Quick 4 spd. Question.

Yup, my old man just did one.

Yep, that 77-85, the break was 76 as the last right shift with the crossover linkages, the 77-84 were left shift only

Destralo Roach said:

Yep, that 77-85, the break was 76 as the last right shift with the crossover linkages, the 77-84 were left shift only

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Out of curiosity, what would this have to do with the gear set?

Oh you're talking sporty probably huh? Should have known with the crossover talk. I just automatically think BT.

^^generally 4 sp means BT....79 =castle top....theres no pics so Id thought you was right...cross over? now thats sporty

Friday said:

^^generally 4 sp means BT....79 =castle top....theres no pics so Id thought you was right...cross over? now thats sporty

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Word. Now castle top, thats a new one to me. Cow pie, cow pattie, rotory top, all those but not castle. I can dig it.

Yeah I'm talking BT. Thanks Zacho

Von Zacho said:

Word. Now castle top, thats a new one to me. Cow pie, cow pattie, rotory top, all those but not castle. I can dig it.

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On occasion I hear them called maytags. I guess someone thinks they look like a washing machine top.

Destralo Roach said:

Yep, that 77-85, the break was 76 as the last right shift with the crossover linkages, the 77-84 were left shift only

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I think, that if replaced as an assembly, any sportster four speed will fit into any sportster case. The shift linkage doesn't matter, as it engages the pawl assembly in the same way. When I say four speed I guess I mean IH.

DarkGoat said:

I think, that if replaced as an assembly, any sportster four speed will fit into any sportster case. The shift linkage doesn't matter, as it engages the pawl assembly in the same way. When I say four speed I guess I mean IH.

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Well, yes, BUT, the shifter plate shaft, is longer on the rh shift pawl assy, and you have to either change it, or get creative to make it fit a lh shift motor. I have also noticed some small differences in the trap door, on the bottom of the door. The newer transmissions will bolt right into a older bike, but the older transmissions are a little more time consuming.

Cow pie.....May tag ? "your tearing me apart.." (JD 1955)

Main bearings are diff , theres 77 - 84 mind you Im talking main drive ,your talking the complete set , theres also the 1978 +1/2 wahoo

You need more investagationing , if the main shaft will fit the old bearing I cant see why not.
Im guessing youve scored the gear set 1st.? worry 2nd

The big diff is 79 - 84 dare I say it Castle top ...its a flaw that HD built

I think a properly set up cow pie/patty, maytag, castle, rotory, is as good as any four speed, BUT, as the local-ish indy shop master says, "You gotta be a fuckin scientist to get it set up just right." He's got a Harley produced full length movie on how to set them up, he didn't have many good things to say about it. There is just more room for fudging when shimming your gears/shift forks on the ratchets is what time is teaching me. Plus the cow patty has the ghey linkage set up, BUT, I have seen them set up cleaner than stock. Ultimatly, Friday is right, it's a flawed set up. Anyone who has played with shovelhead exhaust knows it not the only flaw to come out of HD.

The Cowpie trans Bigtwin has a seald Main shaft bearing, and other small difs, I have retrofitted the 79=84 trans in a pree 77 case, had to machint the main out put shaft bearing for the seald one, and mix and match the seals to make it work....

On the sporty, the shifter shaft is a 1/4" off from the right side shift compared to the left side shift.....Bushings dont line up...

i also heard of them being called pineapple tops don't see why it won't work cool cocoa fl. i use to spend my weekends on cocoa beach for a whole year someday i'll be back to stay

DR; why couldnt he use the roller bearings ?

the shaft is 70 - 83 , same dia , I thought years ago about just using the sealed bearings but then I like the rollers, you can get over sizes and recommence to wearing the shit out of it.
I got the long rollers on the clutch which is satisfying knowing it is full to the brim of bearing surfaces and grease.
http://retrocycle.com/catalogpage.php?page=490
http://retrocycle.com/catalogpage.php?page=491&vtwin_id=34217
http://retrocycle.com/catalogpage.php?page=492

Check out the years of individual parts
needle 77 - 81 , main D bush 41 - 84 , Race 37 - 78 , Main 77 - 85

Interesting subject ,Id like to know the guts of this...

Never heard of a "Maytag top" But it does roll off the tongue nicely...

So everything seems to fit ok except the od of the bearing race surface (on the 77 gears) on the main drive gear is .005" bigger then the later gears, so it won't fit in the bearing. I can't use loose roller bearings because the bore for the bearing in the case is too small to install the outer race for the earlier bearings. I'd have to bore it out. So I am planning on setting it up with the 77 gears with the later drive gear. And order another main gear for the later Andrews gears. (this is all in relation to building the cowpie with the 77 gears. I plan to build the ratchet next)

good stuff.

They reakon the 1978 + 1/2 uses 52-78 lid , 79 -86 cage counter shaft bearing , 78 1/2 - 86 cage main bearing.
only box that does the mix up.
good to see your getting it sorted.