Need help choosing final drive spockets
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Joined: Oct 2019
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From: StLouis
Need help choosing final drive spockets
Last October I bought a 1983 FLHT. I road it for a few weeks and decided that. I would do my usual rally’s this summer on this bike. The fun factor on this bike is off the charts.
I am in the process of going through the bike to make sure it can be reliable as possible. I am going to remove the rear chain housing and run an open chain final drive. The bike seems to be happiest @29-3300 rpm., smooth as glass , nothing like it but, I am only going 68-70 mph. I wish to be able to cruze between 70-80 mph without stressing the engine. Can I do this by changing the stock final drive sprockets and if so what size or combo do I need? I do not understand all of the gear ratio charts and cannot find a calculator for my bike. I am not having any luck searching the forum. Can somebody help me. Not only cruising at 70-80mph I would also like to take off from a stop a little faster than I can walk.The bike is a rubber mounted shovel with a 5speed transmission, supposed to have a 22t on the transmission and a 46t on the rear wheel if that helps.
I am in the process of going through the bike to make sure it can be reliable as possible. I am going to remove the rear chain housing and run an open chain final drive. The bike seems to be happiest @29-3300 rpm., smooth as glass , nothing like it but, I am only going 68-70 mph. I wish to be able to cruze between 70-80 mph without stressing the engine. Can I do this by changing the stock final drive sprockets and if so what size or combo do I need? I do not understand all of the gear ratio charts and cannot find a calculator for my bike. I am not having any luck searching the forum. Can somebody help me. Not only cruising at 70-80mph I would also like to take off from a stop a little faster than I can walk.The bike is a rubber mounted shovel with a 5speed transmission, supposed to have a 22t on the transmission and a 46t on the rear wheel if that helps.
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Joined: Mar 2009
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From: Niles Canyon Ca.
22-46 is already high gearing for a 80" shovel, I ran 23-48 combo's on mine when I had a chain and 70mph was the upper limit on comfort. From your post you want to different things, won't get both you'll be trading lower end to get a better highway cruise or the other way around. Choose one, oh for what it's worth you are not stressing that engine at 3500 rpm, you may not like the vibration but the motor don't care.
Better cam could help too.
Better cam could help too.
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From: australia
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Joined: Jul 2014
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From: Cental, MI
I don't recall the difference in a 4 speed FLH to the 5 speed FLHT... but I will say
What do you want for the Enclosure???? I need it!!!
If we could get the shipping established.. I would even do a rear Wheel Swap to accommodate both of us!!!!
What do you want for the Enclosure???? I need it!!!
If we could get the shipping established.. I would even do a rear Wheel Swap to accommodate both of us!!!!
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From: la la land jerzey
if he is keeping his rear enclosure I have a nice one as well
the early first edition primary has a small area for the front sprocket you wont be able to do that for two reasons
the front gear is one
second reason the rear brake is a good piece and does a great job but it will at some point it lock up the rear wheel - you don't want to be in that spot on that bike > and many reasons
the front brakes are not great at all and master lever pull is with a 3/4 master < its out dated when it was new
the front forks are the first edition hydraulic after Harleys come back < they missed the mark didn't fix it they replaced it the next year
the rear swing arm shaft is prone to seize this causes the rear of the machine to lift higher then it should hard braking < look again at the second reason
is it a good bike I own a 1981 FLT same machine different look front end - fixing the issues can be done but just remember a evo dresser with 25 thousand miles is 4 thousand dollar buy
I also own a 85 FLHT I bought for 1200 bucks and re did it completely up graded the pads to ones that stop < rotors suffer - so what - I like to stop when needed
the early first edition primary has a small area for the front sprocket you wont be able to do that for two reasons
the front gear is one
second reason the rear brake is a good piece and does a great job but it will at some point it lock up the rear wheel - you don't want to be in that spot on that bike > and many reasons
the front brakes are not great at all and master lever pull is with a 3/4 master < its out dated when it was new
the front forks are the first edition hydraulic after Harleys come back < they missed the mark didn't fix it they replaced it the next year
the rear swing arm shaft is prone to seize this causes the rear of the machine to lift higher then it should hard braking < look again at the second reason
is it a good bike I own a 1981 FLT same machine different look front end - fixing the issues can be done but just remember a evo dresser with 25 thousand miles is 4 thousand dollar buy
I also own a 85 FLHT I bought for 1200 bucks and re did it completely up graded the pads to ones that stop < rotors suffer - so what - I like to stop when needed
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From: StLouis
I would like to thank all for the advice and warnings, I may have to leave the final drive with the stock gearing although their seems to be 2 different camps weather I can put a 23t sprocket on the transmission. I will do some more reaserch on this.
