Bike back on the road

[baldeagle55]

Last week posted about a soft metal shifter My dealer told me it would be cheaper buy 4 shifters then weld the shifter on the spline because if I weld on the shifter the spline would cost a lot more to repair so true got pull the whole motor

[NancysToy]

If you buy four shift levers from your dealer, he is getting you right where he wants you...in the wallet. These come loose but are not known to fail at that kind of rate. Your Spyder needs to be properly repaired by a competent dealer. One new shift lever, properly fitted, with a bolt secured by Loctite should do the job if your shaft is not damaged. I'd find another dealer ASAP if it were me.

[Chupaca]

if properly re-installed you should not have a problem. I worked on dirt bikes and quads which are brutal on shifting and only a few times did I re-shape the shaft and shifter to save splitting cases. Your shop is handing you a line. Even if your splines are worn you can file them deeper widen the gap in the shifter to make a tight fit...good luck...

[Bob Denman]

It's time to start looking for another dealer... This one is just setting the hook!

[bruiser]

Agree. New desler.

[Spyder4Tess]

If the shifter keeps coming loose,there is a problem.

Could be as simple using some blue Loctite on the bolt thread or the splines on the shift shaft are worn or were machined undersize.

So did you just replace the shifter?

[baldeagle55]

I would weather pay for the shifter then over a $1000 for a overhaul on the motor yes it is put on right So don't cut down my dealer the shifter is made cheap nothing wrong with the spline just on the sift leaver

[exwinger]

You asked a question and then got several answers that you apparently disagree with . Not one other person has posted about the same problem of "cheap" shifters . Why would you continue to disregard the opinions of others that all agreed that the problem was installation and not the product ? If I were you , I'd continue using the same "competent " dealer and continue complaining about getting nothing but bad parts.....................but somewhere other than SL. To me it's pretty obvious that if only one person is having the identical problem over and over again then it doesn't appear to be the part that is the problem. Just my opinion .

[rcturner]

What is really happening with the shifters? In my years of riding and a lot of miles, I have never had it a problem with a shifter on my bikes or have I heard about shifter problems from any of the people I ride with.

[NancysToy]

What is really happening with the shifters? In my years of riding and a lot of miles, I have never had it a problem with a shifter on my bikes or have I heard about shifter problems from any of the people I ride with.

I'm not sure that I have ever seen a motorcycle in the last 50+ years where a shift lever bolt, kickstarter bolt, handlebar bolt, chainguard bolt, or something similar didn't come loose somewhere along the way. Periodically tightening bolts is a standard part of motorcycle maintenance. A loose bolt here and there does not indicate a design, assembly, or materials problem. If there is a raft of failures, all in the same location, that would be different, but that is not really the case here.

[rcturner]

I'm not sure that I have ever seen a motorcycle in the last 50+ years where a shift lever bolt, kickstarter bolt, handlebar bolt, chainguard bolt, or something similar didn't come loose somewhere along the way. Periodically tightening bolts is a standard part of motorcycle maintenance. A loose bolt here and there does not indicate a design, assembly, or materials problem. If there is a raft of failures, all in the same location, that would be different, but that is not really the case here.

I agree that what you are describing is maintenance and not a defect. My 08 Harley Ultra had a side stand bolt that needed to be tightened every couple of hundred miles. Not a defect but a real PITA. Is that what this is about?