XH Motorcycles Forum
Motorcycle Resource Forums => Technical Resource Discussion => Topic started by: joecal on April 14, 2013, 08:39:40 AM
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Hello,
I was just wondering if there are warning signs if the transmission gears are getting loose? I bought a 99 Super X that has about 10K miles on it and hasn't had the upgrade done I was told. I haven't taken delivery of it yet. I wanted to hold off on the upgrade for a while but at the same time I'm concerned about the trans locking up. I owned a 99 X a few years ago that I sold so I'm a little familiar with the bike.
Thanks,
Joe
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Well from my experince.... No there isn't.
I've pulled several trannys now, some with low miles and some with higher..... From what I've been able to tell, the spec.'s on tolerances for the bushings are seemingly loose new. I could rattle each of the gears on the rails.... Low miles or hi..
If you don't have to ride it, I'd advice not to do it until, you have this work done.... When the clips have let go on these gears, it just happens, with no warning at any speed....
Hope this helps
Bruce
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Thanks Bruce, I appreciate your input. That doesn't make me feel to comfortable riding it though,lol.
How difficult is it to pull the transmission cassette? I have average mechanical skills I would say.
I have Avast anti-virus and every time I log on this site it's showing a virus threat. Does anyone else have this issue?
Joe
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Joe,
Here's the link of step by step how to remove.... It don't get much simpler... http://www.excelsiorhenderson.com/ehwebsite/pages/tech/pdf/EH_Transmission_Removal_Guide_X.pdf
It right here on this site under downloads on the tech side of this site.....
Site has been hacked a couple of tmes with no harm to veiwers that i know of..... Get hacked and it goes off line. My computers have no problems with this site...
Veiw the removal proceedure.. That'll help make up your mind to see if you can handle it. I found it to be fairly simple
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Meanwhile, depending on your budget, you could start collecting parts to do the job with. Not sure if the Vendors have an "exchange" program if you wanted to do it all your self. You could also pull the trans and send it out for upgrades, etc...
Jumper
8)
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Thanks wytfut and Jumper for the information and advice. I talked to Marty at Atlantic EH and I'll probably attempt to pull the trans cassette myself and send it out to them. It doesn't look like to difficult of a job I hope. I should have the bike here in another week or so.
Thanks again,
Joe
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Get cornered.... Give us a holler
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Hi Jocal, just wondering where you are on the transmission fix. I've got #1576 with 800 miles and looking at possibly doing this job as I get nervous about the bike locking up at 60MPH!
Thanks
David
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David...
If there is any way you can get this done I really recommend it.
To nice of a bike just to sit around....
Bruce
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Hey David, If you don't mind saying, where about are you? If you are by chance near my I wouldn't mind lending a hand...or some tools....or beer...
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I live in Stockton, about 6 miles south of Tooele, in Utah. I bought this Super X from Greg who bought it "new" from an old dealer in St. George.
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David,
This is a wonderful resource.....
Print this link off...... http://www.excelsiorhenderson.com/pages/tech/pdf/EH_Transmission_Removal_Guide_X.pdf
Take it out to your X and study it closely....
Its really no all that tough. If you have a lift, its gonna be even easier yet.
I or many other folks would be more tha happy to lend you the 2 tools you need to get it done.
Bruce
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Man, that is an awesome write-up on taking out the transmission! Are the 2 special tools your talking about the ones from "kent-moore"? I think I'll knock this out this winter and just be gentle till then. I do love this bike and would really like to feel confident about riding it. I'm thinking of taking it to the GP vintage bonneville bike show at Miller sports park this labor day. Bet they don't see many.
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Utah....um, yea a bit out of the way for me, but I'll be with you in spirit as you pull the trans this winter.
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Hi Jocal, just wondering where you are on the transmission fix. I've got #1576 with 800 miles and looking at possibly doing this job as I get nervous about the bike locking up at 60MPH!
Thanks
David
Hi David,
Sorry I just read your post. I haven't done mine yet, I'm thinking about doing it in the fall. Your bike with only 800 miles on it I don't think you have to worry about it for a while. I know what you mean though about it locking up in 4th or 5th gear that would be scary. I have around 10K miles on my bike so I really need to get it done.
Joe
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The odds of a transmission lock up are miniscule.... By the numbers.
Of having an issue.... I don't think anyone should be looking at milage on your X. From what I understand milage really doesn't play any part of the issue.
We all need to recognize that it is a very real possibility to you and your X at any miles, although slight.
Money and applying it to updates were a big struggle for me and my X...... But the tranny was the first thing I fixed, when i saved up my pennies. Several updates are cheap if not no cost..... But it took me 9 years to get all recommended updates done..... Last was the oil pickup. My opinion is the tranny should be first one out of the box..... Please don't take it as a nonissue..... Think about it, very real you may be the one on it, if it happens...
Sorry for the rant.... But that one should be a main goal.... And yeah that is my opinion.
As for the tools..... Yes, the were made by kentmoore.... But they haven't made them for years. If you know a moon lite machinist, they wouldn't be hard to make if you have a set to copy in your hands.
Bruce
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See, this is the part I don`t get?
With a topic that is 'Beaten To Death'. There is still Trans Removal Instructions circulating that say 'Factory Recommended' removal of the orifice set screw. Now, my opinion is removing the later version, S/N 512 and up set screw from the crankshaft bolt should be fine. CERTAINLY, no one should remove the set screw at the end of the crankshaft on the early bikes, S/N 511 and down, as described in the Trans Rem Inst. This would seem to me as a big problem. And, possibly the pressure loss some talk about.
These new owner`s could be in big trouble on the early bikes reading this.
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Yea...ya know...I was thinking about this just today. Most of us who have been around a while and lived through one or two rounds of this argument have an idea of what needs to be done, but the new guys are having to research this stuff all over again.
Whether it is the oil orifice, or the scavenge pump bushing, or neck bearing adjustment or whatever, we really need a repository of updated repair info somewhere.
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In the interest of being factual..., I dug up a survey that was conducted back in May of 2001 regarding the incidence of transmission failures. Bare in mind that we can't know how many Excelsior-Hendersons had been sold or were in actual use at that time, but those of us that were riding and communicating were very concerned.
Of the 15 respondents to the survey, 6 had experienced a full transmission lock-up.
No one reported any indication or warning of an impending problem, so I decided to continue to ride my bike in hopes of discovering some sort of warning or symptom of transmission trouble. There was none... mine locked-up at about 40mph! The rear wheel just stopped turning. The damage included 3 broken gears and one bent shift fork and it cost me $1700 to have Xman repair it.
That experience and expense led us to develop our own transmission repairs and modifications. Through the years and hundreds of transmissions, we've seen at least half a dozen full lock-up failures and many transmissions that were on the verge of failure due to the 4th gear circlip expanding. Not a single one was an oil related failure.
Ride Safe,
Jamie
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Wow Jamie...
I remember the survey.... And gave my info to it. I didn't remember the numbers so low to responses....
Odd for all the concern.... Not much of a respnse
Bruce