Differences between FXS and FXE
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 8,565
Likes: 3,318
From: Cental, MI
The one I was talking to you about today has the reverse shift pattern and I've read many came that way. Some I read about said as late as 74 could've come that way.
Found this in an old post on this forum......
My 1974 FXE Superglide had one up, three down. Stock for that year. This pattern was favored by racers. In 1975 the the federal government mandated all shifters on bikes sold in the USA to be on the left side. Harley went to one down, three up in 1975. Yes, you can move the shiftdrum "up-side-down" to change the pattern. I personally liked the one up, three down.
Besides reversing the shifter drum cover, using a FL shifter cover will do the same
thing on an FX.
Found this in an old post on this forum......
My 1974 FXE Superglide had one up, three down. Stock for that year. This pattern was favored by racers. In 1975 the the federal government mandated all shifters on bikes sold in the USA to be on the left side. Harley went to one down, three up in 1975. Yes, you can move the shiftdrum "up-side-down" to change the pattern. I personally liked the one up, three down.
Besides reversing the shifter drum cover, using a FL shifter cover will do the same
thing on an FX.
There really are two different Levers/Covers.. and there are Shift drums, marked FL and Drums Marked FX.. Got them right here...
The setup for an FX has the Drum with Lever pointing Up, while the FL, has the lever pointing Down..
a quick look will show Why some are Different than we expect.. and I Know that the MoCo screwed this up as well... certainly in 1974..maybe 1973...that I do Not have experience with..
Now...the 1971 and 1972 FX... yup All shifted Upside Down... Have to...as they All had the Stock Lever turned Backwards...How else Could it Work??? as they were FL tranny's and Shift Drums...
..
Last edited by Racepres; Aug 30, 2022 at 07:07 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 8,054
Likes: 8,077
From: Canada
Yes and Yes...then No... Not that easy..
There really are two different Levers/Covers.. and there are Shift drums, marked FL and Drums Marked FX.. Got them right here...
The setup for an FX has the Drum with Lever pointing Up, while the FL, has the lever pointing Down..
a quick look will show Why some are Different than we expect.. and I Know that the MoCo screwed this up as well... certainly in 1974..maybe 1973...that I do Not have experience with..
Now...the 1971 and 1972 FX... yup All shifted Upside Down... Have to...as they All had the Stock Lever turned Backwards...How else Could it Work??? as they were FL tranny's and Shift Drums...
..
There really are two different Levers/Covers.. and there are Shift drums, marked FL and Drums Marked FX.. Got them right here...
The setup for an FX has the Drum with Lever pointing Up, while the FL, has the lever pointing Down..
a quick look will show Why some are Different than we expect.. and I Know that the MoCo screwed this up as well... certainly in 1974..maybe 1973...that I do Not have experience with..
Now...the 1971 and 1972 FX... yup All shifted Upside Down... Have to...as they All had the Stock Lever turned Backwards...How else Could it Work??? as they were FL tranny's and Shift Drums...
..
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 8,565
Likes: 3,318
From: Cental, MI
Only thing to do, if you want it to shift One down 3 Up, is to Change the Shift Drum...so, Externally, it will Appear Stock!!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 10,277
Likes: 7,756
From: West Central FL
I think the difference was in the trees. Otherwise how could the seat height be lower and the wheelbase be longer if the rake was the same but the tubes be longer? That would make the front end higher.
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 605
Likes: 441
From: BRIGHTON, ENGLAND
no difference in the trees (yokes),2'' longer fork tubes (stanchions) raise the frame slightly pushing the wheel forward & the seat was thinner,
they might have had shorter rear shocks as well but not 100% sure on them.
they might have had shorter rear shocks as well but not 100% sure on them.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 8,565
Likes: 3,318
From: Cental, MI
FXWG... are Plus 3 degrees..
The fork tube length is so Variable...it would take alot of effort to Document it... The 4 speed frame... since 1958... is all the same Rake angle at the Neck!!!
The MoCo decided that they would Vary the fork tube length, to "claim" a different Rake... It works ... with a protractor.. But... it is Mis-represented...as the Frame Rake never changed.. the Trail Numbers Changed... Again... putting a protractor on the Neck will show the "effective" rake... which creates the trail numbers...
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 8,565
Likes: 3,318
From: Cental, MI
2" over What??? FXE?, FXS? FXR?? FXWG?? Heck... FLT is about 4" over FLH!!!
Don't mean much anymore!!
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