Replace that thing. It got loose and used and rounded the splines and will never hold. Over tightening it will do nothing but strain the bolt and shifter. You see pretty much zero threads about this "issue" and many of us have had these bikes for years and thousands of miles. Not trying to be an ass but calling a bike Jap crap because a shifter is giving you issues no one else has is semi off base. I understand your frustrations but this is a simple part with a simple fix. Replace it with a not warn out shifter, install it right, loctite it and check it every few rides. Do not over tighten as that just stretches things and makes them worse.
The shifter is going to be replaced. I am going to try to order one today. First day back from the desert that the shop is open.
I have the shifter off and my first day off I plan to spec out the lever and CAD one up, take the image to my buddy's machine shop and see about pricing a run of billet shifters for this thing - may just be a new vendor of these things LOL. I work in medicine, but heck, I used to work in a machine shop in my younger days and have enough experience to draw up a shifter.
BTW, I didn't call the bike "Jap Crap", Timken called japanese bikes Jap Crap (which I disagree with for numerous reasons: parts availability, prices, aftermarket, and so on ...). Just to be clear. I did call the husky a POS though (I was pretty pissed at the time) LOL. Further, even in this thread there are posts of others that have had this same problem.
And you know getting to that lever is a huge pain in the ass. Either that, or you never have tried to access that bolt ...
A new, 2012 bike that is slower, heavier, and more problem prone (stalling, shifter woes, too soft suspension) than my 2005 YZ is questionable in my book. On the upside, it does have electric start and a license plate, which are the main reasons I went with this bike, but I am not sure those amenities are worth the 9k it took.
I am fearful that ordering the shifter is going to be a long wait. I have needed parts such as this for my other Euro Bikes and ordering has taken weeks to months to procure the part which has sucked. More so with this bike as it is my desert bike and well, now is the season ... I am hoping a long wait for parts won't be the case - we will see. The reality is, I am stuck with the bike for now and will try to make the best of it. I am awaiting a return call on the shifter regarding availability as we speak.
I understand some of the comments here are secondary to you all and your affinity with the bike. I want to love this bike too, but I am not naive enough to love a bike that just hasn't produced.
So far this bike has been the belle of the ball that when you get her home and out of her dress just happens to have a big pecker staring you in the face. Not at all what I want, or expected. To say the least ...
On a lighter note, I will say this, the steering damper works great though! Thanks Motosportz!
Bills, best dealer on the planet. Period.
