I’m a stomper, are You?

[ctdair]

Reading up on rear shift arm splines striping out. I have forgotten to check the bolt tightness in the front and rear shift arms and shift levers lately. Reminder of this needed maintenance as I suspect that is what has happened to a friend who is On the Hoka Hey rally and experiencing shifting difficulty. Most of the comments blame stomping on the heel shifter. So besides checking tightness of the bolts on all the arms on my TriGlide and FLH I guess I need to amend my shifting habits.

 

[RedOregon]

Gentle tick is all it takes. Stomping will screw the splines.

 

[ctdair]

45k miles on FlH and 37k on TriGlide no signs yet of loosening. Early on I do remove pinch bolts an locktite them. Checked torque several times. Not lately. Saw a thread elsewhere that alleged a TSB with a new torque spec exists.
Will check torque specs between my manual for 2012 versus 2016 Manual.

 

[ultrafxr]

I’ve ridden hundreds of thousands of miles and never had a problem with this. Do check screw tightness from time to time and never found any problems. Guess I’m lucky.

 

[Notgrownup]

Not a stomper here.

 

[RKplus10]

45k miles on FlH and 37k on TriGlide no signs yet of loosening. Early on I do remove pinch bolts an locktite them. Checked torque several times. Not lately. Saw a thread elsewhere that alleged a TSB with a new torque spec exists.
Will check torque specs between my manual for 2012 versus 2016 Manual.

I don’t understand how you can properly check torque values after applying locktite. Wouldn’t it always require much more torque just to budge the bolt with cured locktite in the threads?

 

[ctdair]

I don’t understand how you can properly check torque values after applying locktite. Wouldn’t it always require much more torque just to budge the bolt with cured locktite in the threads?

Not a rocket scientist so can’t speculate on the true answer. However if the bolt in question doesn’t move and torque wrench clicks immediately I’ve been assuming good. If the bolt in question started to move I would assume locktite failure. Then I would remove, clean , reapply locktite and torque.

Someone may also chime in that torque value is for dry thread, adding locktite I believe final torque achieved would be higher than actually indicated

 

[ctdair]

Loctite people recommend reducing applied torque by 20 percent from dry values when using their liquid thread-locking compounds on threaded fasteners.

I’ve never reduced torque, so shame on me. I’ve also never broken a bolt or stud. Count me lucky!

 

[Dan SC]

I think even when tight the lever can move on the splines causing the fit to loosen, that is why we need to periodically check the bolt.

I think the reason the MoCo stopped installing heel shifters was because they were spending too much money on warranty work on the shifter lever/shaft, too many people just stomp on the rear lever.

I never liked the heel shift lever; it took up too much space on the foot board.

 

[Notgrownup]

I only use the heel shifter when I’m wearing dress shoes riding to work.

 

[Old Road Dog]

I think even when tight the lever can move on the splines causing the fit to loosen, that is why we need to periodically check the bolt.

I think the reason the MoCo stopped installing heel shifters was because they were spending too much money on warranty work on the shifter lever/shaft, too many people just stomp on the rear lever.

I never liked the heel shift lever; it took up too much space on the foot board.

I love the toe/ heel shifter combo. Don't think for a second the MOCO omitted the heel shifter because of warranty claims. You can still buy them. They are just greedy MoFo's is all.

 

[DK Custom Products]

Not a stomper 99.5% of the time, but do sometimes do a "solid" upshift from my left foot going from the highway peg to the heel shifter.

I have only had one spline problem in hundreds of thousands of miles.

Regarding thread locker. Right or wrong, when I break the bolt looser or tighter after the thread locker has dried, I consider it compromised and will pull it all the way out and reapply fresh thread locker before torquing down.

Kevin

 

[ctdair]

Not a stomper 99.5% of the time, but do sometimes do a "solid" upshift from my left foot going from the highway peg to the heel shifter.

I have only had one spline problem in hundreds of thousands of miles.

Regarding thread locker. Right or wrong, when I break the bolt looser or tighter after the thread locker has dried, I consider it compromised and will pull it all the way out and reapply fresh thread locker before torquing down.

Kevin

Yes if there is movement it needs reapplied. When I’ve checked locktited fasteners I rarely have felt movement. Rechecking non locktite fasteners I always feel slight movement of fasteners

 

[BikerG]

I don’t stomp. If any of you Harley riders stomp, I strongly suggest you replace the crappy stock ball and socket shift linkage with a heim joint linkage.

 

[v4bob49]

No stomping here, I have always found that the heel shifter restricts movement of my foot so I remove it. And I believe the MoCo deleted it to save $$$. Same with only 1 key fob and deleting the front fender light. I have not purchased a new bike for a number of years now, do they still include 1 headset with the Touring models or did they delete that too?

 

[ultrafxr]

No stomping here, I have always found that the heel shifter restricts movement of my foot so I remove it. And I believe the MoCo deleted it to save $$$. Same with only 1 key fob and deleting the front fender light. I have not purchased a new bike for a number of years now, do they still include 1 headset with the Touring models or did they delete that too?

Agree. Stock heel shifter severely limits floorboard space. I’ve used extended lever for heel shift for many years on many bikes and trikes. Very convenient to upshift and frees footboard space.

 

[DK Custom Products]

I don’t stomp. If any of you Harley riders stomp, I strongly suggest you replace the crappy stock ball and socket shift linkage with a heim joint linkage.

Yep, even if you don't stomp, Heim joints, seen at the LINK, can save an unwanted to delay in your ride.




Kevin

 

[RKplus10]

I think even when tight the lever can move on the splines causing the fit to loosen, that is why we need to periodically check them.

I agree, and that’s why I don’t use locktite on pinch bolts. It can trick you into thinking the lever is tight on your shaft when it may not be. I just check them at each oil change.

 

[ctdair]

Checked trike, all good. Checked bike, not good. Shame on me. I used to check once a year and have forgotten for too many years. Neighbor used to be Service Advisor at Harley. His advice was remove bolt , never seize bolt run in, remove repeat several times. I was doubtful that this would accomplish anything. I also discovered that I could remove the lever when bolt was out. Spline’s actually didn’t look bad. Reinstalled lever. First it was off too many splines and shift levers weren’t in correct location. Remove and reinstall lever. Shifter’s good. Tighten up using calibrated feel developed after years of experience. Yes I own and use torque wrench. Probably over tight. I’m happy with how tight it is now. I will monitor more regularly now. When I put away for the winter I’ll probably put on new lever/arm.

 

[Jack Klarich]

I used to Stomp back in the Panhead and Shovelhead days, starting with The Evos I do not stomp any more, I am getting too old for that

 

[ISP-FL]

I only use the heel shifter when I’m wearing dress shoes riding to work.

I am pretty sure my muscle memory would not allow me to change back and forth between using the heel shifter and not using it.

I put it back on my 2019 about a couple years ago and forced myself to get used to it. After a few months and several thousand miles we were all up on the Dragon and I hit 4th gear with my heel when I meant to hit 2nd gear with my toe on a curve. Needless to say when I hit the throttle and let go of the clutch it did not give me the desired effect needed for the curve! I recovered and didn't go off the road but it was a huge pucker factor......I knew right then and there I can never switch back and forth.

 

[Jack Klarich]

I am not a Stomper and have put heel shifters on my Freewheelers, I use a new bolt with anti seize always

 

[hardheaded]

The first thing i do is remove the heel shifter on my bikes. i go over all the fasteners on my bike all the time including the shifter arm. Just how i am.