What year Sportsters were right hand shift?
From 1952 to 1974 Ks and Sportsters had a right side shift left side break. The design was mandated by the drop-shoe racing the bikes were bred for. Pretty hard to shift when your foot is on the ground.
What RPM should I be shifting at Harley?
While most bikes are happy shifting at 5,000 to 7,000 RPMs, it is best to judge by the sound and feel of the engine. As you move faster, its pitch will increase. When the pitch is high, it is time to shift. If you shift too soon, you will hear the engine struggle, which will help you learn the correct shift points.
What causes shifting problems in a Harley Davidson Sportster?
Shifting problems as well as noises can originate from different areas inside and outside the transmission, including the shifter, linkage, clutch, primary drive and more. Adjustments can be made that often correct shifting problems without digging into the transmission. This article applies to the Harley Davidson Sportster (1986-2016).
How to check the transmission on a Harley Davidson Sportster?
Hold the clutch lever in and place the transmission in first gear with the bike at a standstill. There should be no engine power transferring to the rear wheel. Figure 1. Sportster clutch lever and cable. The fluid level is easily checked through the derby cover or dipstick on some models.
How does the shift lever work on a Harley Davidson?
The shift lever can now be used to select a gear by moving the linkage. This is connected to a shift drum/pawl assembly that moves shift forks to engage shift sleeves onto the selected gear. These parts make up the transmissions shifting operation and must be correctly adjusted/undamaged for normal shifting.
How to adjust clutch on Harley Davidson Sportster?
This adjustment is made by removing the clutch inspection cover/derby cover, and then loosening the adjustment screw lock nut. Hold the adjustment screw stationary with an Allen wrench while turning the lock nut counterclockwise with a wrench. Once the nut is loose, turn the adjustment screw clockwise to increase the disk clearance.
Shifting problems as well as noises can originate from different areas inside and outside the transmission, including the shifter, linkage, clutch, primary drive and more. Adjustments can be made that often correct shifting problems without digging into the transmission. This article applies to the Harley Davidson Sportster (1986-2016).
Hold the clutch lever in and place the transmission in first gear with the bike at a standstill. There should be no engine power transferring to the rear wheel. Figure 1. Sportster clutch lever and cable. The fluid level is easily checked through the derby cover or dipstick on some models.
When to replace a shift shaft on a Harley Davidson?
If pinch bolts become loose, remove them, clean them, and reinstall to factory torque specs with Loctite. If shift arm splines or shaft splines are worn; the components should be replaced. If a shifter shaft is to be replaced, it is also important to replace shifter shaft bushings at that time. Proper shift leverage is very important.
What happens if your shift arm is wrong on a Harley Davidson?
Sometimes, path of travel can be limited, or cut short by an oversized, after-market hand grip; or possibly some other add on. If your shift arms are not properly aligned or your Harley-Davidson gear shift linkage is set to an incorrect length; you may experience binding, which will limit, or diminish your leverage.