ULTIMA 6 speed trans failure........
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 11,210
Likes: 3,040
From: St.Louis Mo.
man, i'll say oil is a touchy subject around here.
senior experienced all-knowing leader of the unwise
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,957
Likes: 351
From: USA
About 10,000 miies on the Ultima 6 speed in a 100 HP Dyna. No noise and nothing wrong so far. I did replace the bearings in the gearset with Harley bearings and used the Baker shifter pawl instead of the Ultima part. The Baker shifter pawl makes it shift like butter, it doesn't even feel like a Harley transmission.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 21,064
Likes: 7,591
From: Poolville
Strength????
I realize just how old this post is and that is exactly why i am referring to it. I can understand some of the problems with the Ultima 6, when you attach it to a monster motor with monster torque. It's like anything else the more power the stronger the drive train. The Ultima 6 is just a mediocre affordable trans. In June I installed an Ultima 6 and to date have had no problems. I do have to change the fluid in it though, like most new pieces of equipment there is a break in period and a time to change the fluids. Have any of you that have this 6 speed done that? And if so, those that have did you have any problems? and same with those that did not change the fluid how many problems have you had. I'd really like to know. call it research. Just so all of you know I ride a 98 FatBoy with 61,000 miles on it that puts out 94# of torque, stock bore and 3.31:1 gear ratio. I ride pretty hard and have had no problems with the drive train, a BDL enclosed 1 5/8" Belt primary along with a 70 tooth by 1" rear pulley with a Gates Poly chain by BDL and a Metzler 150/80-16. Feel free to chime in I'd really like to know. Thanx
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,476
Likes: 23
From: Summit, Mississippi
Mine was not an Ultima, It was a similar straight-cut-gear POS. I would not dare to guess what improvements have been made since I tossed my JIMS, so bear that in mind. Anyway....the first few thousand miles mine ran with the period MOCO tranny fluid. Later on, I switched to the Red Line High-Shock (bubble-gum). I still run that in all of my transmissions. It's not a miracle-cure as it never did anything good to my JIMS, but I like Red Line.
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From:
just installed mine a few months ago
I put the Ultima 6 speed over drive in my 03 bagger ad i have my motor built to a 103 puts out 107 hp and 116 installed the tranny in february and love it neutral is easy to find very solid and feels great. its quiet in high gear hear my stereo even better.
but I did a lot of reading and of coarse I find that the baker over drive gear set identical ratios to the ultima and on further reading it appears that Baker uses american made cases but gets gears and shafts from the same Korean factory as ultima. So I had my mine installed parts and labor for 1700 and the baker gears set is 2500 just for the gear set.
Honestly I couldn't be happier.
but I did a lot of reading and of coarse I find that the baker over drive gear set identical ratios to the ultima and on further reading it appears that Baker uses american made cases but gets gears and shafts from the same Korean factory as ultima. So I had my mine installed parts and labor for 1700 and the baker gears set is 2500 just for the gear set.
Honestly I couldn't be happier.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 21,096
Likes: 12,640
From: South Carolina
Seriously?
You`ve only had it for a month, that`s not much of a testimonial.
Bet you are back later playing a different tune...
You`ve only had it for a month, that`s not much of a testimonial.
Bet you are back later playing a different tune...
I put the Ultima 6 speed over drive in my 03 bagger ad i have my motor built to a 103 puts out 107 hp and 116 installed the tranny in february and love it neutral is easy to find very solid and feels great. its quiet in high gear hear my stereo even better.
but I did a lot of reading and of coarse I find that the baker over drive gear set identical ratios to the ultima and on further reading it appears that Baker uses american made cases but gets gears and shafts from the same Korean factory as ultima. So I had my mine installed parts and labor for 1700 and the baker gears set is 2500 just for the gear set.
Honestly I couldn't be happier.
but I did a lot of reading and of coarse I find that the baker over drive gear set identical ratios to the ultima and on further reading it appears that Baker uses american made cases but gets gears and shafts from the same Korean factory as ultima. So I had my mine installed parts and labor for 1700 and the baker gears set is 2500 just for the gear set.
Honestly I couldn't be happier.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 21,064
Likes: 7,591
From: Poolville
but,but,but
Ifin It sez heer on my putor, than I reckon it's gots to be da truuf, ,, lol. Go get him Mark.....,,.,
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Knuckleheads anyway, to answer your question, at least with our transmissions, there is no break in period. Put it in and beat the crap out of it. We recommend changing the fluid every 5000 or once a riding season for those of us that have riding seasons.
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,278
Likes: 465
From: anywhere
gears
since you're a Ultima customer contact them ask find out where their steel comes from, and who machines it. All these intermittant problems with these various tranny's sounds a lot like quality control issues and ****-poor steel coming out of China. I have a good rule of thumb when it comes to tools and moving parts. If it requires a bearing and strength and it has the word "China" anywhere on it. Keep looking.
and who does
and who does
Last edited by gerald martin; Mar 23, 2021 at 06:50 PM. Reason: Deleted, may have had my info wrong