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No problem! You are going down a bit of a rabbit hole here, just to let you know it can get expensive quick!! Baker is the best 6 speeds, but $2000.00- $3,000.00, I'm not paying that!! The only reason I have a baker is that I bought it off a friend cheap!, I have helped friends put Ultima 6 speeds in their bikes they looked to be good quality, run quite, shift smooth and they have had good luck with them for $600.00-$700.00 much more reasonable as far as the rest, used parts on ebay can be your friend!, you can find inner,outer primary covers with the whole primary set up all together pulled off one bike. You don't want to be spending $5000.00-$7000.00 on a 1988 bike
That's what I'm afraid of but I'm already so deep I just want to make it the best/most reliable I can. I was wanting to take a trip to the Texas hill country with this awesome weather but my trans had other plans.
I have a friend that owns a shop down here that has the baker 6 speed trans that I'm hoping will give me a good deal on.
maybe Hotrodfatboy will chime in I think he put a 98 clutch set up in his
II have been watching this thread but didn't say anything because I'm not sure on the FXR... The spline shaft is the way to go but the best clutch setup was in the '98 and up.. part number 37707 - 98a... No spring plates nothing but 9 friction plates and 8 steels and if you use a screaming eagle spring plate, it will with out a doubt hold 115-120.lbs torque.. The 98 clutch shell uses a 36 tooth so you might have to use a 25 tooth compensator. See it gets a little technical between running the setup I have on a fat boy as compared to an FXR. It might not be an issue though and if you use your original 24 tooth compensator the chain might be a little loose.. How ever you can actually flip the adjusting shoe rear to front and it'll pick up that slack no problem... That's what I did because I went to a 24 tooth compensator on the front to help my gear ratio better with the 36 tooth on the rear basket.. If you do change your inner and outer primary it definitely won't be an issue to run the rest including the newer style starter.. But where are you going to get the transmission case to take the Baker 6-speed? Does the Baker 6 fit in the 89 case? I also want to tell you I ran a Ultima OD6 in my fat boy before I got the baker and it just didn't perform like it should I had a couple of minor issues so before I trashed it... I sold it....
Last edited by 98hotrodfatboy; Nov 5, 2020 at 05:42 PM.
If you want to avoid the rabbit hole (somewhat anyway) the OEM 5 speed is a very robust unit.
Find a take out 5 speed `91 or later, then choose your clutch and primary covers/starter.
Keep in mind, that `88 transmission case needs to have some rework done so that it will accept the late model starter, the hole in the mounting ear on the case is too small, not a big deal except that the case must be removed from the frame.
If you go that route, remember it is easier to strip the transmission parts out of the case before you remove the case from the frame, that way you are not trying to figure out a way to hold the case when untorquing nuts etc.
But if your buddy will give you a deal on that baker OD6, then ??? the only issue I had putting a OD6 in my transmission case on my 85 fxr is I had to do some clearance on the top inside of the case to make room for the bigger shift drum detent here in the pic
II have been watching this thread but didn't say anything because I'm not sure on the FXR... The spline shaft is the way to go but the best clutch setup was in the '98 and up.. part number 37707 - 98a... No spring plates nothing but 9 friction plates and 8 steels and if you use a screaming eagle spring plate, it will with out a doubt hold 115-120.lbs torque.. The 98 clutch shell uses a 36 tooth so you might have to use a 25 tooth compensator. See it gets a little technical between running the setup I have on a fat boy as compared to an FXR. It might not be an issue though and if you use your original 24 tooth compensator the chain might be a little loose.. How ever you can actually flip the adjusting shoe rear to front and it'll pick up that slack no problem... That's what I did because I went to a 24 tooth compensator on the front to help my gear ratio better with the 36 tooth on the rear basket.. If you do change your inner and outer primary it definitely won't be an issue to run the rest including the newer style starter.. But where are you going to get the transmission case to take the Baker 6-speed? Does the Baker 6 fit in the 89 case? I also want to tell you I ran a Ultima OD6 in my fat boy before I got the baker and it just didn't perform like it should I had a couple of minor issues so before I trashed it... I sold it....
This is awesome info and exactly what I've been needing to know. With that being said my bike makes a good amount of torque so I'm not too worried about it "bogging" or anything off the line. The tooth count on each is definitely something to keep in mind when I'm figuring out which parts I'm going to go with. Also good call on the primary chain length/adjuster, not something I would have thought about.
Originally Posted by Dan89FLSTC
If you want to avoid the rabbit hole (somewhat anyway) the OEM 5 speed is a very robust unit.
Find a take out 5 speed `91 or later, then choose your clutch and primary covers/starter.
Keep in mind, that `88 transmission case needs to have some rework done so that it will accept the late model starter, the hole in the mounting ear on the case is too small, not a big deal except that the case must be removed from the frame.
If you go that route, remember it is easier to strip the transmission parts out of the case before you remove the case from the frame, that way you are not trying to figure out a way to hold the case when untorquing nuts etc.
I'm closer to the 135-140ftlbs to the tire, would that be able to handle it? I'm not against a 5 speed entirely but the way my bike runs is great around town but kind "screams" when I'm going down the freeway. If I had to guess I'm probably around 3600-3800 doing 75-80 down the freeway. I could be a little off on those numbers but I'm sure that big motor doesn't like to stay around that rpm for a duration of time.
Originally Posted by mike131
But if your buddy will give you a deal on that baker OD6, then ??? the only issue I had putting a OD6 in my transmission case on my 85 fxr is I had to do some clearance on the top inside of the case to make room for the bigger shift drum detent here in the pic
With that being said, is there a case that I could use that would bolt up to where I wouldn't have that problem? Sounds really convenient to be able to just bolt up a '98 trans with the updated primary ect.
This is all really good info and I appreciate all of the input.
Also noted is my friend has the gear set and not the entire transmission. I'm not sure if I clarified that before.
No I don't know of a direct replacement case that will work for a six speed with no modification, because of the rear transmission mount, the way bolts to the engine and oil filter screws to the bottom of it, It wasn't any big deal to cut and grind out this section with the gear set out, the newer transmission cases don't have that section but they don't have the right rear transmission mount either and I don't believe the oil filter mount
94 and after a larger starter ring gear and stronger clutch set up, but you have to use 94 and up inner and outer primary covers and they are expensive
But, Touring ones are relatively inexpensive... Pop a hole for the Shifter Thru shaft, and Go...
If ya don't like the Shifter Mount on the Inner primary... it is much easier to remove such details than it would be to add it...
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I agree that is true Dan
