Transmission differences
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,558
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From: Russellville, Arkansas
Transmission differences
A friend of mine recently bought a 1998 Road Glide. He bought the bike without the transmission....apparently, the previous owner sold the transmission and was going to buy a six speed transmission. Anyways, the previous owner lost interest and bought a twin cam instead.
I had a used 1997 FLH transmission left over in my shop. We went ahead and installed this transmission into his 1998 model. We replaced the one prong neutral switch with a two prong...the one that was designed for the '98.
The only problem is....the neutral light is ON in first, second, third, fourth, and fitth. It goes OFF when in neutral. This is a known good working switch.
Anyone know what the differences are between these two transmissions? We thought of wiring the bike to use the one prong....but before go that route, I thought I would ask here first.
I had a used 1997 FLH transmission left over in my shop. We went ahead and installed this transmission into his 1998 model. We replaced the one prong neutral switch with a two prong...the one that was designed for the '98.
The only problem is....the neutral light is ON in first, second, third, fourth, and fitth. It goes OFF when in neutral. This is a known good working switch.
Anyone know what the differences are between these two transmissions? We thought of wiring the bike to use the one prong....but before go that route, I thought I would ask here first.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
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From: Coromandel Peninsula New Zealand
The switches work the other way around to each other, one grounds the earth and the other makes the live circuit so I guess one has a notch and the other has a bump to actuate the switch. One prong is the grounding earth type. Use the switch for the gearbox and wire that one prong into the power wire and ditch the other wire.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
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From: Ohio
I'd VOM it and check for 12 volts/ground, NC or NO system, the question is why HD would use an alternative grounding source(wire) on the 98 instead of grounding from the transmission. the Ultima gear set does the same thing with the nuetral light and Mia knows a trick of the V-rod nuetral switch installation. Check it and maybe Mia will come along and get alittle deeper
Last edited by 1997bagger; Oct 19, 2011 at 07:22 PM.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,468
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From: Bluffton, South Carolina
Don't ask me why the Harley used two wires or one wire, the only thing we could come up with is possibly the transmission isn't grounded well enough or maybe they got a better price on the two wire setup????
Put the two wire setup back in, run a ground to the frame from the other terminal and all should be well. Hope this helps.
Put the two wire setup back in, run a ground to the frame from the other terminal and all should be well. Hope this helps.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 2,856
Likes: 127
From: Middle of Kansas
Since the switch is working, (only backwards), it seems to me that Harley used two different switches, and two different transmission actuators. You need one that works the reverse of the one you have. Whether it grounds through the case or through a wire to the ground, won't make any difference I don't think. That is the only explanation I can come up with anyway.
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Dirt don't hurt
Joined: Jan 2011
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From: Haslet Texas
You could just leave it and consider it an anti theft device.
If the only time the neutral light isn't lit is in neutral then a thief will be too confused to take off on it.
Just a thought.
If the only time the neutral light isn't lit is in neutral then a thief will be too confused to take off on it.
Just a thought.
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,558
Likes: 280
From: Russellville, Arkansas
Ok....here is what I did.
I used the one prong switch and grounded the extra wire to the top transmission cover. That seems to work...
I would still like to know what the difference was between these two transmissions.
I used the one prong switch and grounded the extra wire to the top transmission cover. That seems to work...
I would still like to know what the difference was between these two transmissions.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 5,080
Likes: 2,154
From: Ohio
When I installed the 98 up Baker 6 speed gear set in my 97 that was a question that was a struggle. Never had to make any adjustments or fabrications while installing the gearset, shift drum went right in and shifter assembly worked perfect so I still don't have an answer 
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sinepgib
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Mar 22, 2007 10:16 AM
