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EVO: Transmission & Final Drive


1991-2003 5-Speed Constant Mesh Wet Clutch Transmission w/Trapdoor

  • The rear compartment of the left and right engine case halves form the transmission housing or case just as in the four speed. An access cover, or trapdoor, is mounted on the left side of the case (inside) behind the primary cover. The main components of the transmission are mounted to this trapdoor to allow you to detach the one cover (together with all the transmission components) for easy removal and servicing without having to split the engine cases in half which otherwise would be a full engine re-build.

98_xls_transmission.jpg1) 98_xls_tranny_installed.jpg2)

(Click any picture to see a full-sized version - Check out this thread about rebuilding the 5-speed transmission: http://xlforum.net/forums/showthread.php?t=1848977)

Overall Gearing is a ratio of the number of engine revolutions to drive the rear wheel one revolution. See the Gearing Chart in this section.

Primary / Transmission fluid capacity is considered 32 oz. (946 ml) when fully dry3) . However, it is typical to only need 28-30oz when replacing the oil. Be sure to refill the cavity so that the level is just above the bottom of the clutch basket.

primary-trans-shifter-91-03.jpg


The Shifter Components (outside the trapdoor)


Shifter Shaft & Shifter Pawl

  • The shifter shaft extends out through the primary cover. The foot shift lever is attached onto the shaft splines at the end. The shifter pawl is attached to the shifter shaft allowing the pawl to pull or push the rotating transmission shifter drum into gear as the shifter shaft rotates. In the detailed picture of the pawl, the shifter detent plate has been removed to show the pawl and the end of the shifter drum with it's four protruding pins. That picture shows the shift drum in the neutral position.
  • The shifter drum pins are an issue. Due to the engine heat cycles and the constant push and pull by the shifter pawl, the drum pins tend to come out (somewhat) from their mounting holes, causing the detent plate to skew from perpendicular. This causes stress on the detent plate retaining clip and causes excessive wear on the detent plate due to the skew. Whenever the shifter assembly is accessible, these pins should be homed into the shifter drum with a minimal tap on them with a hammer & punch.4) The pins should have an installed height of (.326“ - .334”). 5) If you find the pin height outside this range, replace the pins or the shift drum as necessary.
  • The factory manual procedure for adjusting the shifter pawl recommends using a #32 drill bit in the alignment hole of the detent plate. Many have had issues when using this procedure, so understand that the goal is to place the shifter pawl such that it is an equal distance from the pins when the shifter drum is in 3rd gear. This can be accomplished with the detent plate removed. Loosen both shifter shaft assembly mounting nuts from their studs. Then rotate the shifter shaft assembly until the pawl is in the right location. Then partially tighten the lower nut, then tighten the upper nut, then finish tightening the lower nut. Make sure the final location is accurately set. This centering is critical to create accurate gear shifts. See these threads for more discussion - http://xlforum.net/forums/showthread.php?t=29016 and http://xlforum.net/forums/showthread.php?t=1556767.

Shifter Detent Plate, Lever & Spring

  • The detent plate establishes the proper position of the shifter drum to keep the transmission in a particular gear, as well as to define the neutral position. The detent lever (arm) roller lodges between the lobes of the detent plate to resist slipping out of gear or neutral.
  • The original detent plate was upgraded in 1999 (P/N 33656-90A) to provide a more certain engagement of the gears and to make the neutral location easier to find. It is backward compatible. 6)
  • Due to the above mentioned shifter drum pin issue, the OEM spring clip (P/N 11019) is often replaced with an E-clip and a thin washer in order to help the detent plate keep those pins in place.7)


On all models: The oil seal can be removed without removing the primary cover - remove the lever, then use a pick or screwdriver to pry the seal out of the cavity.

The Oil Seal is installed first, followed by the washer/spacer.

On installs, make sure the shaft is free from debris or rust and be sure to put tape over the splines on the shifter shaft before installing the oil seal to prevent the splines from cutting the seal.

Part Description 1991-1993 P/N 1994-2003 P/N
Shifter Shaft 34015-91
Primary Cover 25430-89A+ 25430-94A+
Shaft Bushing 40520-63
Shaft Oil Seal 11000101++
Shaft Washer 7019

+__latest P/N
++_latest P/N (orig P/N 37101-84)

To increase the tightness of the oil seal (as often suggested by SportsterPaul), after installing the rubber washer, you might install one or two o-rings to take up the gap between the shift lever and the washer. The o-rings do not seal against leaking oil but, instead, they put additional pressure on the oil seal in the primary cover cavity, which does help to seal against leaks. (see picture in 2004-later Transmission page)

A couple ways of removing the seal:
8) 9) 10)

Or:
11) 12)


  • Another idea to install the detent plate, is to thread the end of the shaft, then use a nut with blue Loctite. 13)

