Too Much "Slop" between Accel and Decel - Harley Forum

unclepsycho · #1 07-19-2009, 08:15 PM

Well now I find myself with a possible major overhaul'

The bike = 2004 BMC with the 6-speed Baker, left hand belt final.
I do not know if it is the DD6 or the OD6
I think the DD6 came out AFTER 2004, so it is most likely the OD6
I didnt take the primary cover off to count teeth in there, but the final gears are 32/65 on the pulley's

Whie out riding yesterday, I noticed that the "Slop" between decel into a corner and accel out, there is an ever increasng amount of slop in the drivetrain, and is getting worse every time I ride.

I got the bike on the lift, raised the back tire, and put it in gear, to turn the rear tire by hand to see just how much play is in there and where it is. I already adjusted the primary and final drive belt, and it did not decrease the play at all.

I put Red Tape on the belt to show how much the belt travels.... about 7/8"

The question is... what all do I need to expect to replace when I open up the tranny??? What causes this much play???
I think I know what caused it..... (the right wrist caused it)

This will be my first harley trans...I have pulled and re-installed before, but not opened 'em up.
So I look forward to the learnin' that is about to happen.

frisco-rigid · #2 07-20-2009, 03:15 AM

Hey Unc

You put it in gear-----which gear,??,,,, did they all have the same "slop"..?

I raised the shovel and checked all 4 gears-- 1st thru 3rd had almost 1/2",, 4th gear had 1/8",, why, I do not know..

The only time I have a wee More slop is when the tranny sprocket get's a wee loose and slips a bit on the splines..
Mine are steel over steel, sooo, no damage to speak of but if your trans pulley is aluminum splines over steel Main-shaft splines, well, I have a bud that torn them all out once cuz the nut got just a wee loose,, that was alota "slop"..!

When I suspect a loose sprocket, I do exactly what you just did..
I move it very lightly fore & aft from "normal slop stop" to the other..
If the sprocket has gotten loose (just a weee bit mind you) it then kinda like slips another oh, perhaps 1/32" before stopping totally..
On the other end,, same thing,, it stops but then slips another wee bit..
That's the sprocket itself moving after the gear has stopped..
Let's hope it's that instead of the trans..
If it is you can buy steel splined Alum pulleys..

That's all I have to offer..
I think if it was in the tranny you'd be hearing it,, I sure did when I blew mine about 30 years ago..

unclepsycho · #3 07-20-2009, 08:02 PM

Hi Frisco

1st 2nd 3rd are 7/8" belt travel
4th-5th are 5/8" belt travel
6th is back to 7/8" belt travel

The tranny has been quiet, no howling grinding nothing when riding. I just have been noticing the play in the 'drivetrain' for a while, and last saturday it sure seemed to be a lot more than when it was new.

I just went out and opened up the derby cover... and then looked at the front pully while turning the wheel stop to stop. then I tried pushing past the stop, but the only movement also turned the clutch basket. It appeared that all the play is in the tranny.

I just wonder if the gears took the beating or bearings would do that?

I will find out when I get it apart.

I am debating on waiting for a couple more rides... or just do it now....

I dont just 'cruise' with that hot rod, like I do on the Ultra.

So odds are I would grenade the tranny if I keep pushing it.

Thanks for the help on what to look for frisco.

I will take lots of pictures and do a 'first time tranny build here'!!!

I got all the hammers and chisels out and cleaned up, ready for action.

Gas Man · #4 07-21-2009, 01:28 PM

Call baker directly. They are great people to deal with.

unclepsycho · #5 07-21-2009, 09:39 PM

I'm sure the guy's at Baker are great,
But, I would rather start here with this panel of experts. So far I dont see this as a defect... I have a tranny that has worn out... kinda early, but I have abused it some. Changed the oil at 1k miles then at 5k 10k and 15k. It just turned 20k.

If the general feeling here on the forum, is that it wore out too soon, maybe I have something to take to Baker. But the tranny is 5 years old, they may not warentee it, only offer to fix it at a price.

frisco-rigid · #6 07-21-2009, 11:20 PM

Hmmm Unc

You just changed the conversation by thinking that it might just be worn out..
I thought you meant that you figured it was Broken in some way---- NOT simply worn out..

I have No doubt that you are a Tranny Abuser,, tsk tsk (a totally diff definition in SF btw) but I gotta tell ya Pal I doubt if anymore than me..

I have one 4-spd that has been in 3 sickles since 1978 and was re-built only once and was just barely starting to shift badly when it was done..
It was in the 200K sickle for about 150K +- of it..
For several years it ran on Delo 30 Diesel truck motor oil and changes were at best maybe 20K - 25K apart.. They call for 15K changes..
It is now in the 120" sickle and has about 70K behind that motor with, I don't know, maybe hundreds of hole-shots and dozens of full-tilt races..

The other is behind the 93" shovel and has, Oh Heck, maybe 60K now, that's before and after the shovels rebuild in 2004..

The other 4-spds in the many other sickles I've built were used when I got em and just kept going..

Nooo,,,, if that baker is worn out at only 20K old, jeeeeze, I'd never run one of them again..

unclepsycho · #7 07-22-2009, 12:41 AM

Frisco
Well I guess I did change the thought there.... after looking at it this evening... I gotta agree ...20k is tooo sooon for worn out I think too.

Right now I am trying to get the dern clutch apart.... it has no bolts... just a cir-clip or two. I dont want to take the wrong one off and watch all the parts fly around. no pictures of it in either of the two books I got. and havent found a picture of it on line yet. any ideas??

I will stick with the thought that the trans is broken, wasted, or defective,

unclepsycho · #8 07-22-2009, 01:24 AM

I found a tool sold by Barnett. Just gotta go into town tomorrow or the next day and get one.

Barnett Part Numbet HD-1

unclepsycho · #9 07-25-2009, 06:36 PM

Well, apparently I dont need the clutch tool, since all I had to do is remove that inner circlip and get at the nut behind it to remove the clutch as an assembly.

A short socket dont do much good here........

So i scored the socket with a pipe cutter to get a line all the way around that will let me get a square cut with the grinder.

Weld in a piece of pipe to get a long socket!!!

unclepsycho · #10 07-25-2009, 06:39 PM

Here's a real close look at how much slop in in the tranny..... white line to white line........