DOC HARLEY: XL SHIFTER PAWL ADJUSTMENT

Doc Harley from the Service Clinic at Low Country Harley-Davidson to help you with the health of your motorcycle! This week he talks about a Sportster that has trouble shifting, the cause, and explains how shifter pawl adjustment works.
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Harley is a motorcycle technician at Low Country Harley-Davidson with over thirty years working on motorcycles. Over the years at the dealership he has worked on Harley-Davidson, Buell, and Triumph motorcycles with a few other brands here and there from trade-ins. There are thousands of how-to videos out on KZbin and other websites across the world. Doc’s goal is to help solve problems that people run into when using their service manual, share insights only found as a certified Harley® technician, and some of the tips he’s picked up over the years.
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Looking to meet Doc and the other members of the LCHD team? Visit us at: Low Country Harley-Davidson, 4707 Dorchester Road, Charleston, SC 29405

[@joezednick3197]

I have so much confidence in Doc,,,,I hit the like button before I watch it!

[@kimharbison5277]

Finally something for us Sportster owners...

[@robertmcclain2988]

Just replaced my 2001 Sportster transmission and I believe the out of adjustment shifter was the cause of the shift fork in the transmission to fail causing all sorts of mayhem inside the case. Thanks for the info!

[@thebobs9343]

Thanks Doc. I've been watching for a year or so and I really like you presentations. I have a 2017 Road King and my service plan runs out in about 6 months. Then it'll be my time to get bruised knuckles. Thanks for the instructions.

[@bluesriderDF]

It's nice to see the inner workings of what's happening when shifting. Thanks!

[@ColdBloodSouthernPro]

This video just solved my issue with my 03 sportster! I know what that pin was that fell out when I drained the trans fluid

[@LowCountryHarleyDavidson]

Wow…..Doc

[@milmex317th]

Thank's Doc . I always come back to your channel.

[@LowCountryHarleyDavidson]

Thank you for your support….Doc

[@realms89]

Dude thank you for making a video specifically for this part of the sportster. I'm putting on a new clip & star right now and its helped tremendously.

[@LowCountryHarleyDavidson]

Glad we could help. Thanks for taking the time to watch our videos...Doc

[@brandons9536]

I have a 1986 883 that is super loose, it moves all directions easily... What you're showing is completely different from mine, which seems to be super easy compared to my absolute nightmare..

[@OSCARANDRES039]

We seem to have the same bike issues. Did u ever find out how to adjust the pawl on ur 86 sportster???😢

[@brianbailey6161]

My bike just did that yesterday on my 01 sportster 1200 now have put it in shop

[@rickdavis7141]

great explanation thanks for explaining like I'm a 5th grader. Need that when I've never worked under the cover of my kids bike.

[@LowCountryHarleyDavidson]

Have you ever watched that TV show, Are you smarter than a 5th grader? I loose everytime....Doc

[@betruly7894]

That oil filter looks like been there for a while, maybe same age as the bike. Great care from the owner

[@TheScarePlays]

i struggle to get mine to stay or shift all the way into second gear and i struggle to find neutral, it shifts perfectly fine through all other gears. Crossing my fingers its something broken with the shifter pawl mechanism or ill be splitting a case to replace shift forks!

[@LowCountryHarleyDavidson]

good luck to you....Doc

[@aronblock1707]

Wow thank you so much Doc!

[@justanotherviewer52]

Thanks Doc.

[@61espo]

Thanks Doc! Great informative video!

[@jodycamper8955]

Dude his voice is amazing lol. Tell me he has done tv or radio.

[@K9RickRet]

I always look forward to your super informative videos! Thanks, Doc Harley!

[@OSCARANDRES039]

Thank you for your video sir!! Does the 86 sportster have a shifter pawl adjustment???

[@LowCountryHarleyDavidson]

No and yes. The shifter pawl carrier is inside the transmission. It has parts that can wear out like springs. The old timers used to modify the pawl arms and the gear shifter cam. But there is no simple adjustment you can do….Doc

[@OSCARANDRES039]

@@LowCountryHarleyDavidson thank you sir!!

[@mikeking9777]

My 1996 sportster 1200 does the opposite, shifts up fine does not like to shift down when hot. Barely lift up on the shifter with foot then it will shift down.