(Click any picture to see a full-sized version)


Mainshaft Fifth Gear Ball Bearing

1991-1996 Mainshaft 5th Gear Bearing - Used on All Models 14)

  • 8996 - Ball Bearing

1997-2005 Mainshaft 5th Gear Bearing - Used on All Models 15)

  • 8996A - Ball Bearing

Final Drive (Trans to Wheel)

Final Drive Sprocket Torque
Nut DescriptionNut SizeTightening TorqueNotes
1991-92 Chain 1-7/8“ Nut - Left-hand Threads 110-120 ft-lbs Max 150ft-lbs
1991-94 Belt 1-7/8” Nut - Left-hand Threads 110-120 ft-lbs Max 150ft-lbs
1995-03 Belt Tighten to 50ft-lbs, then add 30°-40° more rotation
(use only 2 or 3 drops of RED threadlocker on this nut)
Be sure to use a sprocket locking tool when removing or installing the Sprocket Nut
Year883 Model(s)Transmission SprocketRear Wheel SprocketSecondary Drive BeltRatio
1991883 Deluxe16)27 Teeth61 Teeth (Belt)127 Teeth (yellow)2.26:1
1992883 Deluxe17)27 Teeth61 Teeth (Belt)128 Teeth (orange)2.26:1
1991-1992883 & 883 Hug (chain)18)21 Teeth48 TeethChain driven2.29:1
1993-1994883 all models19)27 Teeth61 Teeth128 Teeth (orange)2.26:1
1998883 all20) 27 Teeth61 Teeth (Belt)128 Teeth (orange)2.26:1
Year1200 Model(s)Transmission SprocketRear Wheel SprocketSecondary Drive BeltRatio
1991-1994120021)22)29 Teeth61 Teeth (Belt)128 Teeth (orange)2.10:1
19981200 all23)29 Teeth61 Teeth (Belt)128 Teeth (orange)2.10:1


Clutch

1991-1994, 1998 Wet Clutch Information 24) 25) 26)
Clutch plate thicknessFriction plate (fiber)0.0866 in. (± 0.0031 in.) / (2.200 mm ± 0.079 mm)
Steel plate0.0629 in. (± 0.0020 in.) / (1.598 mm ± 0.51 mm)
Maximum allowable warp-age–Friction (fiber) plate 0.0059 in. / (0.150 mm)
–Steel plate 0.0059 in. / (0.150 mm)
Clutch pack service wear limit0.6610 in. min. / (16.787 mm)

Primary Drive (engine to transmission)

YearDomestic ModelEngine SprocketClutch SprocketRatio
1991-1994 27)28)All Models35 Teeth56 Teeth1.60:1
1998 29)All Models35 Teeth56 Teeth1.60:1

Transmission

  • Internal Gear Ratios are the number of clutch gear revolutions to drive the mainshaft sprocket one revolution.
  • Overall Gear Ratios are the number of engine revolutions to drive rear wheel one revolution.
YearInternal Gear Ratios
US Models1st2nd3rd4th5th
1991-1992 All Models 30)2.782.031.491.221.00
YearOverall Gear RatiosYearOverall Gear Ratios
US Models
883 31) 32)33)
US Models
1200 34) 35)36)
1st2nd3rd4th5th 1st2nd3rd4th5th
1991-1992 883, 883 Hug 10.167.415.444.453.66 1991-19949.356.825.014.093.36
1991-1992 883 Deluxe
1993-1994 883 (All) 37)
10.047.325.384.393.61
1998 8839.717.125.184.263.61 1998 12009.046.624.823.973.36
YearOverall Gear RatiosYearOverall Gear Ratios
HDI Models
883 38) 39)
HDI Models
1200 40)41)
1st2nd3rd4th5th 1st2nd3rd4th5th
1993-1994 8839.717.125.184.263.61 1993-19949.046.624.823.973.36
1998 8839.717.125.184.263.61 1998 12009.046.624.823.973.36
YearOverall Gear RatiosYearOverall Gear Ratios
HDI Swiss Models
883 42)
HDI Swiss Models
1200 43)
1st2nd3rd4th5th 1st2nd3rd4th5th
1993-19949.056.604.853.963.25 1993-19948.436.144.513.683.03

