Topic: Transmission woes

[budman]

Tomorrow morning I get to pull the tranny out of my v-twin and find out why I lost power last Friday on my way to work. Was cruising along about 65 when it felt like I lost my chain. Engine still revved, but I wasn't accelerating. When I finally came to a stop it was barely grabbing in first gear. Not well enough to get me the last mile to work. One of the ladies from the office saw me and stopped. I had her go get a couple of guys with a truck and trailer, which was cool. Got it home and was able to push the bike while in first gear, but it was making a bunch of noise. The clutch seems OK. It's only about a year old. I either broke something inside the tranny or spun the splines off the main shaft where it connects to the clutch hub. I guess I'll find out tomorrow. Been out of town on vacation so I haven't had a chance to check it out yet. I really wish I had a bike lift. I'm getting to old to crawl around on the floor.

[toytuff]

Good luck. Could be something real simple. Under $500 if it's a HD right? 

Yeah, best investment you can make is a nice lift. Buy a wide one because restling a heavy bike on a narrow one is tough without help. Also serves as a work table.

Trust me.

tt

[budman]

The only HD stuff on my bike are the mirrors. Everything else is aftermarket. A new main shaft is about $65, plus whatever other parts that'll be required to swap the shaft. On the cheap side a new tranny is $1000.

I drew up some plans for a lift a few years back using some square tube I have in the shop. I going to have to do it before I start restoring the '74 CB750.

[Johnie]

Can not agree more. Just finishing up my first winter with the Handy lift. Talk about a back saver and making it so much more easy to work on the bikes. I spent many winters and summers laying on the floor. As I get older I appreciate the this technology all the more. These ol' bones are just getting to tired to be laying on the concrete anymore. 

[budman]

Got it stripped down to the clutch hub, then had to borrow an impact driver and ran out of time. The clutch hub is spinning on the shaft, which tells me the splines are probably washed out. Find out tomorrow.

[budman]

The tranny is fine.  The splines on the clutch hub are toast.  The splines on the main shaft are fine.  I can see the machine marks on the OD of the shaft and it looks good.  Shifts through all the gears just fine.  Probably looking at about $150 in parts.  Way better than a new tranny!

The clutch is a BDL and they spec Locktite on the shaft/hub splines.  I had the main shaft seal replaced on the tranny about 20,000 miles ago while it was under warranty and I guess the mechanic never used Locktite on the splines.

[budman]

The new clutch hub arrived yesterday.  Got the bike all back together this morning without any hiccups.  Waiting until tomorrow for the Locktite to cure before I take it for a test ride.

[budman]

After numerous rides the bike feels great.  That old hub must have been flopping around in there for a while.  With the new hub and bearing the bike is quieter, shifting is much smoother and the bike is more responsive.  All's well that ends well.