Adjust police shifter

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OneHandDuo
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Adjust police shifter

#1

Post by OneHandDuo »

Hi all,
In previous posts, I said I'd put a FatBob style tank and police shifter on my DuoGlide because I was not happy with the frequent tank stops I had to make.

Ok, the tank is on, is petrol-tight. The shifter is on. Only question now:
The shape of the tank is different, the shift gate is different, the shifting rods are partially old, partially new. So there is no indication whatsoever on what heighth I have to screw down the bracket that holds the shifter in place on the frame, and how to adjust the length of the shifter rods.

So question to the more knowledgeable:

Any advice apart from "try to get it into neutral and fumble out the rest"?

Thanks in advance...
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Re: Adjust police shifter

#2

Post by RUBONE »

OneHandDuo wrote: Sun May 22, 2022 9:06 am Hi all,
In previous posts, I said I'd put a FatBob style tank and police shifter on my DuoGlide because I was not happy with the frequent tank stops I had to make.

Ok, the tank is on, is petrol-tight. The shifter is on. Only question now:
The shape of the tank is different, the shift gate is different, the shifting rods are partially old, partially new. So there is no indication whatsoever on what heighth I have to screw down the bracket that holds the shifter in place on the frame, and how to adjust the length of the shifter rods.

So question to the more knowledgeable:

Any advice apart from "try to get it into neutral and fumble out the rest"?

Thanks in advance...
What shift top is on your gearbox? Were the original tanks handshift type?
Basically only one adjustment, and that is a slight bit of freeplay when in neutral, otherwise all positions are dictated by the shift gate. It will need re-adjustment every time the primary chain is adjusted due to movement of the gearbox. The location on the frame is high up on the tube so the lower end of the shift lever is approximately where it would be with a tank mounted shifter.
OneHandDuo
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Re: Adjust police shifter

#3

Post by OneHandDuo »

Thanks, Rubone, for your reply. Yes, the original is a tank shifter that I cannot use anymore as the FatBob tank is wider and higher.
What do you mean with the shift top of the gearbox? The shifter rods, attachment on the frame, shift gate and the knob on top?
doc9339
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Re: Adjust police shifter

#4

Post by doc9339 »

I went thru this: For an answer. you need to give us some pictures of

Top of transmission

Shifter linkage where it attaches to top of transmission

Where shifter rod attaches to the bottom of the hand shifter (at the gate)

Stand off picture of the shifter gate

Stand off picture of the tank and shifter

Cant answer your question w/o the above

Note: Fat bob tanks should work with a police shifter, so I believe you have some mods or mis mounted parts
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Re: Adjust police shifter

#5

Post by doc9339 »

One last note: There is allot of inherent slop to begin with in police shifters. Due to worn out transmissions, mis matched parts, etc. it can even be worse. Baker offers a solution, which I have and SWEAR by to keep out the shifter/neutral fishing game

Again, send pics as I mentioned
OneHandDuo
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Re: Adjust police shifter

#6

Post by OneHandDuo »

https://www.hydra-glide.net/cpg/display ... ?pid=10534
Image
left side, whole shifter linkage


https://www.hydra-glide.net/cpg/display ... ?pid=10533
Image
Shifter gate, shifter rod attaching



https://www.hydra-glide.net/cpg/display ... ?pid=10532
Image
Shifter gate, shifter rod attaching


https://www.hydra-glide.net/cpg/display ... ?pid=10531
Image
Linkage where it attaches to top of transmission



https://www.hydra-glide.net/cpg/display ... ?pid=10530
Image
Top of transmission


Ok, can you see what you need to with the links above?
Last edited by panhead on Tue May 24, 2022 4:37 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: Added the pictures
doc9339
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Re: Adjust police shifter

#7

Post by doc9339 »

Can you post those pics IN YOUR REPLIES, instead of forcing us to open one link at a time?

Anyways:

You said the long shifter lever is hitting your tank: Is it? Doesn't look like it, but...............If it is, you can rotate the clamp mount on the frame slightly forward or backwards to give more clearance at the tank. Lowering or moving up the mount could help as well: As far as I know, there is no FSM info on how far up the mount clamps on the frame

And yes, if you adjust tranny back or forward, the primary chain You will need to adjust the throw
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Re: Adjust police shifter

#8

Post by doc9339 »

Ok I see the pics in the post, sorry

I mentioned slop: Consider the long shifter that goes to the gate, then the long rod to the tranny top: At best there is a little slop that makes shifting and finding N a little hard at times. Now I have a ratchet top 4 speed that I run in a 70 swingarm frame, Panhead engine, fatbob tanks.

Baker sells a complete ratchet top, or just the shifter drum, which improves shifting and almost eliminates any slop, which makes a HUGE dif in positive shifting and finding N is a breeze. They also have a alternate shifter drum that uses a N 1 2 3 4 shifter pattern, which I love If you go that route, they may have a solution for your tranny. You would be surprised how worn out your tranny top might be

I know you aren't running a ratchet, but maybe allot of slop isn't your problem

You should be able to use your existing fatbob tanks if you follow my advice

Also, adjusting the throw at the shifter gate is done by adjusting the tranny rod at the gate end(and/or the tranny end) until whatever gear you are in matches the slot in the gate Myself, I removed the slot "teeth" (so now its just one long slot) in the gate and made it smooth for easier and faster shifting. Thats just me

If you run out of room in the gate for adjustment, Ill bet its because the gate clamp is too high, too low, or rotated to far forward or backwards

What I cant see is that there is a little ribbon of metal that has slight curve in it at the pivot piont that helps keep the shifter snug and from rattling around. If you dont have one, you need it

Its a somewhat PIA to adjust, especially when you move one thing, it requires adjustment somewhere else. Takes a little patience, but not hard
OneHandDuo
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Re: Adjust police shifter

#9

Post by OneHandDuo »

Thanks for all your advice. It confirms what I thought: it is a trial and error and trial again thing. But lots of helpful hints, thanks.
OneHandDuo
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Re: Adjust police shifter

#10

Post by OneHandDuo »

Thanks for all your advice. It confirms what I thought: it is a trial and error and trial again thing. But lots of helpful hints, thanks.
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Re: Adjust police shifter

#11

Post by doc9339 »

So we helped you. You need to help others by posting what you did, did it work, etc....................
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Re: Adjust police shifter

#12

Post by doc9339 »

OP: Any luck?
OneHandDuo
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Re: Adjust police shifter

#13

Post by OneHandDuo »

Hi Doc,
I had lots of other things to do, so the Harley took a backseat.
It is now sort of adjusted, I can put it in neutral, in 1, 2, 3. 4 is an issue, but I got it sort of done.
But also the other gears are not quite as easy to get in, so not daring to take her out like that. Taking it now to a mechanic to help me out.
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