Big Bike Things FWD controls - FINISHED

[MarkT]

Completed the mods of the BBT fwd controls to make them work with my high mileage Deerslayer.  With the internal shifter linkage worn, it would not tolerate slop or a lot of friction of the BBT linkage.  After anchoring the end of the shifter shaft with a Heim joint, I still could not get a reliable shift, with many attempts at adjusting the position of the foot pedal arm, as well as it's leverage and throw length.  I finally gave up and acknowledged I would have to do it right and install Heim joints on the pivot positions to eliminate slop and friction.  After accepting that, it actually went pretty quick and now it shifts with very little friction, resets right away as it should, and is easily adjustable with wrenches - w/o grinding off a weld and breaking it with a hammer and drift, repositioning and rewelding.  IOW - I can adjust it on the road with wrenches not a metal shop.

Here's the final version.  Note the lever arm from the pedal is lengthened, the intermediate rod is replaced with a 1/2" square tube with Heim joints (left and right threads) both ends, and the fab'd brace for the end of the shifter shaft with Heim joint behind it.  That brace, and the welding to the shifter shaft, both had to be beefed up with a lot of metal weld - they are much stronger now than on v. 1.0.  Note also, the footpegs are both lengthened.  Didn't paint or powdercoat them yet.



Here's the beefier welds on the shifter shaft:



And the shifter shaft assembly:



Updated video on youtube is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltgVugCRfFg&feature=youtu.be

Now that I know how to fix these fwd controls - and the fix is somewhat labor intensive - I will be interested in finding another set of BBT fwd controls to install on Jade.  And mod the same way.

[MarkT]

On the Pikes Peak ride yesterday, once in a while, on upshifts usually from 2-3, the shifter wouldn't reset so nothing would happen when I'd lift the peg for the next gear - using either control.  I would then have to push down, to reset it, and up twice to get the next gear.  Looking at the problem, Misfit and I figured the weight of the linkage, being lifted up by the reset spring, was just too much.  Kind of like an elevator without a counterweight.  So I figured the expedient fix would be to add an assist spring externally - rather than pulling the engine and putting in a beefier spring.  So today I went to my trusty True Value and found the right spring, for the location I figured would be best.  Fab'd up the fittings and installed it.  Took it for a spin - no failures.  So I HOPE I'm finally done with this project.

Updated video on youtube is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltgVugCRfFg&feature=youtu.be

Here's a still shot.



BTW I made up that plate holding the Heim joint on the end of the shufter shaft, but didn't "prettify" the weld or paint the piece.  Guess I should do that.  BTW - this shifter also moves only up and down - no slop ( same as Pharmboy reports with his copy of the shifter mod ).

[MarkT]

Pharmboy, with his excellent machine work, shamed me into prettifying my shifter Heim anchor plate.  It's just a piece of chrome stack cut and drilled appropriately, and placed behind the Heim joint - but looks better.  Most parts are painted now.  Might paint some more, looks a bit odd.  Too busy to fire up the powdercoater.

Updated video on youtube is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltgVugCRfFg&feature=youtu.be



Thought I'd include your view if I run over you.  Here you can see the extended and offset for clearance  bellcrank from the footpeg that operates the intermediate arm with 2 Heim joints. Also the sleeve welded to the shifter shaft, that holds the Heim joint, but allows the shifter peg mount to be adjusted on the splines, is in view.



It occurs to me, that if I drop the bike on the crash bars, this linkage is gonna be wrecked.  Hmm.  Better not drop it.

[big poppa pump]

Nice. Wanna make me one?

[MarkT]

Nice. Wanna make me one?

I'm guessing you're kidding - and referring to the shifter support only. But no - this is a one-off.  Not designed for production & sale & DIY installs like the bolt-on German rendition.  Fitted - & welded - to the idiosyncracies of this bike.

[MarkT]

UPDATE - After adding the reset spring - haven't missed a shift in over a thousand miles.  Appears the spring is the right tension - I expected to have to change it, but now, no.  Also have not needed to make any other adjustments.  Looks like BBT should have added this to their design.  Considering they are (still) asking around $490 for the product, I think they could have added the Heim joints and a bolt-on soln to the OEM shifter to anchor the end of it - since their fwd controls are still offered and they don't really work on these aging Valkyries.  Either side. JMHO

[hubcapsc]

UPDATE - After adding the reset spring - haven't missed a shift in over a thousand miles.  Appears the spring is the right tension - I expected to have to change it, but now, no.  Also have not needed to make any other adjustments.  Looks like BBT should have added this to their design.  Considering they are (still) asking around $490 for the product, I think they could have added the Heim joints and a bolt-on soln to the OEM shifter to anchor the end of it - since their fwd controls are still offered and they don't really work on these aging Valkyries.  Either side. JMHO

Mine work great. I love them. I've had them for eight years. I use them all the time
and ride a lot. I really miss having them on the 1800, I wish the BBT guy would make
them for it...

-Mike

[MarkT]

I had to do the mods on the shifter side just to get it to work consistently.  Has to do with wear on my hi-mileage std, I'm sure.  On the brake side - brake authority was non-existant.  Betcha a beer my brake side works better than yours. I can let you ride it at the WV Inzane.

[hubcapsc]

Betcha a beer my brake side works better than yours. I can let you ride it at the WV Inzane.

OK, we can trade bikes and you can tell me if you think mine work OK... look forward to
meeting you... 

-Mike