RSD OPEN PRIMARY HELP

[JMN68]

Can anyone help out a fellow BD onwer? Winter is here and my 05' chopper will be sitting in the garage. I now have some down time from work so I planned on wrenching on the bike. I will be pulling some stuff off to get powder coated and then change the closed primary to an open version. I have seen pics of different primary drives and they do look great. I don't have alot to spend since christmas cleaned me out of the cash that I have saved from working overtime but I have managed to pick up a few hours here and there to pay for this upgrade. I definately need some help wih this. The first is selecting a good open primary set up since a few of you have experienced them on your bike. The second is a recomendation for a vendor that will not bleed me dry for the open primary system. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Joe

 

[horse]

My AIH has a Barnett Open primary with a scorpion clutch. Looks good makes lots of clackity clack noise from the weights spinning and has outer bearing support. They are in Ventura in California.

 

[V]

I looked at a bike on Sat that has the Baker open primary and its not a bad looking set up. Baker will sell direct but you could probably get a better price thru a parts supplier than the manufactuers retail. Remember the 05 and later are limited to Big Dog right side drive applications only. The standard Harley style open primary will not fit our bikes:angry:



Thanks V

 

[bdmridgeback]

Karata lets you put together what look you want, wether it is with or without a bearing support, 3"-4"-5", and you can select the support plate you want too. Karata is the most expensive open unit for the BDM RSD bikes. Baker makes a nice one that for the quality, it probably the nicest for the least amount of money. There are one or two others out there as well. I owned a Karata and it had a real nice whine to it without the bad clatter that the BDL have. If they clatter it means you'll be replacing clutch alignment pins all the time when the wear out from slamming back and forth. The Karata is machined to hold the clutch plates and they are nice and quiet.

 

[Raywood]

I thought the Baker was the most expensive. One of the reason's I've never liked them was due to the noise. When you have to sit on the left side of one at a stop light it would drive me nuts. :angry:

But that was a long time ago and I know they have made vast improvements and this is a comment from the Baker website on there's;

Next, improvements needed to be made in the clutch rattle department. Ever see a nice looking custom approach you and then the rider pulls in the clutch and you hear that god awful rattling sound like all the valve tappets collapsed? That’s clutch rattle. With our rigid stainless steel pulley/basket, clutch rattle noise was reduced to an industry minimum.

I do like that the Baker unit has the outside shaft support. I would like to hear one of these in person as well as the Karata (who has been making them for a long time) Jake mentioned.
Cause I do like them but for the clutch noise. But some people like that sound so each there own.

Good luck,
Ray

 

[V]

Ray
I went with a dealer to a show in Richmond on Sat . We had one BD that had the Baker open primary and it is very quiet. We also had a couple of Big Bear and they do sound like somethings coming apart. Had to explain to people not familar with the noise.

V.

 

[05BDog]

I have the RMD and love it. A little belt noise but not to bad

 

[Raywood]

Ray
I went with a dealer to a show in Richmond on Sat . We had one BD that had the Baker open primary and it is very quiet. We also had a couple of Big Bear and they do sound like somethings coming apart. Had to explain to people not familar with the noise.

V.

Cool. The Baker unit is probably quiet cause of the clutch pack cover they use.
My brother is building a BBC and using an auto clutch so we will see how loud it is if he ever gets it done.

 

[RedRider]

Mine is a BDL. It looks great but I do have issues with having to tighten up bolts a lot (the bike is a pitbull so I run into that all over the entire bike....loctite is my friend) Also, it runs pretty quiet. I was surprised to hear about guys complaining about them being loud, as this was my first.

There is a much bigger picture of it at

http://niersbach.org/pitbull2.jpg

 

[Raywood]

Mine is a BDL. It looks great but I do have issues with having to tighten up bolts a lot (the bike is a pitbull so I run into that all over the entire bike....loctite is my friend) Also, it runs pretty quiet. I was surprised to hear about guys complaining about them being loud, as this was my first.

There is a much bigger picture of it at

http://niersbach.org/pitbull2.jpg

Looks great RedRider but BDL doesn't do one yet (that I know of) for all the newer models that use the DSSC system (05 and newer).

:flag:

 

[Raywood]

I have the Karata, I Like it, it's a Simple install, Has not given me a problem, got about 2k Miles on it, The Whine sound is a little annoying at first, but you get used to it. Comes with a Piranha jr Clutch, That upgrade alone is well worth it IMO.

That thing looks so clean also.

 

[bdmridgeback]

I have heard that the baker is pretty quiet but I do not think it is as quiet as the Karata. But the Karata is a bit more money.

 

[05BDog]

here is mine not the best pic but you get the idea

 

[05BDog]

not sure on the others but the RMD comes chrome so no polishing required

 

[LamboV12]

not sure on the others but the RMD comes chrome so no polishing required

Nice - About how long have you had it and do you ever rub when making a left?

 

[05BDog]

got it last winter or spring anyway had it about a year. Never rubed it and I dont think you could.

 

[Mario77746]

Is the outer bearing support necessary for our 117's?

Also, what's the price for the Karata vs the Baker?

 

[TCALZ06]

My AIH has a Barnett Open primary with a scorpion clutch. Looks good makes lots of clackity clack noise from the weights spinning and has outer bearing support. They are in Ventura in California.

Thats a nice looking bike. did you have that added after you bought it.
a friend of mine bought a AIH chopper and loves it

 

[horse]

cheers TCALZ06
It is a 10th anniversary bike, they made 125 with the 124cu in and chrome frame and that open primary, diamond cut wheels and engine.

 

[LamboV12]

got it last winter or spring anyway had it about a year. Never rubed it and I dont think you could.

Very cool. I think I'm going that direction. Don't care for the look of the Baker and I think it only comes in 3"... saw it on a another dog and somehow it just did not look right, a little too wussy or something....