Early Sportster Primary Drive

First, I installed the kicker shaft and gear.  The new "square style" black rubber kicker shaft seals are too tight and too square.  You can easily cut the seal when installing the shaft.  I turn the seal inside-out and bevel the sharp edge, so it doesn't get cut upon installation.  Grease it up good, don't forget the thrust washer (with flat side up).  New seal in the clutch basket, and lithium grease on the needle bearing.  It still had the original-style brass clutch hub nut lock (which kinda serves as a seal too).  The lock was in good shape, so I reused it.  Heavy washers under the adjuster bolt heads.  Now, it has the correct chain tensioner with NOS shoe and retainer.  My last one.  I installed the whole business with original, factory dealership issued Harley-Davidson tools - ie: gear locks, and hub to basket lock. I tightened everything by hand to facilitate removal "on the road."  No air impacts.  It's the way our H-D founders intended.
The Diamond brand primary chain is a good choice.  I also like the Tsubaki chain.  Do yourself a favor and stay away from all the other ones.

4 comments:

  1. To bad Tsubaki is out of the chain business. They were the best, Pre-stressed, super strong, long periods between adjustments. You can find a few left at some shops and online and fleabay. I threw a few spares on the shelve for down the road use. Their primary and drive units rocked. I always use chain wax too. Helps the sprockets and the chains. I like o-ring chains but there not enough room on a stock shovel or an old knuck for them. My evo sportster sure liked them though. Especially because they use such a long drive chain.

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  2. Where's the bracket for the shoe? And no extra long bolts. There's a video of a mechanic power driving a bolt right into the flywheel. To his credit (I believe what I hear every time) he took it back apart and re-checked the alignment.

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  3. The early steel adjusters are heavy on the backside. The type with the "bracket" and extra piece on the front won't fit under an XLCH tin primary cover. Yes, measure your bolt length !

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  4. The flat side primary chains wearthe nylon skid shoe at a much slower rate than the figure 8 chains

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