As far as what I will do with the final drive chain housing, I am going to keep it. It belongs to this bike. There will come the day that I can no longer ride it and the next owner will need it if they choose to do a full restoration.I know this part is very hard to find just like the OEM seat and tour pack which was optional for the FLHT that I am trying to find. Sorry about that Racepres, I have other vintage bikes that I have made modifications to but have kept the the original parts for the same reason. It took me many months to find a rubber mounted shovel head that wasn’t modified or beat to crap. I didn’t even know it had an enclosed chain until I took the bags off. I know it is not rare but it is an oddity, I think, rubber mounted Shovelhead with a five speed transmission with a enclosed final drive chain , also probably the ugliest gas tank Harley ever made in some people’s opinion.
As far as what I will do with the final drive chain housing, I am going to keep it. It belongs to this bike. There will come the day that I can no longer ride it and the next owner will need it if they choose to do a full restoration.I know this part is very hard to find just like the OEM seat and tour pack which was optional for the FLHT that I am trying to find. Sorry about that Racepres, I have other vintage bikes that I have made modifications to but have kept the the original parts for the same reason. It took me many months to find a rubber mounted shovel head that wasn’t modified or beat to crap. I didn’t even know it had an enclosed chain until I took the bags off. I know it is not rare but it is an oddity, I think, rubber mounted Shovelhead with a five speed transmission with a enclosed final drive chain , also probably the ugliest gas tank Harley ever made in some people’s opinion.
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From: Cental, MI
I would like to thank all for the advice and warnings, I may have to leave the final drive with the stock gearing although their seems to be 2 different camps weather I can put a 23t sprocket on the transmission. I will do some more reaserch on this.
As far as what I will do with the final drive chain housing, I am going to keep it. It belongs to this bike. There will come the day that I can no longer ride it and the next owner will need it if they choose to do a full restoration.I know this part is very hard to find just like the OEM seat and tour pack which was optional for the FLHT that I am trying to find. Sorry about that Racepres, I have other vintage bikes that I have made modifications to but have kept the the original parts for the same reason. It took me many months to find a rubber mounted shovel head that wasn’t modified or beat to crap. I didn’t even know it had an enclosed chain until I took the bags off. I know it is not rare but it is an oddity, I think, rubber mounted Shovelhead with a five speed transmission with a enclosed final drive chain , also probably the ugliest gas tank Harley ever made in some people’s opinion.
As far as what I will do with the final drive chain housing, I am going to keep it. It belongs to this bike. There will come the day that I can no longer ride it and the next owner will need it if they choose to do a full restoration.I know this part is very hard to find just like the OEM seat and tour pack which was optional for the FLHT that I am trying to find. Sorry about that Racepres, I have other vintage bikes that I have made modifications to but have kept the the original parts for the same reason. It took me many months to find a rubber mounted shovel head that wasn’t modified or beat to crap. I didn’t even know it had an enclosed chain until I took the bags off. I know it is not rare but it is an oddity, I think, rubber mounted Shovelhead with a five speed transmission with a enclosed final drive chain , also probably the ugliest gas tank Harley ever made in some people’s opinion.
http://www.amraonline.com/BikePics/Geezer.jpg
You need to research the swapping of rear sprockets for your setup as well...as the swap is Not straight forward... the wheel is different!!!
I will come up with an enclosure one day... Complete...
Oh...and BTW that '83 is for sale again... the guy who bought it was a younger guy, and tho he had Zero Problems with the Height... he really does like to "fool with" his bikes, yet did Not wish to Change that particular bike much!!!
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