Drive pulley, please note....

Energy One

bigdogtech01

Well-Known Member
Been meaning to post on here for a few weeks now to just give an FYI about the drive pulleys...Some of you already know, but a lot may not...the drive pulleys have a tendency of loosening up after time and if not caught in time, can wear the splines of the pulley...worst case if this goes on for too long, can not only wear the splines of the pulley, but can also damage the transmission bearings and even the drive gear itself....It might be worth while to take an hour or two out of your day, and $10 worth of exhaust gaskets, and check to make sure it's still nice and tight.
-First remove exhaust system if it's in the way of pulley cover.
-Now remove cover to access clutch push rod.
-Remove clutch push rod.
-Remove pulley cover.
-Now you can see drive pulley and pulley nut.
-You can visually inspect it to see if it looks like pulley nut has worn into the 2 allen bolts.
-At this point if you have all the tools, I would remove the 2 allen bolts, then remove the pulley nut itself using 1 7/8" socket (remember LEFT hand thread) best to use an air impact, but if it's loose already, a ratchet or breaker bar will remove it.
-If you find that the nut was in fact loose, you will want to remove the drive pulley, clean and inspect the inner splines to verify if they are worn.
-If pulley looks good, re-assemble it starting with pulley, then clean threads of nut and drive gear, put Red locktite on threads, torque nut down to 80 ft lbs, install 2 allen bolts in 2 holes across from one another and towards flat that faces loosening direction (clockwise)

Any questions on this feel free to message or call me.
:cheers:
 

Thors

Active Member
Thanks Andrew. Will pop the exhaust off soon to do some carb changes and get my restriction plates out. Will make sure to look at this now that you've mentioned it.
 

Olde Man

Active Member
I had to replace mine and it looked to me that the root cause of the spline wear was from running the drive belt too tight. I also had wear and metal transfer, galling, between my rear pulley and wheel hub. The only other thought that I have about this is it might be aggravated by the constant loading and unloading of the drive train at low rpm and not having a compensating sprocket. I welcome any comment or thought that anyone would have on this subject.
 

bigdogtech01

Well-Known Member
I had to replace mine and it looked to me that the root cause of the spline wear was from running the drive belt too tight. I also had wear and metal transfer, galling, between my rear pulley and wheel hub. The only other thought that I have about this is it might be aggravated by the constant loading and unloading of the drive train at low rpm and not having a compensating sprocket. I welcome any comment or thought that anyone would have on this subject.
A cush drive in rear wheel/pulley would help tremendously...but then people would feel as if they were on an import and not an American custom :roll::roll:
How tight was your belt? If running too tight, it can cause excessive bearing wear, not pulley. Spec is 3/16" at 10 lbs force on top portion of belt...I run them at 1/4" and that seems to be the best tension for the '05 and up. Pre '05 is 1/2"
 

Attachments

Srodden

Well-Known Member
Thanks Andrew just copied instructions for checking later . Not having any issues not wanting to break into it yet either but definitely will eventually. :up:
 

Jwooky

Well-Known Member
I wish I would have read this post and did what Andrew said last year.

Trans starting leaking on the right side. I tore it down and the final drive pulley/nut was loose. It tore up the splines and mainshaft seals.

Now I need a pulley too. Andrew already sent me the seals.

Anyone know if there is Harley cross reference?
 

Iman

Well-Known Member
I just read on the BAKER face book page that they will stop making the pully covers for big dog. Here is the quote:


What do a Dodo Bird, dinosaurs, and these Big Dog pulley covers have in common? If you said they're extinct, you are correct. These are the very last of em', if you need one or a spare or 2 for stock, I suggest that you order now!

Have a good weekend

James
 
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BadDawg Bill

Well-Known Member
I should think if Andrew really wanted business he would have a web page instead of a stupid facebook page but I guess that's not the case. We all aren't 20 years old and on facebook so the guberment can tell what we are up too and come after us.... Thanks Pauley
 
"A Spare or two"? Do these pulley covers regularly get damaged or wear out?
No they don't, that's why Baker is ending manufacturing because they just sit on their shelves. Were you to have an issue with a pulley nut coming loose or something along those lines it might cause devastating damage to require a replacement. Of course it could get damaged in an accident also.
 
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