45 WLA tranny issue
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 322
Likes: 92
From: Cumming, GA
45 WLA tranny issue
My rebuilt tranny 'slips' when I try to kick start - maybe every other kick.
Feels like the gears are not fully engaging, or the teeth are worn and slipping to the next tooth
Who can fix fix this?
Terry
Feels like the gears are not fully engaging, or the teeth are worn and slipping to the next tooth
Who can fix fix this?
Terry
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 9,568
Likes: 7,936
From: Long Island, New York
Kicker gears are notorious for being problematic on those transmissions. The reproduction gears are terrible. You need to look high and low to find a NOS gear.
That said, the tripper bolts wear over time and sometimes that can be the issue. The tripper bolts "push" the kicker gear into the cluster to engage when kicking. When the heads wear out, the kicker gear moves just a little bit less and it slips.
Another thing I have found, how are you kicking the bike? Standing next to the bike like she is a chopper seems to make the issue worse. Straddling the bike works much better, seems to change the angle and keeps the gear engaged.
All of that said, Ralph Camp from Ralph's Racing is the guy to send the transmission to if you are not up to pulling her apart.
That said, the tripper bolts wear over time and sometimes that can be the issue. The tripper bolts "push" the kicker gear into the cluster to engage when kicking. When the heads wear out, the kicker gear moves just a little bit less and it slips.
Another thing I have found, how are you kicking the bike? Standing next to the bike like she is a chopper seems to make the issue worse. Straddling the bike works much better, seems to change the angle and keeps the gear engaged.
All of that said, Ralph Camp from Ralph's Racing is the guy to send the transmission to if you are not up to pulling her apart.
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 322
Likes: 92
From: Cumming, GA
Thanks Bill,
The bike was a basket case when I got it, so I didn't know what worked and what didn't.
I rebuilt the tranny myself, which was probably a mistake.
Ralph hasn't had an open slot, so I am looking for options.
terry
The bike was a basket case when I got it, so I didn't know what worked and what didn't.
I rebuilt the tranny myself, which was probably a mistake.
Ralph hasn't had an open slot, so I am looking for options.
terry
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 9,568
Likes: 7,936
From: Long Island, New York
Ralph is an older fella, he usually says he doesn't have a slot. But if you can get him to agree to receive it, he usually turns them around in a couple of weeks. Tell him you are OK with it sitting on his shelf, etc, etc, blah, blah.
Once it is there, he will make it better.
When you did it, did you replace the tripper bolts? New kicker gear?
Once it is there, he will make it better.
When you did it, did you replace the tripper bolts? New kicker gear?
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 322
Likes: 92
From: Cumming, GA
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From: Long Island, New York
Oh I get it, I have been inside that transmission far too many times. Being she only had 3rd when I got the bike, I felt my rebuilding the first time was a success, a little sloppy but damn we had three gears. Then the second time I changed the shifting drum to go form '47 and up style to the correct '46 and down style, again success. The third time was to change the kicker gear, for the second time. And on and on it goes.
If it makes you feel better, it took Ralph two times to get mine to stop slipping, but that is a different story.
If it makes you feel better, it took Ralph two times to get mine to stop slipping, but that is a different story.