What is a shift pawl?
The purpose of the shift pawl assembly is to push or pull, forward and back on the shift drum. This motion turns the shift drum which, in turn, moves the shift forks. Finally, the shift forks slide their corresponding transmission gears on the mainshaft and countershaft giving us gear change and neutral position.
Where does the shifter go on a Harley Davidson?
Up at your Harley toe/heel shifter is the shifter shaft they connect to with a clamp/bolt type system. There are splines on the shifter levers and shifter shaft. That shaft then goes through a housing to the inside of the primary housing.
How do you adjust the height of a shifter?
Adjusting the shifter height only requires the most basic of tools. Often all you’ll need is a pair of open end wrenches – one for the shift rod and the other for the lock nut. You need to be careful when preparing to adjust the rod length of the shifter. Look closely at the threads above the lock nut. One end of the rod is reverse threaded. Why?
What causes the shifter arm to fall off a Harley?
Over time, those threads on the bolt will actually wear and align with the shifter shaft splines and then the front shifter arm will fall off the shaft. There will be visible mashing of the bolt threads if this happens. Replace that bolt if that happens. The stock Harley shifter linkage will fail on you at some point.
How do you adjust the shift pawl on a motorcycle?
For correct shift operation, the shift pawl assembly needs to be correctly centered over the centering pin. In order to check for correct shifter pawl adjustment; lift the rear wheel of the motorcycle and shift into third gear (it is best if the shift linkage is removed from the transmission shift arm).
Up at your Harley toe/heel shifter is the shifter shaft they connect to with a clamp/bolt type system. There are splines on the shifter levers and shifter shaft. That shaft then goes through a housing to the inside of the primary housing.
For correct shift operation, the shift pawl assembly needs to be correctly centered over the centering pin. In order to check for correct shifter pawl adjustment; lift the rear wheel of the motorcycle and shift into third gear (it is best if the shift linkage is removed from the transmission shift arm).
How do you adjust the gear shift on a motorcycle?
Once you’re happy with the shifter position (try a range of settings to see how they affect your ability to shift), check to make sure that plenty of threads remain engaged in the ball joints (if not, you may have to change the shift linkage’s location on the shift shaft’s splines by rotating it a tooth), and be sure to tighten the lock nuts.
Over time, those threads on the bolt will actually wear and align with the shifter shaft splines and then the front shifter arm will fall off the shaft. There will be visible mashing of the bolt threads if this happens. Replace that bolt if that happens. The stock Harley shifter linkage will fail on you at some point.