Transmission dates, changes
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Stellar HDF Member
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From: Boston, MA
Transmission dates, changes
Forgive the memory.... It is getting slower and less reliable. Ha
What are the dates of major changes in the Evo transmission?
I see a lot of the guys with the 1984&85 years more or less have the later Shovelhead transmissions.
'86 and newer seem to be fairly interchangeable.
1989 & 1990 seem to be the years that had a shaft change? Were the starter motors the same too?
I'm mostly interested in the softail particulars but I'm sure most of the shafts and internals are mostly the same. Obviously cases and trap doors are not.
Thanks!
Tom
What are the dates of major changes in the Evo transmission?
I see a lot of the guys with the 1984&85 years more or less have the later Shovelhead transmissions.
'86 and newer seem to be fairly interchangeable.
1989 & 1990 seem to be the years that had a shaft change? Were the starter motors the same too?
I'm mostly interested in the softail particulars but I'm sure most of the shafts and internals are mostly the same. Obviously cases and trap doors are not.
Thanks!
Tom
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 21,032
Likes: 12,559
From: South Carolina
`89 was the last year of the tapered mainshaft.
`90 was first year for splined mainshaft, all other parts in the transmission remained the same, the `90 mainshaft is a one year only part number.
`91 got a new mainshaft (which remained the same for the rest of the 5 speed era), and a new main drive gear/needle bearings.
High Contact Ratio gears came out in `94 for the international market.
HCR gears came out in domestic models in `95, but not all models.
`99 models had a new trap door, the bearings were new, with a larger outside diameter. The inside diameter remained the same, so the later trap door and bearings can be retrofitted to any earlier transmission.
Shift drum and pawl was upgraded in 2000 on Softails, 2001 on all other models, the new type drum and shift pawl are a great upgrade for an older transmission.
`90 was first year for splined mainshaft, all other parts in the transmission remained the same, the `90 mainshaft is a one year only part number.
`91 got a new mainshaft (which remained the same for the rest of the 5 speed era), and a new main drive gear/needle bearings.
High Contact Ratio gears came out in `94 for the international market.
HCR gears came out in domestic models in `95, but not all models.
`99 models had a new trap door, the bearings were new, with a larger outside diameter. The inside diameter remained the same, so the later trap door and bearings can be retrofitted to any earlier transmission.
Shift drum and pawl was upgraded in 2000 on Softails, 2001 on all other models, the new type drum and shift pawl are a great upgrade for an older transmission.
Last edited by Dan89FLSTC; Jan 17, 2021 at 04:08 PM.
Thread Starter
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,583
Likes: 115
From: Boston, MA
`89 was the last year of the tapered mainshaft.
`90 was first year for splined mainshaft, all other parts in the transmission remained the same, the `90 mainshaft is a one year only part number.
`91 got a new mainshaft (which remained the same for the rest of the 5 speed era), and a new main drive gear/needle bearings.
High Contact Ratio gears came out in `94 for the international market.
HCR gears came out in domestic models in `95, but not all models.
`99 models had a new trap door, the bearings were new, with a larger outside diameter. The inside diameter remained the same, so the later trap door and bearings can be retrofitted to any earlier transmission.
Shift drum and pawl was upgraded in 2000 on Softails, 2001 on all other models, the new type drum and shift pawl are a great upgrade for an older transmission.
`90 was first year for splined mainshaft, all other parts in the transmission remained the same, the `90 mainshaft is a one year only part number.
`91 got a new mainshaft (which remained the same for the rest of the 5 speed era), and a new main drive gear/needle bearings.
High Contact Ratio gears came out in `94 for the international market.
HCR gears came out in domestic models in `95, but not all models.
`99 models had a new trap door, the bearings were new, with a larger outside diameter. The inside diameter remained the same, so the later trap door and bearings can be retrofitted to any earlier transmission.
Shift drum and pawl was upgraded in 2000 on Softails, 2001 on all other models, the new type drum and shift pawl are a great upgrade for an older transmission.
I'll print this for the garage wall.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 21,032
Likes: 12,559
From: South Carolina
Another thing... Unless you have owned your bike since new, there is no way of guaranteeing what gears are in a 5 speed box (High Contact Ratio or Standard), so always look at the gears before you go on a search for a gear/s.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 10,672
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From: OH
[QUOTE=Dan89FLSTC
Dan , as always , thank you for your knowledgeable and reliable input.
i will add that back in the day hot rod clutch dump guys stripped the tapered shaft clutch baskets on a pretty regular basis.
Woodruff key would slip and smear
Not the best choice for aggressive builds or riders
Seem to recall early baskets were all aluminum and later had a cast in steel insert?
Either could / would fail with enough power and/or shenanigans
jmo
Dan , as always , thank you for your knowledgeable and reliable input.
i will add that back in the day hot rod clutch dump guys stripped the tapered shaft clutch baskets on a pretty regular basis.
Woodruff key would slip and smear
Not the best choice for aggressive builds or riders
Seem to recall early baskets were all aluminum and later had a cast in steel insert?
Either could / would fail with enough power and/or shenanigans
jmo
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,539
Likes: 692
From: magnolia tx
Originally Posted by Tee⋁19671755
Forgive the memory.... It is getting slower and less reliable. Ha
What are the dates of major changes in the Evo transmission?
I see a lot of the guys with the 1984&85 years more or less have the later Shovelhead transmissions.
'86 and newer seem to be fairly interchangeable.
1989 & 1990 seem to be the years that had a shaft change? Were the starter motors the same too?
I'm mostly interested in the softail particulars but I'm sure most of the shafts and internals are mostly the same. Obviously cases and trap doors are not.
Thanks!
Tom
What are the dates of major changes in the Evo transmission?
I see a lot of the guys with the 1984&85 years more or less have the later Shovelhead transmissions.
'86 and newer seem to be fairly interchangeable.
1989 & 1990 seem to be the years that had a shaft change? Were the starter motors the same too?
I'm mostly interested in the softail particulars but I'm sure most of the shafts and internals are mostly the same. Obviously cases and trap doors are not.
Thanks!
Tom
Last edited by mike131; Jan 19, 2021 at 07:33 AM.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 21,032
Likes: 12,559
From: South Carolina
`89 was first year of the modern starter configuration.
The starter jackshaft hole in the inner primary cover has changed over the years, but I don`t know when.
The starter jackshaft hole in the inner primary cover has changed over the years, but I don`t know when.
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