefxdl
    brucefxdl
    4 years ago
    Quoting Roo Ted on 02 May 2020 03:05 AM

    Pauly, "the bike just had the mounts etc done after the accident and now wont shift". The left foot peg shaft, mount & bolts and gear selector were all bent beyond repair in the accident. I was hoping the damage was limited to the externals. Maybe not.

    Sounds like Hoodeng might be on the money. If so I might need to roll it off to the experts.
    I'm a pliers & wires bloke so gearboxes aren't really my thing. 
    Thanks for the help guys. I'll raise an isolated Boags red in your honour.
    Cheers!


    Quoting paulybronco on 02 May 2020 09:43 AM

    What is boags?

    tassie beer.....not a bad drop too.
  • Roo Ted
    Roo Ted
    4 years ago

    Good advice Tussuck. I might have a look at that. Hopefully somethings come adrift there. Even transmission removal doesn't look like rocket science. Will let you know what I find.

    PS: Boags XXX, nectar of the gods.


  • tussuck
    tussuck
    4 years ago
    An 2012 Sporty should have the integrated tranny I think, so to get to the actual gears etc its a remove engine from bike and split the cases type job.
  • Roo Ted
    Roo Ted
    4 years ago
    Update. I dropped the bike up to my local Tassie Choppers who had it fixed in short time. Apparently the shift lever behind the primary case had been knocked out of centre upon impact. A slight technical adjustment and everything back to normal. Cheers!
  • tussuck
    tussuck
    4 years ago
    great result and glad it was something simple.
  • Krash Kinkade
    Krash Kinkade
    4 years ago
    Quoting tussuck on 03 May 2020 12:34 AM

    An 2012 Sporty should have the integrated tranny I think, so to get to the actual gears etc its a remove engine from bike and split the cases type job.

    yes big job, need to pull motor split cases. when Harley went rubber mounted motor, the new cases did not get the trap door in primary, to pull GB out like a cassette , EFI Buell's the same.
  • Krash Kinkade
    Krash Kinkade
    4 years ago
    Quoting Roo Ted on 06 May 2020 08:43 PM

    Update. I dropped the bike up to my local Tassie Choppers who had it fixed in short time. Apparently the shift lever behind the primary case had been knocked out of centre upon impact. A slight technical adjustment and everything back to normal. Cheers!

    Thats good news!!