The Victory motorcycle is a very well built piece of machinery. I have had a Victory Kingpin since 2004. I have had no problems with motorcycles and I am very satisfied with my motorcycle. This article will address the only issue I had that is related to a failed shifter part. The dreaded Victory Shift ratchet.
One day while driving I started experiencing problems with the downshifts on my kingpin. It only happens once in a while and it feels like it’s dangling when I try to downshift. I have adjusted the clutch cable and changed the oil with no resolution. I am using AMSOIL 20W50 Full Synthetic Motorcycle Transmission Oil and was thinking the oil was too thick for the clutch plates. After changing the oil to Victory OEM multi-blend synthetic, the problem with the changes was still there.
I decided to do a few more test rides to diagnose the problem. I’ve noticed that if I push the shift ratchet shaft in (it has about 1/8 inch in and out movement) it seems to temporarily stop the problem. I went to the Victory Motorcycle Solutions community site and have read that people are talking about the shift ratchet being the culprit. After reading several posts about this information, I contacted my favorite Victory motorcycle dealer, Santa Rosa VeeTwin. They confirmed that I need to replace the shift pawl. The reason is that the rest of the spring fails over time.
The Victory dealer explained that Victory changed the ratchet somehow after 2000 due to complaints about hard shifting. They also stated that they have seen more problems like this with Victory passengers with driver platforms. Drivers with floorboards will generally do a lazy shift. The ratchet will wear on both ends anyway, allowing the derailleur to continue down the gear and not catch.
Since I am handy with a wrench and always up for a challenge, I ordered Victory’s OEM replacement parts. I needed to get the shift ratchet and new transmission gaskets. I have the service manual for the Victory Kingpin, but it doesn’t explain exactly how to do this shift pawl replacement. So I took my time and videotaped everything.
The basic steps involved in making this shift pawl replacement are as follows:
1 – Drain all the oil from your Victory motorcycle. Trust me I didn’t do this and I made a big mess when I took the transmission cover off.
2 – Remove all the screws from the transmission cover.
3 – Now the difficult part, pull the transmission cover. Keep in mind that the clutch magnet is very strong and you don’t want to come off the cover too easily. Pull out and watch your fingers.
4 – Once the cover has been removed and the rest of the oil has been spilled, observe how the change ratchet is placed. Be aware of this by taking a photo or recording a video. You will need to install the new shift pawl in the same position with the star wheel engaged correctly.
5 – Replace and do not clean the old transmission cover gasket and install the new one. This is essential to prevent leaks.
6 – Install the transmission cover. Again, be aware of the magnet, this will suck the lid off your finger if you’re not paying attention.
7 – Install the cap bolts evenly and check the torque settings.
8 – Fill the bike with AMSOIL 20W50 Full Synthetic V-Twin Motorcycle Oil.
9 – Start the motorcycle and check for oil leaks.
10 – If everything looks good, test drive the bike and see how great it is to have the shifter working again.
He is now one of the few proud Victory motorcycle owners to perform this amazing maintenance activity.