Fastener Torque Specs

1991-1994 Torque Specs

Transmission sprocket nut locking screws44)
1991 models (1 screw)45)50 - 60 in. lbs
1992 chain drive models (1 screw)46)50 - 60 in. lbs
1992 belt drive models (2 screws)47)7 - 9 ft lbs
1993-1994 models 48)90 - 110 in. lbs (10.2 - 12.4 Nm)
Transmission sprocket nut (Caution left handed threads)49)50)110 - 120 ft lbs (149 - 163 Nm)
Access door / trapdoor bolts51)52)13 - 17 ft lbs (18 - 23 Nm)
Engine sprocket nut (right hand threads)53)54)150 - 165 ft lbs (203 - 224 Nm)
Clutch hub nut (Caution left handed threads)55)56)70 - 80 ft lbs (95 - 108 Nm)
Sprocket cover screws57)58)90 - 110 in. lbs (10.2 - 12.4 Nm)
Drain plug59)60)14 - 21 ft lbs (19 - 28 Nm)
Primary cover screws61)62)80 - 110 in. lbs (9.0 - 12.4 Nm)
Primary/ transmission lubricant level screw63)64)90 - 110 in. lbs (10.2 - 12.4 Nm)
Chain tensioner stud nut65)66)20 - 25 ft lbs (27 - 34 Nm)
Stator Torx fasteners67)68)30 - 40 in. lbs (3.4 - 4.5 Nm)
Neutral indicator switch (91-92)69)3 -5 ft lbs
Shift lever pinch bolt70)71)90 - 110 in lbs (10.2 - 12.4 Nm)
Footrest fasteners72)73)16 - 28 ft lbs (22 - 38 Nm)
Clutch release mechanism screws74)75)22 - 30 in lbs (2.5 - 3.4 Nm)
Inspection (Derby) cover screws76)77)40 - 60 in lbs (4.5 - 6.8 Nm)
Countershaft retaining screw78)79)13 - 17 in lbs (18 - 23 Nm)

1998 Torque Specs

Sprocket nut lock-plate screws80)90-110 in-lbs / 10.2-12.4 Nm
Sprocket nut (caution - left handed threads)81)
50 ft-lbs. (67.8 Nm) initially
Tighten an additional 30-40 degrees
Install lock plate over sprocket nut to align to two opposite threaded mounting holes
Tighten sprocket nut additionally if holes don't match up but not to exceed 45 degrees total
Sprocket cover screws82)90-110 in-lbs. (10.2-12.4 Nm)
Access / trapdoor bolts83)13-17 ft-lbs. (18-23 Nm)
Engine sprocket nut84)190-210 ft-lbs. (258-285 Nm)
Clutch hub nut (caution- left hand threads)85)70-80 ft-lbs (95-108 Nm)
Countershaft retaining screw86)13-17 ft-lbs (18-23 Nm)
Oil Drain plug87)14-21 ft-lbs. (19-28 Nm)
Primary cover Allen Head screws (1/4“x 20 threads)88)80-110 in-lbs. (9.0-12.4 Nm)
Primary chain tensioner stud89)20-25 ft-lbs. (27-34 Nm)
Stator Torx Head screws(1/4”x 20 threads)90)30-40 in-lbs. (3.4-4.5 Nm)
Shift lever pinch bolt91)90-110 in-lbs. (10.2-12.4 Nm)
Clutch inspection (Derby)cover T-27 Torx Head screws92)40-60 in-lbs. (4.5-6.8 Nm)
Footrest Allen Head bolts (5/16“x18)93)16-28 ft-lbs. (22-38 Nm)

1) , 2)
HD 5 speed transmission / photo by hippysmack of the XLFORUM
3)
HD XLH FSM
5)
HD Tech Tip #47 dated March 1998
6)
See Reddtigger's comments in this thread - http://xlforum.net/forums/showthread.php?t=222357
8) , 9) , 10) , 11) , 12)
photo by Hippysmack
14)
91-96 HD Sportster Parts Catalogs
15)
97-05 HD Sportster Parts Catalogs
16) , 18)
1991 HD Sportster FSM pg 6-1
17) , 21) , 27) , 30) , 31) , 34)
1991-1992 HD Sportster FSM pg 6-1
19) , 22)
1993-1994 HD FSM pg 6-1
20) , 23) , 29)
1998 HD XLH FSM pg 6-1
24)
1991-1992 HD FSM pg 6-2
25)
1993-1994 HD FSM pg 6-2
26)
1998 HD FSM pg 6-2
28) , 32) , 35) , 37) , 38) , 40) , 42) , 43)
1993-1994 HD Sportster FSM pg 6-1
33) , 36) , 39) , 41)
1998 Sportster FSM pg 6-1
44) , 45) , 46) , 47) , 49) , 51) , 53) , 55) , 57) , 59) , 61) , 63) , 65) , 67) , 69) , 70) , 72) , 74) , 76) , 78)
1991-1992 HD Sportster FSM pg 6-2
48) , 50) , 52) , 54) , 56) , 58) , 60) , 62) , 64) , 66) , 68) , 71) , 73) , 75) , 77) , 79)
1993-1994 HD Sportster FSM pg 6-2
80) , 81) , 82) , 83) , 84) , 85) , 86) , 87) , 88) , 89) , 90) , 91) , 92) , 93)
1998 HD XLH FSM pg 6-2
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