Main drive gear.

[jam65]

I'm in uncharted waters here with transmission work. I have a 2007 6 speed and have a stupid question. Is the main drive gear that is in the trans. case supposed to turn or not? Thanks.

[wfolarry]

Uh-Oh. Sounds like you have a problem.
A gear has to rotate.

[jam65]

Thanks Larry. That's what I thought but wasn't sure. Bummer.
Last time I rode this thing was at the drag strip and my best pass was the last one. Aside from a little clutch drag, everything was fine. How could this of happened so that I can keep it from happening again? Anybody?

[No Cents]

pwmorris said he has a guy do his tranny's for him Jay.
I can't remember what the guys name was or company was...but he said they were the best when it came to making your tranny bullet proof to hold up to the drag racing abuse.
Maybe pm Paul and he can help you out.
Ray

[Clayster]

http://www.r-dmotorsports.com
This might be them...

[No Cents]

I think your correct Clayster

[jam65]

Thanks guys. I think that I might have found the limits of the stock transmission. It just sucks to have the Baker Door, Evo. Basket and new clutch and springs ready to go and then this crap happens. You really do have to pay to play and I'm in.

[No Cents]

if you call them Jay...let me know what they suggest for you.
I'm sure I'm not too far behind you with needing a tranny upgrade.
I had mine out today and was playing with it some. I was practicing on some dead stop launches. Mine will barely spin this softer compound tire at a 3500 rpm launch. It just lifts the front tire and holds it about 6 inches off the ground until you bang 2nd gear. I was trying to push it right up next to the rev limiter between gears without bouncing it off the limiter. It's a learning process.
I still need some work to find the best rpm to come off the line with it...but I'm making progress.

[Hillside Motorcycle]

Yep.
R&D, in Clearwater, Fla.
We would have a problem on occasion with our racer, and once we had those folks attend to the Andrews gears with their process and anneal them, then bring them back to their desired hardness, along with the back-cutting, etc, no more worries with that gearbox occured.
Scott

[jam65]

I called R&D today and spoke with Mark about my situation. It basically comes down to a proprietary bearing that HD has engineered that is installed on the Main Drive Gear. It has a plastic cage that can break and cause big problems.
I told him that I had no metal in my transmission but did have some plastic fragments in the gear oil. He then said yep, that's your problem and I was lucky to catch it when I did. So I will be having some extra work done that they offer and keep and eye on the trans lube in the future for plastic material.
They are working to develop and new bearing with a metal cage but it is not yet a done deal.

[No Cents]

 

[vdop]

Sucks that these transmissions have been out almost 10 years now and nobody has made an upgrade for that "Potty mouth"ty bearing. How many miles did it go?

[jam65]

Less than 7k. But most of those miles have been run and gun. Throw in the tight as a banjo string primary chain and speed shifting at the drag strip.
One interesting thing that R&D said to me was this. If you order a new transmission case from Harley Davidson, it will come with the main drive gear and these bearings and seals already installed.

[vdop]

Yep. Even comes with the front sprocket installed.

[jam65]

And that is why I don't want to buy the tools and try to get the installation right the first time. The Moco seems to know this process is a PIA.

[Mark P]

I am currently working on that bearing, if I don't have a new one by June someone needs to shoot me.

[2006FXDCI]

Thats fantastic except I just rebuilt my 6 speed and had to use that "Potty mouth"ty plastic caged bearing , should of waited til next winter 

[NCTURBOS]

Yup... I'm sure I'll be down this road as well, when I have mine back together.  Do the 5-speeds use the same plastic caged bearing?

K.

[mattVA]

So if I'm reading right, both Baker and R&D plan to bring aftermarket solutions to the MDG plastic bearing soon? 

[jam65]

Yup... I'm sure I'll be down this road as well, when I have mine back together.  Do the 5-speeds use the same plastic caged bearing?

K.

 Not sure Keith. Check out Johnson Engineering for their fix on a five speed.

[Admiral Akbar]

I am currently working on that bearing, if I don't have a new one by June someone needs to shoot me.

Caved in, Eh?



Max

[Y2KRKNG]

Yup... I'm sure I'll be down this road as well, when I have mine back together. Do the 5-speeds use the same plastic caged bearing?
K.

Was wondering same thing. But I doubt it.

[strokerjlk]

I am currently working on that bearing, if I don't have a new one by June someone needs to shoot me.

I will hold you to that .
Not really
But 
You guys said the same thing 3 years ago when I replaced mine .
Get er done .

[FSG]

Yup... I'm sure I'll be down this road as well, when I have mine back together. Do the 5-speeds use the same plastic caged bearing?
K.

Was wondering same thing. But I doubt it.

No. different shaft size

Mark P do you plan to make a squirrel cage spacer to go with your new bearing?

[vdop]

Yup... I'm sure I'll be down this road as well, when I have mine back together.  Do the 5-speeds use the same plastic caged bearing?

K.

No. 5 speed uses a large single row ball bearing, the 6 speeds use a double row with smaller ball bearings.