transmission woes
Thread Starter
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Dirt don't hurt
Joined: Jan 2011
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From: Haslet Texas
transmission woes
The bike is a '95 Heritage with an S&S 111.
I put a baker 5 speed in about 10 k ago and the main bearing is toast.
I still have the original 5 speed tranny but it had several problems.
False neutral between 5th and 4th when shifting hard, 4th gear whine, and what finally caused me to pull it was when shifting from 2nd to 3rd I'd let out the clutch and the motor would rev up then the tranny would slam into 3rd.
I was thinking about doing the TC 5 speed thing but I'm not sure what all crosses as there is a change between '97 and '98 and I don't know what that was or what it would affect in fitment.
What do y'all think?
I put a baker 5 speed in about 10 k ago and the main bearing is toast.
I still have the original 5 speed tranny but it had several problems.
False neutral between 5th and 4th when shifting hard, 4th gear whine, and what finally caused me to pull it was when shifting from 2nd to 3rd I'd let out the clutch and the motor would rev up then the tranny would slam into 3rd.
I was thinking about doing the TC 5 speed thing but I'm not sure what all crosses as there is a change between '97 and '98 and I don't know what that was or what it would affect in fitment.
What do y'all think?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 21,026
Likes: 12,549
From: South Carolina
I can`t think of any differences between `95 and `98, same gears, same shift drum, pawl, shafts.
In `99 they changed the trap door to accommodate bearings with a larger diameter.
If you can get a trap door from `99 or later it is a worthwhile upgrade, you just use the new bearings, all other parts are not affected by this change.
Shifter drums and pawl changed to the roller detent type in 2000 on Softails.
In 2001 all models got the new shifter drum and pawl. The roller detent type drum must use the newer shifter pawl that came out with it.
In order to use the later shift drum and shifter pawl, you must either replace the shift shaft bushing with the later model part (34979-00), or make a spacer to mimic the longer bushing. Many have just taken a bushing and cut a small length off to use as a spacer.
The spacer is installed onto the shift shaft before the shaft is installed into the case.
There are some changes to the neutral light switch that must be made, but I never hooked up the neutral light...
On the old gearset:
Check the bearings underneath the gears (4 of them).
Take a close look at the dogs on the gears make sure they are not rounded.
Inspect the forks (5 speed forks used the same parts through the entire run).
The old shifter drum might be sliding too far back and forth.
In `99 they changed the trap door to accommodate bearings with a larger diameter.
If you can get a trap door from `99 or later it is a worthwhile upgrade, you just use the new bearings, all other parts are not affected by this change.
Shifter drums and pawl changed to the roller detent type in 2000 on Softails.
In 2001 all models got the new shifter drum and pawl. The roller detent type drum must use the newer shifter pawl that came out with it.
In order to use the later shift drum and shifter pawl, you must either replace the shift shaft bushing with the later model part (34979-00), or make a spacer to mimic the longer bushing. Many have just taken a bushing and cut a small length off to use as a spacer.
The spacer is installed onto the shift shaft before the shaft is installed into the case.
There are some changes to the neutral light switch that must be made, but I never hooked up the neutral light...
On the old gearset:
Check the bearings underneath the gears (4 of them).
Take a close look at the dogs on the gears make sure they are not rounded.
Inspect the forks (5 speed forks used the same parts through the entire run).
The old shifter drum might be sliding too far back and forth.
Last edited by Dan89FLSTC; Jun 13, 2020 at 05:23 PM.
Thread Starter
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Dirt don't hurt
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 21,062
Likes: 4,547
From: Haslet Texas
Dan I greatly appreciate it the info but what I think I'm gonna do is simply gut the transmission and go back with all new Andrews parts.
I was talking to a transmission guy and was telling him I need a rock solid transmission and that's what he suggested.
It's gonna be expensive but hopefully I won't have any more problems.
I was talking to a transmission guy and was telling him I need a rock solid transmission and that's what he suggested.
It's gonna be expensive but hopefully I won't have any more problems.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 8,565
Likes: 3,317
From: Cental, MI
Bert Baker will stand behind his stuff.... Our experience at the Race track is... Damn Good Stuff...
If you "Bang" Andrews gears... they will Break... BTDT... But, We are Decidedly Abusive..
If you "Bang" Andrews gears... they will Break... BTDT... But, We are Decidedly Abusive..
Thread Starter
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Dirt don't hurt
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 21,062
Likes: 4,547
From: Haslet Texas
I plan on giving Baker a call on monday just to see what they say.
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Thread Starter
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Dirt don't hurt
Joined: Jan 2011
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From: Haslet Texas
I just checked my records and that Baker only has 10,835 miles on it.
Not a ringing endorsement for the longevity of their transmissions.
Not a ringing endorsement for the longevity of their transmissions.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
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From: Florida
Do you think it's the motor's Torque or just the tranny? I would think that a standard five speed would do the trick. Maybe a andrews third fourth and fifth gears would work nicely.
I do like the baker shift drums due to their roller detention design. Have one sitting in the attic for a five speed build.
I do like the baker shift drums due to their roller detention design. Have one sitting in the attic for a five speed build.
Thread Starter
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Dirt don't hurt
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 21,062
Likes: 4,547
From: Haslet Texas
Do you think it's the motor's Torque or just the tranny? I would think that a standard five speed would do the trick. Maybe a andrews third fourth and fifth gears would work nicely.
I do like the baker shift drums due to their roller detention design. Have one sitting in the attic for a five speed build.
I do like the baker shift drums due to their roller detention design. Have one sitting in the attic for a five speed build.
Now I've got one that's toast 150k , one with bearing problems 10k , and one that developed a false neutral between 4th and 5th 70k.