Helical vs Straight Cut 5th Gear
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,716
Likes: 13
read up on a baker trans which is superior to harleys they use mostly straight cut gears..hd changed to spur the economy but a helicut gear is definetely weaker altho a little noisier. give me the straight cut
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 944
Likes: 2
From: Tennessee
It's simple. Harleys always used straight cut gears in their trannys. The camshaft was always geardriven too. Listen to old car trannys, they whine in lower gears. Listen to a knuckle, pan or generator shovel, they whine too. I remember the school bus whining in low every morning. In years past Harley riders understood their bikes, most could work on them, and had grease under their fingernails. A little whine running through the gears sounded cool. Now days a lot Harley riders, not all, can't even ride their bikes (they trailer them to rallies) let alone work on them or understand what makes them tick. Read this forum if you think that's not true. Grease under their nails, heaven forbid! If it don't sound like a Lexus or whatever it's atrocious. "Screw 'em" I say, but Harley depends on these guys to buy bikes. These guys have more dough than guys like me, and are more easily seperated from it. So, to cater to the ignorant uninformed public they changed the tranny to a less durable more expensive design. It's all about sales! Imagine that, and the yuppies will post about the "improvement".
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,716
Likes: 13
the size of them beer glasses drink 6 with spaten beer in them and for sure you won'r hear the whine
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 832
Likes: 6
From: Vermont
I'm pleased that I have straight cut gears in first and fifth. I'm usually too busy to notice any whine in first and the precision sound of gears meshing in fifth adds to the experience of the ride rather than being an irritant. It may be the "gear-head" in me but I prefer the strength of straight cut gears over the quiet smoothness of constant mesh helical gears just like I prefer the character of the V-Twin over the sowing machine smoothness of an ST 1300.
Club Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,582
Likes: 72
From: North East
Help me out on this one; what exactly makes a Baker tranny superior to the Harley Davidson Cruise Drive. I've read alot of posts that point toward Baker being a good product but what exactly makes it superior to the Harley tranny?
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 13,402
Likes: 941
From: Illinois
I agree will all who would have stayed with the straight cut gear. For a two up bagger loaded and going through the mountains, a straight cut gear makes more sense.
Damn whiners. Start shining and stop whining.
Damn whiners. Start shining and stop whining.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,364
Likes: 33
From: So Cal The Golden State
It's simple. Harleys always used straight cut gears in their trannys. The camshaft was always geardriven too. Listen to old car trannys, they whine in lower gears. Listen to a knuckle, pan or generator shovel, they whine too. I remember the school bus whining in low every morning. In years past Harley riders understood their bikes, most could work on them, and had grease under their fingernails. A little whine running through the gears sounded cool. Now days a lot Harley riders, not all, can't even ride their bikes (they trailer them to rallies) let alone work on them or understand what makes them tick. Read this forum if you think that's not true. Grease under their nails, heaven forbid! If it don't sound like a Lexus or whatever it's atrocious. "Screw 'em" I say, but Harley depends on these guys to buy bikes. These guys have more dough than guys like me, and are more easily seperated from it. So, to cater to the ignorant uninformed public they changed the tranny to a less durable more expensive design. It's all about sales! Imagine that, and the yuppies will post about the "improvement".
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Banned
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 171
Likes: 0
From: massachusetts
Straight cut helical cut?
You know does it really matter on a bike? Don't think the straight cut is anything but cheaper to machine and of course no side thrust. Whinning in first is enough for most *** having to fill your gearbox with 140 to quiet it. Get the new 6 speed .