[@williamardenjr116]

Haha you make it look easier than it is! Had to replace my buell X1 shifter shaft, and mine will not do anything. Trans is good as it was good before I had to replace the stripped BS china made shifter shaft! How my bike will not do anything! Looked at a schatic, and installed the shifter prawl plate at neutral! Bikes been down since August! I'm about to blow it up for real! I need helps!😢

[@rakkasanveteran1619]

So question for you Doc, I know the 17 Sportster 1200 Custom is going to be the same problem, are the tools required going to be the same? I have the majority of the hand tools, but it's the impact sockets I'm looking at to fix this problem.

[@LowCountryHarleyDavidson]

Yes….Doc

[@terrydawson2239]

To put the bike in third gear, should the rear tire be elevated so it turns? Does it matter if it’s not? How exactly should you change from neutral to third gear? Should the shift lever be placed back on like in your video? Do you change the gear by solely rotating the star shaped plate? Too many questions not addressed.

[@LowCountryHarleyDavidson]

Sorry, I assumed you have a Factory Service Manual and just needed an explanation and direction...Doc

[@srs4310]

I have 2001 sportster with 19000 miles..it has a long trow in the shifter compared to when it was new and its kind of soft in its shifts...when I had it new it was crisp snap into gear and lots shorter throw to get to a gear ...what does that sound like?

[@LowCountryHarleyDavidson]

First choice is splines on shift shaft and shifter arm are worn out. Possibly the two small springs inside the primary are weak. The shifter Star is worn in the primary…..Doc

[@cdpc211]

My 2004 1200 Roadster grinds sometimes when I shift to first gear or shift from 2nd to third gear or downshifting. Do you know what's causing it?

[@LowCountryHarleyDavidson]

Too many possibilities. Please bring it to your dealer for a thorough inspection…Doc

[@williamardenjr116]

No special tool on my buell! It took it off its self!

[@BBboykh]

hey mine won’t shift to 3rd when i do that. any tips?

[@LowCountryHarleyDavidson]

Could be a deeper issue with shift fork…Doc

[@OSCARANDRES039]

Help please!!

[@Larry-ze9xi]

Hi Doc, Thank you for the great videos! they have helped me numerous times. can you provide a link to the tool you use to remove the shifter pawl clip? I am working on a 2005 Sportster XL883C.

[@buddyferguson9842]

How do I polarize my batteries to stop my batteries from running down witch wires do I touch

[@LowCountryHarleyDavidson]

If your battery is running down I would suspect the regulator. And the way you asked the question without mentioning the year of bike I'm guessing you are dealing with generator?

[@nicholaswhitney4204]

May I have part number of tool for pawl retaining clip, dang if i can find one, my local dealer could not find either. Thank you for your time.

[@LowCountryHarleyDavidson]

PR-031 is on my tool….Doc

[@jasonsampson9408]

Would this be the same on a 1989 4 speed

[@LowCountryHarleyDavidson]

No. Different part of the family. Yes they both have a shifter prawl but not the same….Doc

[@loganleach8493]

I NEED TO KNOW WHERE TO GET THE COMPLETE SHIFTER PAWL ASSEMBLY I CANT FIND ONE THAT LOOKS LIKE THIS ANYWAY WHERE AND ITS THE EXACT SAME ON MINE

[@LowCountryHarleyDavidson]

I am hoping you have tried your local HD dealer. And requested a nationwide search? Try V-Twin on line. They carry many obsolete parts....Doc

[@kenbuttone8775]

Doc I have a 2003 dyna . The. Cluch os do diffi to pull in,I ca barely get thelever all of the way to the grip Is thisasignofsomething wronginthe cluch housing? Thanks docany advice will be greatly appreciated .

[@ErikR1979]

I have a 2021 Fat Bob, it refuses to downshift. Usually I can get one downshift out of it, but there is no second one, and it takes a lot of tries before it finally decides to give me another downshift. It's been in the shop a lot, and for a brand new bike, this is quite frustrating. Is this anything you're familiar with? Do you know of any solutions? My local dealer seems to be out of ideas.

[@imgzrona09uc72]

There is no "r" in pawl. Pronounced like the name Paul.

[@ricardomorin7863]

Anyone have the part number for the nuts?

