5 speed?

[chopped850]

Anyone here added another gear to their 4 speed trans? I've been all over the web and the shovel site and looking hard for info to convert my RevTech 4 speed to a 5 speed. If I need to use another trans case and gear set I will. Just wondering if anyone here has done it or know's where to point me. I've used the search button to no avail. I'm gonna be tearing my FL down to the cases for a rebirth over this winter. I already talked to Phil about fixing my left case. Stay tuned for the thread.

[rmcrh]

Look for a Little John, an aftermarket one that used to be available- although why?

[Cotten]

- although why?

rmcrh!

If the fifth gear is a true overdrive, we all know why!

But a five-speed that only sticks another shift in between is futile.

I have never had one of the Little John's in my hands... were they a true overdrive?

If so, they deserve to be highly desirable.

....Cotten

[hydra74]

from an old ER magazine nice price !

[Panhead Ed]

I have no need for more gears ,, but as I recall a few years ago Baker 5 speeds were getting very good reviews .... 1 to 1 is good enough for me and unless you got big inches overdrive is of no good use , your just gonna drag your rpms down too low in the power band for any "stock" configeuerd v twin ... a 24 t engine and 24 t trans sprocket will drop your revs but as time and miles tick away your top end will suffer.

[Ohio-Rider]

I agree completely. Combustion engines enjoy being run at a higher RPM much more so than always having to be pulling. If I'm under 50mph, I'm in third gear and the engine just sings like a bird.

[Cotten]

I agree with Ed also,..
for stock motors.

But forty years of aftermarket upgrades, as well as a half-century of Interstate (etc.) road improvements allow a lot of room for another gear for those who desire it.

If it doesn't show on the outside, I'm all for it.

....Cotten

[Hog54]

http://dudleysbasement.blogspot.com/201 ... ts-in.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

You can always get a baker 6 speed too.

[kitabel]

A customer of mine had an LJ 5 speed, and the kicker gears didn't mesh - no replacement parts available.

AFAIK, all other 5 speeds are for 1970 (alternator) shaft length only.

[rmcrh]

I went to a meeting last night of our local rider group and asked about a Little John transmission I had seen in a shovelhead based on the forum discussion stimulating the old brain. I remembered about one I had seen in a swingarm shovel years ago and found one. Hoping to head over tonight to see it and possibly purchase. Funny how it works sometimes.

[Cotten]

Just a personal point of view Folks,

But that starwars six speed looks silly with a 1941 Military Indian-style kickpedal, even if it is obviously modern.

Is that some of that "steam-punk" thang I've been hearing about?

....Cotten

[chopped850]

Thanks for the input and info. I'll research the LJ's. My motor is not stock and will be a lil bigger when I'm done with it at about 84"s. It's at 80"s now and in 4th gear will rattle your teeth out at around 75-80 on the highways. If I can't do it I won't but with all the aftermarket and other forums it can be done. Like I mentioned there is a fella on the shovel site that has done it.

[Bob Farr]

I have no need for more gears ,, but as I recall a few years ago Baker 5 speeds were getting very good reviews .... 1 to 1 is good enough for me and unless you got big inches overdrive is of no good use , your just gonna drag your rpms down too low in the power band for any "stock" configeuerd v twin ... a 24 t engine and 24 t trans sprocket will drop your revs but as time and miles tick away your top end will suffer.

I have to add a third Cotten's second of Ed's comment, and a bit of personal experience. I ran 24/37 primary and 24/48 final drive on a 1974/74-inch stock mild motor FLH. It definately dropped the rpm's, and it has a really sweet spot at 60mph on level ground. But it ran into a aerodynamic brick wall at 80mph, and even mild hills were hard to pull in 4th gear. A bigger motor, maybe 88-inch with a bit of a cam, would probably overcome that.

The high ratio also resulted in weird gear-to-speed relationships, where common speeds limits like 25mph and 45mph didn't fall into any natural/comfortable/low-vibration/not-lugging rpm spots in 2nd or 3rd gear. That was with the taller ratio 3rd, so maybe it would be different with the close-ratio set. That bike just wasn't "happy" at any posted speed and it wasn't because it was fast. PITA!

I could have sworn than Andrews made a 5-in-4 gearset, but I can't find it right now. I also didn't see an overdrive (>1:1) 4th gear set. But they do have some nice info about gearsets and manshaft sizes on their site:

http://www.andrewsproducts.com/motorcyc ... _speed.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Now a question. No hijack intended, as it's meant to be in the spirit of the overdive and rpm/speed topic of this thread. My pogo-seat bagger '74/74' was nice on the expressway, but e-way riding doesn't seem to be the best use of a vintage rigid frame Panhead. The '54 I'm working on now will probably stay on the secondary roads. Which primary and secondary drive ratios do you guys recommend for relaxed 45-60mph rpm's? It's my first rigid bike: what kind of handling could I expect if I did run up to 80 on the e-way?

Bob

[Scrap]

I have no need for more gears ,, but as I recall a few years ago Baker 5 speeds were getting very good reviews .... 1 to 1 is good enough for me and unless you got big inches overdrive is of no good use , your just gonna drag your rpms down too low in the power band for any "stock" configeuerd v twin ... a 24 t engine and 24 t trans sprocket will drop your revs but as time and miles tick away your top end will suffer.

I have to add a third Cotten's second of Ed's comment, and a bit of personal experience. I ran 24/37 primary and 24/48 final drive on a 1974/74-inch stock mild motor FLH. It definately dropped the rpm's, and it has a really sweet spot at 60mph on level ground. But it ran into a aerodynamic brick wall at 80mph, and even mild hills were hard to pull in 4th gear. A bigger motor, maybe 88-inch with a bit of a cam, would probably overcome that.

The high ratio also resulted in weird gear-to-speed relationships, where common speeds limits like 25mph and 45mph didn't fall into any natural/comfortable/low-vibration/not-lugging rpm spots in 2nd or 3rd gear. That was with the taller ratio 3rd, so maybe it would be different with the close-ratio set. That bike just wasn't "happy" at any posted speed and it wasn't because it was fast. PITA!

I could have sworn than Andrews made a 5-in-4 gearset, but I can't find it right now. I also didn't see an overdrive (>1:1) 4th gear set. But they do have some nice info about gearsets and manshaft sizes on their site:

http://www.andrewsproducts.com/motorcyc ... _speed.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Now a question. No hijack intended, as it's meant to be in the spirit of the overdive and rpm/speed topic of this thread. My pogo-seat bagger '74/74' was nice on the expressway, but e-way riding doesn't seem to be the best use of a vintage rigid frame Panhead. The '54 I'm working on now will probably stay on the secondary roads. Which primary and secondary drive ratios do you guys recommend for relaxed 45-60mph rpm's? It's my first rigid bike: what kind of handling could I expect if I did run up to 80 on the e-way?

Bob

Glad to know they info about gearsets, but as far as the "manshafts" go, all I ever told the girls I dated was that size doesn't matter.

[chopped850]

The 5in4 ins't out of the question but I talked to a greybeard this evening and he told me to keep the 4 speed and we'll build my motor and gear it to be happy around all the roads in indiana! He's been building engine's since 1978 and has built drag bikes and land speed bikes. So I'm gonna take my motor apart and then to his shop to see what needs to be replaced, repaired and what can run like it is. Also told me to ditch the 1 1/2" belt primary and go with a chain primary. So stay tuned for the build thread gents!