Stripped gear shift lever

[RykerUSA]

I have a 2015 ST Limited and I was cruising down a country Highway in 3rd gear and when I attempted to shift to 4th, I could tell the clutch engage but the bike did not shift. Then I attempted to downshift to second. Again, the clutch did its thing but the bike did not shift. So I was stuck in 3rd. When I stripped off the Tupperware I found that my gear shift lever at the end of my shift linkage was loose. I could also see small bits of metal where the lever Meets the gear shift Rod ( the rod that goes into the engine casing). The pinch Bolt was firmly in place but I could grab the lever and move it in and out more than one would expect. When I removed the pinch bolt, halfway across the thread I could see the threads were damaged/sheared where the threads contact the shift Rod going into the engine.

When I took the gear shift lever off, it was obvious that the ridges were worn and as a result as the gear shift linkage was pushing back and forth thyong to shift, the gear shift lever was stripped and as such not turning the gear shift rod.

So I have a new lever on order. I'm just wondering if anyone else has experienced this and what I could have done to avoid being stranded in 3rd gear? Ideas? The tryke is one year old and has 20,000 miles on it. Seem quir stange to me.

[Explorer]

If I understand what you said, I had the same problem on my 2014 ST-L, at about 42,000 miles. The only time I have ever been stranded on the road. CFPS came with a trailer and a loaner, and rescued me. I am sure someone younger and wiser than I, will come on with a simple "work around". CAUTION: It is my understanding that the position of the new pot metal lever on the shaft splines is critical. One grove off, and it will destroy it self again, in a few hundred miles.
Good luck,
Roger

[cptjam]

Not a new problem-my 71 Triumph spit it's lever off somewhere. Went to exit the highway-no shifter! Put visegrip pliers on shaft not touching the area the shifter goes. Got me home. Would work on a Spyder.

[Bob Denman]

It's much easier to fix this problem, than it would be to fix a stripped shaft...

[billybovine]

Checking the shift lever every oil change should be part of the maintenance steps. If it slides on the spline shaft. Tighten the pinch bolt.

[Chupaca]

This is a common problem on all bikes through time. I have repaired many and the best suggestion is to check the space once the lever is on the shaft and the pinch bolt is tight. Many times as things wear that space closes and you do not get a tight fit any longer. If you file it down you can get a better pinch on the lever. If the shaft should also get worn a piece of clutch cable flatten a bit and placed on the shaft before pinching it down will keep you going. The next step if both parts are gone is to cut a keyway and mount it that way....and the last dich effort tack it on cause your gonna have to tear the engine down to change the shaft....