Knucklehead Transmission

[T. Cotten]

This is only anecdotal, Sams,...

And dated decades back, but I never had an issue with the few Eastern mainshafts I installed.

Andrews only threw me a curve once.

Nobody's perfect.

.....Cotten

For what its worth, Folks,...

My experience so very long ago with an Andrews shaft deserves clarification, since catastrophic failure it wasn't.

A close associate put together a machine for strip competition, but it,.. for want of a better phrase, went out of gear repeatedly when thrashed.
(I only now realize how embarrassing, and expensive that was.)

He handed me the shaft, and between centers, one end wasn't concentric to the other. Like it had been taken out of the lathe and set back up.

So the rest of the anecdote is that the associate had me install it in a box for a lady neighbor. It worked perfectly for her.

....Cotten

[Peter Cooke]

I said Eastern makes mainshafts that have a good history.Eastern is a US manufacturer.I always use Andrews because of what Bob said,Many years ago,I installed 3 import shafts for people that demanded cheapest.All 3 broke & destroyed the trans

Thank you.

[duffeycycles]

I said Eastern makes mainshafts that have a good history.Eastern is a US manufacturer.I always use Andrews because of what Bob said,Many years ago,I installed 3 import shafts for people that demanded cheapest.All 3 broke & destroyed the trans

[BigLakeBob]

I had a friend who bought a cheap imported 4sp main shaft, shaft was too hard, snapped and ruined his whole case. I am a firm believer in buying the best you can for engine and transmission internals, there is just too much at stake to take the cheap road.

[Peter Cooke]

Eastern also makes shafts but stay away from cheap imports unless you want serious problems.They may bend or break easy.

Duffey, are you saying Eastern shafts are cheap imports that may bend or break, or are you saying 2 different things?
1. Eastern makes shafts.
2. Cheap imports may bend or break.

[T. Cotten]

Do any of you actually have any experience with or know someone who has had problems with parts from Eastern?

This is only anecdotal, Sams,...

And dated decades back, but I never had an issue with the few Eastern mainshafts I installed.

Andrews only threw me a curve once.

Nobody's perfect.

.....Cotten

[samsmc1]

Do any of you actually have any experience with or know someone who has had problems with parts from Eastern?

[duffeycycles]

Eastern also makes shafts but stay away from cheap imports unless you want serious problems.They may bend or break easy.

[samsmc1]

The Andrews mainshaft appears to be about $80.00 higher than most of the others I've found - that seems to high. Are there currently anyone's parts that you know of to stay away from? This bike probably won't get 300 miles a year on it - then put up to look at after I'm gone.

[BigLakeBob]

In my opinion, if you are wanting to buy a new mainshaft to fit your new Andrews main drive gear, there is nothing wrong with the quality of an Andrews mainshaft. You mentioned in post 3 that making a new bushing is no problem, then just keep your undersize mainshaft and make a new main drive gear bushing to fit. Only problem would be with the end seal sealing on a .987 shaft, but '47 didn't have a seal anyway. I've changed bushing sizes numerous times to reuse an original part that has worn or been altered. Examples are gear cover bushings and kick cover bushings. I turn down pre '54 oem worn kick arms then make bushings to fit, probably what was done with your mainshaft. No different than fitting an oversized valve guide in a head. I feel that if the .987 mainshaft is good otherwise, just make a new bushing to fit and move on. Positive side, in the future if you put enough miles on it, when the bushing you made is wore out, then install a new mainshaft and refit the bushing to that one. Win, win.

[samsmc1]

This is an interesting dialog. I always heard that both Andrews and Jim's were good quality stuff. That they were American made and equal to OEM. In all fairness, I heard this from salesmen that called on me from Tucker and in the early days, Drag Specialties.
I may be getting old, but my eyesight is 20 20 (eyes got fixed years ago) and the mainshaft out of this trans is smooth and shows no visual signs of being worn out except for the size.
What problems are showing up with the repro stuff? Do they break or just get worn out in a hurry - what's wrong with them??
Even though I've spent 50+ years in the motorcycle business, my Harley experience is with late models since the twin cams came out, so this is all new to me.
I didn't find any of these pieces in my containers this morning, but I haven't looked upstairs yet. Figuring that I don't find any good usable parts like I thought that I had, what do you recommend for a mainshaft?
Thanks for the education
Sam

[T. Cotten]

The main drive gear comes out of the box from Andrews property sized to their main shaft.

So yes, if your fitting the Andrews main drive gear to a worn, out of dimension main shaft, the clearance is improper and excessive.

Duke

Please indulge me Duke....

Are these fresh MDGs tighter at the nut end, or are they blown out with idiot clearance?

If they are concentric, you will lose bearing surface, stability, and longevity under the stress of installation.

Catalog crap will always be catalog crap, bless them!

...Cotten

[dukekleman]

The main drive gear comes out of the box from Andrews property sized to their main shaft.

So yes, if your fitting the Andrews main drive gear to a worn, out of dimension main shaft, the clearance is improper and excessive.

Duke

[T. Cotten]

My experience is that Andrews quality has been very good.

To the best of my knowledge, with other brands I've worked around, Andrews is the bench mark currently.

Duke

You mean benchmark for repops, Duke?

How high is the 'bar' these days? (I thought it all went to hell when JIMS did, so many years ago.)

By definition, OEM must remain, for want of a better phrase, the gold standard.

(And I've certainly never loved the MOCO all that much, ... .. .. )

...Cotten
PS: My previous question was if the mentioned brand of Main Drive Gear comes out of the box un-fitted, or fitted with idiot clearance. Thanks from everyone who might need to know, now or in the future,...

[dukekleman]

My experience is that Andrews quality has been very good.

To the best of my knowledge, with other brands I've worked around, Andrews is the bench mark currently.

Duke