HarleyTechTalk

I've had a perfect Nov 1946 cast date transmission case and kicker cover on the self for over 20 years. I started going through all my transmission parts and found about 95% of the parts needed to assemble a complete transmission.

I had a good set of shafts and a close ratio gear set. I had to buy a few bits of hardware (kicker cover nuts/washers/studs, lid screws, and a few one-time-use lock washers). Also needed a period correct hand shift lid, and a one piece kicker arm. So I'm about $250 deep at this point. Not bad for a transmission that currently sells for $2000-$3000 in often worse condition.

Main shaft gear set.
You cannot view this attachment.

New needle bearings for the main drive gear and the counter shaft 3rd gear cluster.
You cannot view this attachment.

Added the counter shaft gears.
You cannot view this attachment.

Checking the counter shaft gear endplay.
You cannot view this attachment.

I got this one piece kicker arm off eBay for $65. That's cheap because one of the previous owners had stripped out the kicker pedal bolt. Then, rather than fixing it with an insert repair, they welded the bolt to the kicker arm!  Lucky for me, their welding skills were poor as was the penetration of the weld. I was able to grind down the weld and use an EZ-out to remove the remnants of the pedal bolt. I installed a helicoil (3/8-24) to get the stripped hole back to OEM spec.
You cannot view this attachment.

You cannot view this attachment.

Almost complete. Just heed the lid screws and the lock washer that goes on the kicker end of the main shaft. Then I can button it all up.

Very cool. Is there any value in having those castings vapor blasted or would removing the patina cause a decrease in value?

Yeah, a lot of guys like the natural aging of the sand cast aluminum cases. I do too. I don't mind them clean, but I don't want them to look new.

This case started out in black paint.

You cannot view this attachment.