5 speed question - Harley Forum

Aneemal · #1 10-19-2009, 07:02 PM

I have a 5 speed softail transmission that seems to slip and catch only in 5th gear above 35mph. Any suggestions as to why this is happening? Thanks.

milindh · #2 10-19-2009, 07:35 PM

Aneemal

You don't give many details of this "slip" but if it were actually the transmission slipping you would probably hear some clunking and gear grinding noise along with it. Slipping is usually associated with a bad clutch and yes it would be more pronounced in the top gears.

Aneemal · #3 10-19-2009, 09:05 PM

Also forgot to mention, 1st thru 4th gears as normal, I can downshift to 4th go up to 75 or 80 mph shift to 5th and it will go for 30-40 seconds and do the slip clunk thing and reume normally. It does not seem to have a pattern, other than it is more frequent at high speed.

Aneemal · #4 10-19-2009, 09:21 PM

I will get the hang of this sooner or later, clutch slippage not the issue.
The bike is a custom shovel with a 5 speed tranny, new ultima 3 1/2" belt drive primary, the slip is sort of going halfway to neutraln then slight clunk to normal, 1st thru 4th operate normally, and the bike has a rear chain drive and 230 tire.

unclepsycho · #5 10-19-2009, 11:38 PM

Got Pictures????

That dont help the tranny problem, but it will help, uh, er, i dunno... but it will help.

by the way you describe it, There has got to be something wrong inside that tranny, but I dont know transmissions well at all. What type of trans is it?? Is it an HD factory one or is it a Baker. Or is it a 5-speed put into a 4 speed case>>>??? With that phat tire, is it a left hand trans or a right hand one??

I may not be able to help here, but we can focus on the trans for now and see what others might know.

and... welcome to the forum...
Got Pictures>???

(of the bike, not just the tranny)

Tbone · #6 10-19-2009, 11:42 PM

I'm just guessing here with the information available. If it is definitely not the clutch. If it is in the transmission, it sounds like there might be an issue with either the gears not sliding all the way into position causing a momentary neutral and then fully engaging as it slides all the way into position. Are the shifter forks on that transmision held in position on the shifter fork rod by a set screw? Might the 5th gear fork be out of position?
Could the shifter drum detent not rotating fully to the 5th gear detent at first and then after a few seconds it finally rotates fully to the 5th gear detent?
Can you pull an inspection cover and look at the forks and drum?
I'm not knowledgeable about 5 speeds and am just suggesting places to look after you check the shift linkage for full range of movement first.
Good luck and keep us posted on your progress.

frisco-rigid · #7 10-20-2009, 03:37 AM

Hi An

Every so often that happens just exactly as you describe..
It's happened to me but on a regular basis is Not normal..

Is this a NEW tranny & sickle or did this just recently start to happen perhaps after one or more of those Mods.?

How tight is that crapp, er, I mean 3.5" belt.?
Cold & hot.?
Too tight can wreak havoc on bearings, main-shaft, shifting, etc etc..

T has some good observations..

Aneemal · #8 10-20-2009, 09:13 PM

This is a problem that was here from the get go. this is a 72 harley superglide I have had and been riding since new. about 6 years ago i totally rebuilt her from the ground up, and have had no problems until recently I needed knee surgery and had to replce the 4 speed tranny with a newer softail 5 speed. This is where my experience stops. The doctor said no more kicking for me, and I had to go to a 5 speed to keep the open wide belt drive, and now the damn thing is giving me problems. Probably my fault for buying used crap off of e-bay but the price was right, however now a 250 dollar tranny could cost me what I could have paid for a new one. Live and learn. One thing I did today was to remove about 5 ounces of tranny fluid, and the problem seems to not be as pronounced, and I had a similar problem with over filling a 4 speed. Who knows? I am running lucas 85-140 gear lube in the tranny, hot weather tends to thin most **** out here in South Florida, I also run 70 weight airplane oil in the ol shovel. This is my spare motor in the bike now, what a difference. My 96" stroker took a **** showing off and blowing away dumbasses in their fancy cars, but hey, what a way to go! anywho, will keep ya'll posted as to how it goes, hopefully the pics of my ratster will show up, once again kinda new to this whole thing. Thanks for lettin me rant, JBHJR