When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
New here, rebuilding my first shovelhead, an ‘81 FLH. Bike was running, now stripping down to clean, paint, rebuild. Pulled the inner primary and was surprised to find the lip on the left engine case around the flywheel that should support gasket is cracked and falling off for about half the circumference. What do do? I’m guessing 3 options:
1. Split cases and replace left side
2. Split cases and repair left side (weld and machine)
3. Pull off broken bits and maybe replace chain primary with BDL belt/clutch for a dry primary and seal join when replacing inner primary
Has anyone seen this before? What have others done? I am building the bike to be a daily ride (weather permitting) with some occasional 2 up short touring. Need it to be reliable (ya, I know, it’s a vintage Harley :-) I always carry tools!
The alignment of the engine and the trans was off Reason its broken
yes they make a gasket in place of the o ring and yes it work BUT
you must re align the engine and trans — how to do that
top motor mount loose — bottom main 4 engine bolts loose
transmission all 5 bottom 1 bolt and the 4 nuts loose
reinstall the primary ( with the gasket in place you bought to fix it with NO O ring to be used ) after all the debris is taken away from the crack — tighten the primary — then tighten the engine and trans together staggered one hear one there till all is tight —
Un bolt and remove the primary ( then ) reinstall the primary to check to make sure it goes back on correctly and on straight and flat both front and rear of both the engine and trans primary mounting surfaces
reinstall for good - you dont have to weld it but you could - its not an easy job to do be careful who you use
The alignment of the engine and the trans was off Reason its broken
yes they make a gasket in place of the o ring and yes it work BUT
you must re align the engine and trans — how to do that
top motor mount loose — bottom main 4 engine bolts loose
transmission all 5 bottom 1 bolt and the 4 nuts loose
reinstall the primary ( with the gasket in place you bought to fix it with NO O ring to be used ) after all the debris is taken away from the crack — tighten the primary — then tighten the engine and trans together staggered one hear one there till all is tight —
Un bolt and remove the primary ( then ) reinstall the primary to check to make sure it goes back on correctly and on straight and flat both front and rear of both the engine and trans primary mounting surfaces
reinstall for good - you dont have to weld it but you could - its not an easy job to do be careful who you use
thanks! This is good news. I will continue disassembly and see what else I find. Any recommendations on the gasket? Does James make one? Will it seal as well as o-ring?
in general, are there major benefits in putting in a belt primary drive? I also noticed that the compensating hub had been replaced with a fixed front hub. Could that have contributed? Or strictly due to misalignment?
Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Becomes a Dark, Decepticon-Inspired Custom
Slideshow: Killer Custom's latest build relies on styling changes rather than performance upgrades, giving the cruiser an entirely different personality.
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.
Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.
Left engine case surprise - help!
