What a lesson! That Big Black Beauty, a 1982 Shovel fl/fx looked so sweet sittin' in that driveway picture from Craig's list. So I went and looked and fell in love with the sound of the 4-sparkplug 1340 cu. in V-twin.

Yes, I did test ride it, and while the linkage seemed a little sloppy, it generally seemed alright. I knew there would be repairs...modifications.....So I made him buy it for me. Still ain't heard the end of it.

OMG! First I noticed the linkage pivot hole on the rotary top had been helicoiled BADLY and the bolt was falling out. [it was dark in there, okay?]

Took off the shifter cover, drained the oil, found pieces of metal in the bottom of the tranny case that didn't belong to anything. So I decided to remove the tranny and take a deeper look at the other stuff. ARRRRGGGHHHHHHH!

Took off the outer primary only to find EVERYTHING INSIDE was defective. The 1.5 inch belt was cut, perhaps from improper alignment. Little bearings fell out of the clutch hub bearing thing. Parts missing from the compensating sprocket assembly.

Then I noticed that the inner primary was completely cracked around the allen bolt just below the front cylinder. OY!

So now it's all apart, laying araound the yard, on the bech, in the buckets and I am just really confused. At first I thought well I'll just put new seals in the tranny and go open belt to reduce the cost of the inner primary. But I asked a friend, an auto mechanic, and he said that here in New Mexico, where the sunshines 375 days a year, that belts are not a good idea because they dry out too often.

So I feel screwed, blue and tattooed, and not in a good way. I really need lots of good advice from y'all. Back to the chain? And if so, is the length of the transmission output shaft critical?

Man, this whole thing is getting to me. The closest shop is thirty miles away and they are a buch of sexist bastards who don't think I, as a biker women, should do anything to a Harley unless I am wearing a bikini and holding a rag and a hose.
[SMARTASS COMMENT GOES HERE!]

I'm blonde...okay. That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.

But I need ya, baby. You're the only one who can help me. I'm lost and prone to wanderin'. Belt or chain?

Whips or....WHOOPS wrong forum! Help me make it through the night, won't you?

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you,

Sissy, 58 year old Biker Babe...Sex [at least once more before I die] , Drugs [blood pressure medicine] and Rock and Roll [me, in my new harley powered wheel chair]

 

Well,
In an unsexist way, but somehow, as I think you'll agree, totally appropos, to your situation
I offer this , to wit:
There was a young lady of Niger,
Who smiled as she rode on a tiger.
They came back from the ride,
with the lady inside;
And the smile on the face of the tiger.

Attributed to Kipling; but really much older than he.
This appears to be one of those cases where the seller has no fear of God.
Nor the buyer of reality.
Truly, you have all of my sympathy and likely that of most readers of these tomes.
Now, before you is the choice: Do you...
A. allow the (self-inflicted) Shovelhead disease to grow and mature into a rare and fine affliction of mechanical moxie or,
B. stomp your moral compass into atoms and haunt the Jap sites.

If you read and heed other askings here your first tasks should be evident:
MANUALS, MANUALS, MANUALS!
Figger out how the machine works, inside-n-out, but good!
And good luck to you.
Skip, A&P

 

I've never trusted belts to be 100% reliable, they seem to break at the worst possible time and place. Chains, if properly lubricated will last pretty much forever. I have one with more than 100K on it and it hasn't stretched yet. To use a chain you need an oil tight primary whether you use the stock oil return system or the oil bath modification some people swear by (not me). You said the inner primary was cracked around an allen bolt below the front cylinder, hopefully you are not talking about the allen plug on the case between the cylinders, that is part of the motor case and if the case is cracked you are F--ked and not in a good way. If the inner primary is cracked on the ears that hold it to the motor you will need to find a competent welder to repair it or find a replacement ($).
With the proper mainshaft any 65 and later foot shift transmission will work. You have a chain rear sprocket so I imagine you could use any 70 and up transmission as a bolt in replacement. Follow the procedure in the manual for spacing the front sprocket with the clutch hub to align the chain. Don't get discouraged. I think I would have words with the previous owner for not disclosing the problems with the bike.

 

I prefer primary chain drive.
Get the genuine HD shop manual (as suggested) and get some help from a mechanically inclined person and you will be able to fix what's wrong.
An indy shop that works on the older HD's can help you get the proper replacement if you decide against fixing your current tranny.
I will say that the cheapo replacement inner primary chain cases from Taiwan are a bit risky qualitywise. I said "cheapo" but they are around $180 for those low quality ones. If you can get an OEM (used) case or a heavy duty case from Rivera (they bought the Cal Products fixin's for heavy duty chain cases). they are a better choice if you don't have your current case repaired. Be prepared to pay some serious coin for the Rivera case if you go with them.
If your current tranny is the right one for your application and it is OEM, it's probably much less expensive to have it rebuilt than buy a good quality new one. There are places to get good used ones but you need a knowledgeable person to check it out, of course.
I hope the engine in your bike was well built and cared for.
Your bike looks pretty good in the pic. Too bad ya got bamboozled on the drive train but you ain't the first.
I hope it all works out well for you.

 

I would go with the chain And have the tranny rebuilt. But make sure the lip on the motor is in good shape it goes around the stator if it is bad go with a belt. It is common for that lip to get messed up if the inner primary was loose.

 

That's some great advice, guys so I wrote you all a Limerick.

There once was a biker babe Sissy
Whose mission was to never be prissy,
She said as she lay,
Neath an old Shovelhead,
If I'm gonna get screwed, won't you kiss me?

Thanks for your your support. But you know if I wasn't comfortable with dysfunction or malfunction...I wouldn't be married.

Thought about jammin' a hot fishtail up his **** but I prefer to let Karma do its thang. And he didn't force me to buy it. Got it for 5000.00 and I am smart enough to know that I would be spending a few dineros.

Based on your input, I will go back to the chain. Gonna find a good welder, and make him my pal. And if HE turns out to be a sexist jerk, like most of the men and some of the lesbians I've met here in New Mexico, I will teach myself to weld. Ain't nobody stopping this girl.

"You like me....You really LIKE ME" [Sally Fields Acadamy Award speech 1985]

Thanks, Sissy

 

well now that you know what parts are NOT supposed to look like, it might be time to hit up some swap meets and find some goodies to speed up the riding potential.,,

 

good choice sticking with the chain. Now you just have to find all the parts you need. You can try on ebay, some of the guys who converted to open belts may have put their compensators and primaries on. As far as the transmission, it all depends on what you want to spend. Now would be as good a time as any to buy a 6 speed overdrive if you want it, otherwise you can prolly either rebuild the trans yourself or have it rebuilt for a decent price. Whatever you do, try to avoid the cheap chinese gears and bearings and such, as they probably won't last long.

 

Yes stay away from the cheap stuff it will cost you more in the end.

 

My 82 FLH 212,000 mi. on her