Kick Shifter installation question

[BF]

I bought one of the knockoff Kick Shifters from eBay awhile back and I'm just getting around to installing it.  

Going by Chet's install instructions, it doesn't seem to come with all of the correct washers, etc.  

The question I have is....once installed, is it supposed to be sorta....floppy?  I'm worried about one of the o-rings working lose.....there's enough play there for that to happen.  

Is there supposed to be that much end play there?

I know the instructions say it should wobble like the brake pedal but what I'm seeing seems excessive.

Also, I'm missing the "5/16 hardened fat chrome washer" that Chet says should be the last washer to go on.

Does the "fat" washer cover the shoulder of the bolt up to the threads?





  

[nogrey]

Guess I can't speak for the knock-off shifter, but the show-chrome version that I have is a little floppy by design. When I say floppy, it's not loose laterally, in other words, it stands up straight with no wobble. There is a fair amount of play while shifting. It's not at all like the stock valk shifter where there is a very small amount of play while shifting. The "Throw" is a lot larger if that makes any sense. This seems normal considering the amount of linkage and the length of the actual shift pedals. Where the stock pedal is only about 5 or 6 inches long, the kick-shifter is much longer. So the arc would have to be greater.
Hope this helps.

[BF]

I'm thinking is should be fairly tight with no lateral play.....with the o-rings absorbing the "wobble" like the brake pedal.  

If I'm correct, I'm thinking I need a thin, 1/2" washer to go over the "inner" bearing (between the outter shoulder of the kick shifter the last washer to fill that void).  

Looking at Chet's instructions, there doesn't appear to be any void there like I'm seeing with mine.  

[indybobm]

If I understand this correctly, you want a thin washer to go between the body of the kick shifter and the metal washer at the shoulder of the bolt.
Hardware stores usually have nylon bolts, nuts and washers. See if you can get a nylon washer to fit in the void. Being nylon, it would be easy to reduce the outer diameter to fit the space and not stick out past the metal washer.

If it is something else, never mind.

[six2go #152]

I have the original Kick Shift from Rattlebars and yes there is a good amount of "wobble" built in. Chet addressed that in the instructions but it's been 10 - 12 yrs(at least) since I installed it so I think it's ok. I have thought about adding a washer to try to alleviate some of the wobble but hey, it's been on there this long with no problems so I don't get too excited about it.

[Jess from VA]

Yeah, most of us have had them on for a decade or so, and there is little to no recollection of the install.  I have never had to go back and adjust or tighten any part of mine.  My shifter rubber is falling apart, but that also is a non issue so far.

It is called a rattlebar for the reason it is made to be a bit wobbly, too tight may restrict function (and I seem to remember the instructions saying this).

Do the best you can for now, and I would try to find someone with the original Kickshifter that you could hook up with and eyeball it first hand.

[BF]

It's as if the inner bearing was cut a tad too long.  There's a 1/16th to maybe 3/32nds if an inch of end play there using the supplied washers.  

I may not be installing it correctly, but instead of using that thin copper crush washer they provided, I used a new oil drain plug crush washer instead as it's a lot thicker than that copper crush washer.  

There's "wobble" but very minimal end play there now.....and it moves up and down freely.  

It's a knock-off Rattlebars Kick Shifter and didn't come with any instructions......I'm using Chet's original instructions.....

http://rattlebars.com/cart/kickshiftinst_pg1.gif

[Jess from VA]

Well lets see if you can break the mold.

Almost no one who has not run a heel-toe shifter during their early years of riding likes it later in life. 

I can hardly stand to ride a bike without one.

[BF]

Well lets see if you can break the mold.

Almost no one who has not run a heel-toe shifter during their early years of riding likes it later in life. 

I can hardly stand to ride a bike without one.

I've never been much for following the rules.   

[PAVALKER]

By chance do you have the nuts (as spacers I believe) between the chrome peg plate and bike frame?  I can't recall if mine were like that when I installed the kick shifter or if I did it during install.  Mine wiggles a little.... But no where near what it looks like your might.   

[BigBad1]

By chance do you have the nuts (as spacers I believe) between the chrome peg plate and bike frame?  I can't recall if mine were like that when I installed the kick shifter or if I did it during install.  Mine wiggles a little.... But no where near what it looks like your might.   

+1 on the spacer nuts. There should be spacer nuts between the peg bracket and the bike frame.

[BF]

Yep...got. the spacer nuts.