[@leoamaya4471]

Doc good evening let me ask you an important question, I have a 08 sporster and after almost 35000 miles i start feeling that the first gear sound hardest than ever (like a hammer ) and the neutral is almost impossible to put some times, even to the point to turn off and put neutral and then turn on.. ( i tried to adjust the clunch by the nuts and also from the screw inside the circle chrome cover with a screwdriver and it worked for a couple months but now again the shifter is a rock and i started thinking to change the disc but before doing that why not ask a specialist? should i have change the entire clutch? (disc and spares)

[@daniel.gthepainter1512]

2000 Harley Road King it shifts in neutral and first but not in second and other gears help please

[@MrHornetom]

I have a 1998 fat boy and the shift arm is loose. The bolt is tight. When I look close with a bore scope I can see the shaft is moving with the arm so this leads me to think it has to be internal of the transmission. Anyone have any ideas what I should be looking at/for?

[@jeffspicoli2618]

So don't buy these nuts at a hardware store like I just did. The clerk gave two lock nuts with wrong thread and I have damaged the threads on the bottom stud. I'm devastated and not sure how to fix this at all. Can I replace this stud? Is this a specialty thread but from HD?

[@LowCountryHarleyDavidson]

I believe the stud H-D part # is 5226B. Nuts are 1/4-28 locknut. Thanks ~ Doc

[@christianwest2734]

What is a number 32, I can’t find it anywhere

[@LowCountryHarleyDavidson]

Drill Bit size in a number set...Doc

[@bigchungus2493]

Question for ya. My 1995 sportster 1200 has 42,000 miles on it and when I shift up into second, it acts like it's in neutral and just spins the engine. Sometimes it goes in 2nd gear for a second or sometimes perfectly. It goes in more when downshifting to. 2nd gear is fine once it's in. Any ideas? This happened right before my clutch grenaded as well.

[@LowCountryHarleyDavidson]

Big I was with ya up to when you said “my clutch grenaded"! I was sure your spring plate rivets came loose. Did you have the transmission rebuilt after the clutch went south? Thanks ~ Doc

[@bigchungus2493]

@@LowCountryHarleyDavidson Hey Doc! I pulled the transmission and looked nothing looks bad, and also my clutch does not appear to have shit out on me either. I believe the bearing went out inside my clutch basket and had free spin. Think anything there was part of the issue? I'm running out of ideas at this point as to the shifting issue. And when I spin the clutch basket with the shaft connected the bearing spins a lot more than the shaft does. Like 5 rotations of the bearing for one rotation of the shaft. I'm about out of ideas.

[@LowCountryHarleyDavidson]

@@bigchungus2493 Last suggestion from my memory. There is an adjustment made to the shifter “claw” in 3rd gear on the shifter drum pins. Thanks ~ Doc

[@fireman66767]

DOC is there a way to put a streetglide faring on a road king gauges and all?

[@LowCountryHarleyDavidson]

I have not tried this modification. You and I are not the first to ask this question. Keep searching on the net. There are Street Glide fairing with radios that fit on a Road King. We sell for $900.00 ~ Doc

[@fireman66767]

@@LowCountryHarleyDavidson Perhaps I misunderstood, did you mean you guys sell a kit for $900 or they can be found for 900? I would like to get the Speedometer and Tach in the fairing on a roadking is possible

[@KraeseRepairs]

How do you do this in a pre 1999 softail?

[@LowCountryHarleyDavidson]

In your Service Manual On Page 7-5. Thanks ~ Doc

[@jefftilghman9059]

Does this apply to the newer FI Sportsters? 2015?

[@LowCountryHarleyDavidson]

Yes. ~ Doc

[@harley62t]

Does this similarly apply to EVO tyrannies?

[@LowCountryHarleyDavidson]

This is an EVO Sportster in the video. Yes all EVO Sportsters. ~ Doc

[@mountaindew8042]

👀👂 👍

[@tpitman]

Same on an '86 four speed?

[@LowCountryHarleyDavidson]

Yes. ~ Doc

[@daniel.gthepainter1512]

@@LowCountryHarleyDavidson 2000 Harley Road King it shifts in neutral and first but not in second and other gears help please

[@williamardenjr116]

Reminds me of the shit type shifter on the early x1!

[@williamardenjr116]

Haha you even said shit 😂

[@6sillygtivr]

My 96 shifts fine up and down but first gear jumps in and out on soft take offs. I think the dogs are worn.

[@LowCountryHarleyDavidson]

Check all adjustment before going deep. Hoping yours is not a Softtail....where the oil tank has to be moved....Doc

[@2thehook773]

It's a PAWL... NOT a PRAWL

[@LowCountryHarleyDavidson]

Well Thanks...Doc

[@jangchanel4987]

can you give you HD clothes for me?