Okay so, what about Screamin Eagle 6 speed kits. Any good?

[gryphon]

I see these kits around  for less than the Bakers although they're still pretty spendy compared to the Asian trannies (Ultima, Acc unl, etc). Are they any good, Are they made in the USA and if so by who. If anbody here is using one I'd like to get some opinions. Are they noisy, do they shift smoothly, easy to find neutral. Are you happy with it. Would you buy it again

[speed limit]

I run a Jims 6 speed I believe its the same tranny no problems shifts like a sport bike, this is from a guy that went through two stock trannys

[marc]

I have had a Screamin Chicken 6 speed OD since 04 and love it...Not a problem...

[lonegoosehonking]

Buddy of mine knows a guy in Houston that has done quite a few of the Ultima six speed kits. Says he hasn't had any trouble out of them. Also read somewhere on the net that the gears for the SE,Baker  and Ultima all come from the same source in Korea. Been thinking about going six speed this fall been reading about them.

[Ancient]

"Asian trannies"

[gryphon]

Baker does get their gears from Andrews. So, unless Andrews if nor farming it out to Korea then I would say that the Bakers at least have USA made gears.

[Desperado]

I had a SE6 speed installed on my 2005 Ultra upon delivery - with a 95 CI BB kit - that way they were covered under warranty.  I now have 85,000 miles on that bike and have never had any problems with the 6-speed.  I like it because with the 5 speed in my first Ultra, I was always wanting to shift one more time when on the highway.  Even with the 95 CI engine, I don't use the 6th gear, which is a true over-drive, below 60-65 mph and that's on level to slight grades.  I have seen the argument that because of the way the 6th gear is engaged, you are turning more gears or shaft or something (you'll have to talk to someone who understands transmissions better than I do) and you are really no better off economically than with a 5 speed.  You do have a taller gear if you have the engine for it (I don't think the 88 CI could have pulled the 6th gear so I wouldn't recommend it without at least 95 CI).  I am turning 400-500 fewer RPM at the same speed when in 6th, according to the Tach.  That should equate to a little less wear-and-tear on the engine so hopefully I'll go farther before having to overhaul the engine.  I'm happy with my choice to add the 6speed in 2005, but given the cost - like most things we do to our Harleys - if you are doing it to save money (better gas mileage)- I once figured that you'd have to run the bike about 300,000 miles to pay for the $2000 additional cost of the transmission.

[-JC-1]

I've got about 45,000 miles on the SE 6 speed and its never given me any problems, does its job well, smooth and quiet, redline heavy shockproof to bathe in, and its happy-

joe

[Tollbooth]

The new HD 6 speed has a 1 to 1 ratio in 6th gear ,(Check the manual). The way they get the over drive is in the primary drive. The old 5 spd has a 26 tooth crank sprocket and ?? clutch hub. (crs). The new primarys have a 36 tooth crank sprocket etc. Do the math the OD is in there. That way 1st gear is longer on the clutch but it really works out well in 6th.
We have heard all the complaints about poor gas mileage, haveing to be going real fast to use 6th, with the 6spd conversions. Harley got it right. Surprised me that after all I have read about aftermarket conversions. I use 6th on my 09 all the time over 2200 rpm and thats about 62 mph. Remember "Ya can' put a Caddy bumper on a VW".
A bud just had his 03 upped to a 95 with the SE 6 spd. Wow is he disappointed with his mileage.
Stick with what ya got. jmho
Tollbooth

With what it cost to convert. Take that money and put it on a newer one with it all dialed in from the factory. Now there's a discount!

[gryphon]

What I want to do is lower my 1st thru 5th to give it better excelleration through the river canyons where I ride a lot. Thing is I also put a lot of highway miles and every year my son and I take a long trip together and I don't really want to raise my rpm on the highway. I really want a Baker DD6 but they don't come up as often on ebay as the OD trannies and the OD's end up selling a lot cheaper than the Bakers. The last OD tranny I had sounded terrible in 4th and 6th (although you couldn't hear it as much in 6th). It sounded like a dry primary chain. If the SE 6's are also loud then I'd rather wait for a DD6 to hopefully come up at a price I can afford. I can raise my rear sprocket size by 3 (chain drive) which will lower my ratio but in 6th it will be still a little higher than my 5th is now. I really couldn't care any less about gas milage. That's why they have gas stations and I have 5 gallon tanks.

[texaskatfish]

gryphon it's good to know it aint just me hearing this racket in 4th & 6th! Runs perfectly smooth - just noisy

Mine is a 'Jim's' 6-speed..........are they related to Baker in guts / parts?

[Blazing Saddles]

I put about 45,000 miles on my old '92 FXSTC with an S&S 107 and a Jim's 6-spd - true overdrive.  I had absolutely no problems and thought it was great until I got my "new" ride, a 2004 FXSTS (only 4000 miles on it when I bought it last July).  I don't miss the 6 spd at all and find that the gearing on the stock 2004 5-spd excellent.

I ride country two lanes almost exclusively so no need for running at 80 plus on the slab.  At 75 mph my mirrors are steady and the pegs and bars don't buzz.

Blazin'

[gryphon]

Yeah, the counter-balanced and/or rubbermounted bikes are definately smooth. I'm running a hard mounted motor in an old 4 speed style frame. With 3.07 gearing it's pretty good on the highway. I'm thinking about dropping  my gearing to about 3.25 for better exceleration on the canyon roads so I'm looking at either an OD or Direct Drive 6 speed to make up what I'll loose with the drop.

[dablaze]

Got one in my '06 Street Glide and I am faster and smoother than all of you guys! I love it.

Craig

[ThumperDeuce]

I think I am the only one on the board here who runs a Jim's Fat5 Overdrive.  3 shifts to get to the 1:1 ratio, wider gears for added strength.  Shifts smoothly, no problems to date.  I run it with a 3.37 primary ratio and I can't remember the tooth count on the rear chain sprockets right now.

[skunk]

I'm running one in a 95" 02 bagger, love it, no problems as of yet. running the earlier 24/37 (3.37) primary gearing. lower gearing overall but with the o/d in 6th brings the r's back down on the highway. IIHO its the best of both worlds. And no, I am not easy on it at all. running S/P heavy for lube

[gryphon]

With 3.37 gearing it probably works out pretty well for you. That should give you an overdrive rear wheel ratio of about 3.00 which is just about right. Are they pretty noisy though. That was one of the things that really turned me off to the last one I ran. I'm currently running a 97 inch motor and am in the process of building a 111 incher. A 3.37 ratio is a little low on my bike. If I end up going with an OD I'll probably set mine right around 3.25.

[ricochet]

Now that I've spit lunch all over my keyboard I've only I work for "Ancient"

That be         Bangkok