EVO All Evo Model Discussion

'88 FXR Transmission

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Nov 6, 2020 | 07:49 AM
  #31  
mike131's Avatar
mike131
Road Warrior
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,539
Likes: 692
From: magnolia tx
Default

this is what you have to do the clearance for shift drum detent

 
Reply
Old Nov 6, 2020 | 07:53 AM
  #32  
98hotrodfatboy's Avatar
98hotrodfatboy
Seasoned HDF Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Top Answer: 5
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 21,092
Likes: 7,614
From: Poolville
Default

Then the best thing to do is just upgrade the five-speed with spline shafts do a 25-36 on the primary with the 98 basket 98 compensator and with that 32/70 you have on the rear your first gear ratio will be 9.26:1, That big motor will pull it no problem and 5th great will be 3.15:1 or somewhere around 3200-3300@70 maybe even a tad less..
 
Reply
Old Nov 6, 2020 | 07:58 AM
  #33  
mike131's Avatar
mike131
Road Warrior
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,539
Likes: 692
From: magnolia tx
Default

your bike will have one like this, the newer 91 and up 5 gear sets like Dan was talking about will have a detent like the first pic and you will have to clear for it, but you maybe able to use your old shift drum on a newer 5 speed, I don't know maybe Dan does or I think you can get a shift drum with the small detent

it that will work with out having to clear the case
 
Reply
Old Nov 6, 2020 | 08:02 AM
  #34  
mike131's Avatar
mike131
Road Warrior
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,539
Likes: 692
From: magnolia tx
Default

Originally Posted by 98hotrodfatboy
Then the best thing to do is just upgrade the five-speed with spline shafts do a 25-36 on the primary with the 98 basket 98 compensator and with that 32/70 you have on the rear your first gear ratio will be 9.26:1, That big motor will pull it no problem and 5th great will be 3.15:1 or somewhere around 3200-3300@70 maybe even a tad less..
Definitely true Hotrod, and with that much power he could also change the ratio between front and rear sprockets if he wanted more top end
 
Reply
Old Nov 6, 2020 | 08:51 AM
  #35  
Dan89FLSTC's Avatar
Dan89FLSTC
Seasoned HDF Member
Veteran: Navy
Active Streak: 30 Days
Top Answer: 3
Top Answer: 5
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 21,131
Likes: 12,691
From: South Carolina
Default

Either shift drum will work, but the correct shift pawl/shaft assembly must also be used.

When I installed the late model shift drum into my `89 case I had to remove some material in the area of the spring, but it was about a 5 minute job.

The late model shift drum with the roller detent is a big improvement over the old type spring detent.

My `89 transmission case has a `99 gearset from a bagger, and a shift drum/pawl assembly from `05.
 
Reply
Old Nov 6, 2020 | 08:54 AM
  #36  
TXFXR's Avatar
TXFXR
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 149
Likes: 101
From: Houston
Default

Originally Posted by Racepres
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...
When you say Touring do you mean the 'XX year whole trans case? Also I'm not sure what you mean by "pop a hole" for the shifter? Also I'm not sure what you mean by the Shifter Mount on the inner primary? Do you mean to change my mid controls to forward? If so I really don't want to do that, I really enjoy my mid controls as I'm some what of a "riders rider" and prefer to keep them mid.
Originally Posted by 98hotrodfatboy
Then the best thing to do is just upgrade the five-speed with spline shafts do a 25-36 on the primary with the 98 basket 98 compensator and with that 32/70 you have on the rear your first gear ratio will be 9.26:1, That big motor will pull it no problem and 5th great will be 3.15:1 or somewhere around 3200-3300@70 maybe even a tad less..
I like tossing this idea around, it seems like a great deal relatively speaking when talking about pricing. Is there some way to know which "cross referencing" of trans/gears/cases ect. years that work and wont work or is that just something that comes with experience? If I had to guess the '93 or '94 cases will bolt right up without modification but then again I could be wrong about that too.
Originally Posted by mike131
Definitely true Hotrod, and with that much power he could also change the ratio between front and rear sprockets if he wanted more top end
This is true, with that being said I'm not exactly sure what my gearing is like. I bought my bike from the original owner and he said he had changed out a sprocket because to him it was screaming down the freeway. That was with the 80" so I don't want to know what it was like before haha. I'm much younger and would guess have a totally different riding style.
All of this information is great!
To be honest I'm kind of leaning towards a 6 speed simply because I like busting other bikes and as I said earlier I'm no stranger to the twist of the throttle so I'd like the shorter ratios 1-3 that I have now and the though of having an extra gear sounds like exactly what I would like.

I guess the really expensive idea would be to get the '93 or '94 trans case so the ear will accept the newer starter and to put the 6 speed gear set in, '93/'94 inner/outer primary and the '98 clutch? Or would the clutch not matter if I went with an after market?
I didn't want to ask like this but if you guys were in my situation what would you do? A good median of price/performance/reliability and ease of installation?
 
Reply
Old Nov 6, 2020 | 08:58 AM
  #37  
TXFXR's Avatar
TXFXR
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 149
Likes: 101
From: Houston
Default

Originally Posted by Dan89FLSTC
Either shift drum will work, but the correct shift pawl/shaft assembly must also be used.

When I installed the late model shift drum into my `89 case I had to remove some material in the area of the spring, but it was about a 5 minute job.

The late model shift drum with the roller detent is a big improvement over the old type spring detent.

My `89 transmission case has a `99 gearset from a bagger, and a shift drum/pawl assembly from `05.
I'm not afraid to use tools and wouldn't mind doing some cutting/grinding/dremel to an extent, I don't want to chop the bike up but don't mind doing some custom fabricating to make things work. Also I think the '89 case is different from the '88 but then again I could be wrong about that.
 
Reply
Old Nov 6, 2020 | 09:00 AM
  #38  
98hotrodfatboy's Avatar
98hotrodfatboy
Seasoned HDF Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Top Answer: 5
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 21,092
Likes: 7,614
From: Poolville
Default

As Dan and I both said probably the best way to go is just find yourself a gear set and shift drum and make the small notch in your case and then get a different primary chain, compensator and clutch basket That's the cheapest way out and if you get you gearing right you won't have to worry about screaming motor at higher speeds..
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Nov 6, 2020 | 09:10 AM
  #39  
Dan89FLSTC's Avatar
Dan89FLSTC
Seasoned HDF Member
Veteran: Navy
Active Streak: 30 Days
Top Answer: 3
Top Answer: 5
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 21,131
Likes: 12,691
From: South Carolina
Default

Your `88 transmission case will accept any later year OEM 5 speed gearset with no modifications. Plug and play.

You don`t need to use the newer model shift drum.

If you fit a late model roller detent shift drum you may need to get your dremel out and remove a small amount of material in an easy to get at location.


 
Reply
Old Nov 6, 2020 | 09:18 AM
  #40  
mike131's Avatar
mike131
Road Warrior
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,539
Likes: 692
From: magnolia tx
Default

You need to take your top cover off you tranny and take a look at it and see if its like mine which I believe it is, if so all the six speed gear sets I've seen have the roller detent and will have to be cleared in my pic, or use a 5 speed gear set with old spring detent, I don't think you will find a newer transmission case that will bolt up with out alot of modification??
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:13 PM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE