I put a 34T tranny pulley (sprocket) on my 2000 Fatboy. Love it. Recommend it. I don't race and could care less if I have to slip the clutch a little more. I also thought 1st gear on a FL was too low for me anyway.

I ride 100 miles a day to/from work on freeways. I don't shift to 5th until around 65 Mph anymore as before I would be in 5th at 65 Mph and still want to shift. That's what it has done for me. In fact, I can go 75 Mph all day long and not think about needing to shift. Cost me 4 hours of work and $160 (gear and gaskets, seals) not including a tranny sprocket wrench $75 from George's Garage.

 

Best I can tell DS-199478 is the part for my 04 fatty.. mandm has 'em for $105. I have a friend with the "sprocket socket"... I'm really starting to consider it now if I want to be brave enough to tear down the primary. Don't know on these TC's if you end up having to pull the starter.. That's a pain. How much belt adjustment is needed? ie. how far forward does the rear tire have to move, I wonder.

 

So you guys that did the 34T pulley swap..
How much adjustment did it take to get the belt tension proper with the larger pulley?


(yeah I know.. still on the fence.. well not really just no time and no bike budget)
I can certainly justify the "poor man's overdrive" as it's been coined a lot easier than a 6-er.. Especially with a friend who's a wrench WITH the sprocket tool. That helps.. I supply the beer, moral support and goffer abilities.

 

You can get the best of both worlds and be cheaper than a 6-speed.Look up Johnson Eng. @twistgear.net and buy his products.5th gear main and counter(helical cut)gives like a 10% reduction in 1st.-4th. and the high gear stays the same.I ran a 34-70 on my 80" heritage for years and itis great.I now run 32-65 and I may even go to a33.He has a triple lip trans. seal which is basically bullit proof as well as a better trap door bearing set up which is way better than stock.You keep your bottom end as well as save some rpms. on top.Installation will take some time but well worth the hours.When going from 4 -5 there will definitely be and rpm drop.I did mine about 7-8 years ago and never looked back.If you are going to make a LOT of long trips than a 6-speed fits the bill.If not,this is the way to go.If you have a manual and some decent ability and some tools,this is doable and enjoyable project.Toby

 

Ooooooh... You just threw a "wrench in the cog" hehehe.. pardon the pun! I gotta look into that.

 

Ok for info specific to a 34T front pulley upgrade incase searchers that find this thread.

In another 6-speed thread found here: https://www.hdforums.com/m_2351409/tm.htm it's mentioned the means to recalibrate the speedometer can be accomplished with the Dakota Digital Recalibration Module: http://www.jpcycles.com/productgroup...ley&page=1

I imagine that item can recalibrate for any gear ratio change (primary, tranny or belt) that throws the speedo off.

 

Hey Guys,
Last year I had installed on my 05 Springer Classic a 34T Andrews trans pulley. Having come off a previous ride which had an overdrive, I found myself constantly looking to kick up a gear when I was already in 5th on my Springer. After a short time I just couldn't stand it anymore and had the dealer do the pulley swap. I know we are not talking much here, but that pulley change made me fall in love with riding the bike. The pulley was $175.00 and the install was $200.00, so...for $375.00 I got a bike that is much more pleasurable to ride. My stock belt was used and still has plenty of room for adjustment. If you are thinking about this mod, what you give up is very small compared to what you gain. The only time anybody might feel a compromise is when the clutch is first engaged. Even then, the clutch engagement difference is so small that it is almost not discernible with a solo rider.
Good luck!

 

Geeee.. Thanks... Now one of my winter projects I can't afford is biting at me again. hehehe... I think I might have to get my 'wrench' buddy with a fabricated pulley-socket tool and all the parts to pull the primary down and do the job in-garage.

I can see me introducing some kind of leak or something though... heheh.. the old '90 heritage I fought with that tormented me with it's constant 1-2 drop leak has me gun-shy. I really must give the TC88 drivetrain upgrades some credit I think/hope. Dang!!! Wish I had a table lift.. That's THE way to do it. Crap.. might as well get a pro to do it and call it a day.. oh well.. I tried.. I think I like wrenching as much as riding.. That's a bad bad thing.

 

FYI had harley davidson of Louisville, Ky. install my 34T Andrews trans pulley for around $200 and they used my stock 130T belt on my '99 heritage. 'bout 7% drop in rpms at 70 mph which is right on with the rest of this thread. haven't gone on any trips yet but a few rides around here ya can really tell a difference. can't wait to go back out west. hope this will help some one just thinkin 'bout it. I like this forum!!!!!!

 

2000 Fatboy. Stock tranny pulley 32T and stock rear pulley 70T. I changed the tranny sprocket to 34T. I used the stock belt (135T belt) with no problems.

I was planning on installing an Ultima 6-speed with OD gear set, but was waiting to hear if our contract (work) got renewed. While waiting, I ran across a good deal on a 65T rear pulley on Ebay. So bought a new rear belt (130T), some wheel spacers and went to install it. The rear pulley was wrong. Ended up getting the correct rear 65T rear pulley from J&P cycles. Also, turned out that a 130T rear belt was too small. Ended up having to go to a 132T belt. I also didn't need the rear pulley spacers as the pulley lined up straight with the tranny pulley when put on the rear wheel.

So, I am now running a 2000 FLSTF TC88B with a 34T tranny pulley and a 65T rear pulley.I was worried that there was not enough torque to pull that high of a gear ratio change...I was wrong. No problems. If my wife rides on the back, I have to slip the clutch in 1st gear to get moving, if not riding, I don't have to (note, I am running a SE air cleaner/filter and SE II slip-on mufflers).

My impression. I now don't shift into 5th until around 60 Mph or even 65 Mph. The sweet spot on my bike (harmonics) is at 72 Mph in 5th where everything just settles down. I have looked down numerous times and noted I was doing 70 mph in a 60 mph zone...that's because 70 mph feels like the old 60 mph.

Now, you can run any RPM calculator and say the gearing is too high, etc. That's fine for your taste. I LIKE the RPM/SPEED/TORQUE I am getting now. I will say that 85 Mph is now a little too buzzy for me, but under that, I love how the bike runs and now "feels".

Upside, it is cheaper than a 6-speed tranny with OD (I did the work myself).

Downside, if you aren't mechanically inclined, it costs about the same as having a 6-speed with OD gear set installed by someone for you, so it's a wash. If that is the case, I would opt for the 6-speed gear set.

If anyone has any questions on what parts I used, costs and/or how to do it, feel free to contact me. It's not hard to do yourself if you know a couple of tricks and have a couple of specialty tools (and a bike lift).

Overall, I am very, very happy I did it. I run solo 95% of the time and 90% of my riding is on freeways (105 miles a day round trip to work and back any day it is not raining...hard)...