Transmission question

[wytfut]

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

[Xczar]

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.

[franknsr]

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.

[Traveller]

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

[wytfut]

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