Because of weather in Chicago and the Covid-19 issues haven't had time to bring the SPD Twin to the dealer to have the shift linkage recall work done. Since the recall was for making sure the linkage tight I wasn't to concerned and had been checking the linkage before I ride. Yesterday I went out riding with a buddy ( we made sure to ride 6' / 2 meters apart ) and 20 miles from home shifting into 6th gear my shift lever just kept moving up. Moved my foot, looked down and saw the shift lever pointed down. To my surprise the bolt didn't back out it sheared off. With a bit of thinking we used a small adjustable wrench to move the bike into neutral, get it restarted and then move it to third gear to get home. Thanks to the torquey engine it took minimal clutch slippage to pull away from stop signs and lights. 3rd gear allowed comfortable speeds of 45 mph. Called Woodstock Triumph and from my initial conversation looks like they will warranty the linkage. Won't know until mid week when I will be be able to get a new linkage rod. Because of this I suggest speaking with your dealer about replacing the linkage and not just tightening the bolt because of the recall. Pics of the broken parts. I was able to extract the bolt remaining in the shift arm this morning.
Hello Tim, I have just had the same thing happen to my Speed twin! The recall was carried out a number of month's ago ref the loose gear change assy, however as you have discribbed in your pictures it is the actual bolt that has sheared off - and mine just did that today! There is a very good posssbililty there is a problem with the tensile bolt itself. This could be a major safety concern Triumph - hopefully someone from Triumph will read this post and contact me ASAP. I will be contacting the dealership in the morning to pick up the bike.
The dealer was going to send new parts but I turned them down. I bought stainless steel heim joints and bolts from AJ Cycles in New York state. The bolt/bearing piece that broke appears to be cast and not cold headed. I would inform your dealer like I did and if you are not in the states see if you can find a source for SS heim joint and bolt. Link to AJ Cycles - https://www.ajcyclesny.com/product/thruxton-upgraded-shift-linkage-heim-joints/
Many thanks Tim for the info. I will be in touch with the dealer first thing in the morning UK time. You are right about the heads being cast, however I thought they would of lasted a lot longer than 12 month on the bike. I will mail Triumph ref this gear linkage concern as I see it as a possible safety concern. Tnx for the upgrade option info - I will post an update soon.
Hiya wondering if you can have a look at a similar thread I have just posted, and tell me if you have or had a similar gap between your lever and the bolt before the ball joint. Interestingly yours snapped at the opposite end Thanks https://www.thetriumphforum.com/threads/thruxton-r-gear-linkage-bolt-failure.36163/
Like I posted in your thread, the gear linkage sheared on both my Speed Twin and Thruxton. It would seem like a number of owners are either having their linkage fail or their bikes have been recalled. Not what you would expect on new bikes.
