can anyone tell me which years will interchange for the primary setup for 5-speeds - I need a primary setup for my softail - I believe my trans is a mid 90's trans - splined shaft sits out about 5.25" from the case face - saw a good 98 FLH setup that is like new for cheap - but unsure if I can use it - standard 1996 EVO 1340 motor

 

The FLH primary won't fit ANY Softail, as it's a "short" primary, and you need a "long" primary.

 

thank you - is there a way to tell the difference by simple inspection of the primary components? Are the clutch hubs/baskets the same? Compensators? Primary chain length longer? I've probably built or have owned 50 shovels and old sporties over the last 40 years but I have ZERO experience with softails

 

I'm pretty sure the compensator and clutch are the same, but checking the parts breakdown for the two types would tell you for sure. There are parts finders online to compare part numbers.


The Softail primary chain is the same primary chain that was used on the Knucklehead, the Panhead and the Shovelhead. It has a "1936" part number.

 

My current preferred parts finder!

 

Any mid `90s primary inner cover will fit, the difference between the years is the size of the opening for the starter jackshaft.

`95 through `06 used the same part number, that is probably your best bet, they should be the most commonly available.

When accumulating your parts, get the inner primary cover first, then get the starter parts to fit that inner primary cover.

`93 and earlier have a different size opening for the starter jackshaft than the later models.

Before buying any clutch or compensator parts, you need to think about primary gearing and starter gearing.

 

the project came with this inner primary - no numbers - and a cover with a 95A HD number - do you know which this inner is???

 

You definitely want the 94 up starter...and if you want that starter to work flawlessly...you want a Harley inner primary.

Many of the chrome inner primarys are made overseas, and cause starter problems that are hard or impossible to solve.