Down to 31T Front Pulley

[ksmike]

I have had the 32 tooth front pulley on my 2010 Bulldog for about 3,000 miles now. To recap, I bought a cheap 32 tooth Harley pulley on ebay to see if I could machine it to fit a late model Big Dog with RSD. The machining went well and it has worked flawlessly. It is much easier to cruise in 6th on the highway and easier to take off from a stop. I didn't mind losing some top end...I don't cruise at 160 that often anyway. Really, I rarely hit 90 on the highway.

Anyway now I decided to drop one more tooth down to a 31T, which should be just about right for my liking. Here are a couple of things I have learned: Every tooth drop on the front pulley equals about .200" that the rear tire has to move back. That is with a 65 tooth rear pulley and I am still using the stock 139 tooth belt. Rear fender clearance is a big thing to take into account. It could use a shorter belt with the 31Tpulley on and the next smaller belt is a 137 tooth. I haven' ridden it with the 31T pulley on yet, still waiting on getting some parts back from the chromer. I used a Baker pulley this time and it was easier to machine because it had all machined surfaces to start with. (The cheap pulley had a lot of cast surfaces on it)

Here are a couple of pics with the 31T on.

With the locking ring on.

This is a pic of the stock 34T and the 32T

 

[Brew]

So no balance issues or premature bearing wear noted with the locking plate added?

 

[KaptinAmerika]

How has your gas mileage fared?

 

[ksmike]

No balance issue, but I am curious why BD used allen bolts to lock the nut instead of the standard plate that Harley has used for years.

As far as fuel mileage goes, it may have got better since I can use 6th now...but don't quote me on that. My usual day trip is about 150 miles. On long trips I usually haul anyway. Seems like last I checked I get around 35 to 40mpg.

The down side is that the speedo is about 5 mph fast at 70 mph.

You could do a smaller primary sprocket on the engine, but I couldnt figure out which one, if any would work. A primary sprocket change would keep the correct mph, but it would increase the torque applied to the transmission, which would not be good in my opinion.

 

[ksmike]

Ive got the 31T front pulley on and the bulldog all back together. I did some test runs with the bike up on the jack and everything looks good so far. Now all I have to do is wait for the snow to melt and the weather to get a little warmer here in Kansas. I am hoping that this will put the RPM in 6th right where I want it at cruising speed. Keep in mind that my bike is a little heavier than other Big Dogs, has a smaller engine (111), and it it probably pushing more air with the fairing and bags.

Here is the approximate calculated MPH at various RPM's , all in 6th gear.

2500.....63 mph
2750.....69 mph
3000.....75 mph
3250.....81 mph
3500.....88 mph
3750.....94 mph
4000.....100 mph
4500.....112 mph
5000.....125 mph

 

[armad]

Did you end up going to the 137 tooth belt?

 

[ksmike]

Did you end up going to the 137 tooth belt?

I am still using the stock 139 tooth belt, but rear adjustment is maxed out due to safe fender clearance with the tire. There is still some swing arm adjustment left though. I would like to put a 137 tooth belt on, but I may wait till the rear tire needs replaced.

 

[bearman]

You can re-calibrate the stock speedo, look in the service manual for a how-to.

 

[Jwooky]

Very interesting. Feel better in SOTP when you went to the 32?

 

[woodbutcher]

Very interesting. Feel better in SOTP when you went to the 32?

seems like throttle response would be better simply by the fact that you would be running at a little higher RPM. less lugging. :2thumbs:

 

[ksmike]

You can re-calibrate the stock speedo, look in the service manual for a how-to.

Im not sure I can recalibrate mine, it is a late model and the manual doesn't say how to.

The throttle response and SOTP is definitely better, but the ability to run in 6th is the frosting on the cake. IMO is should have been a 32T from the factory.

I am considering making the 32T available to anyone on the site that is interested. It would be nice if I had a source for Baker pulleys at a good price.

 

[Rex Winters]

If it the stock speedo, just push the speedo button then turn on the bike. Release and push the button again. You should see 0-----0. Drive exactly 2 miles, stop, push the button again. It will show you the count. (No idea what the count would be, though, with the changes). The speedo should be good. Very simple and I did it last week. (Been riding for 6 months with my speedo waaaaay off cause I had to have work done when I was in Florida and they jacked it up as usual.)

 

[bearman]

Yep, just have someone with a working speedo drive with you for the two miles or mark it off with a car.

While some mile markers may be pretty exact, all of them are not.

 

[ksmike]

If it the stock speedo, just push the speedo button then turn on the bike. Release and push the button again. You should see 0-----0. Drive exactly 2 miles, stop, push the button again. It will show you the count. (No idea what the count would be, though, with the changes). The speedo should be good. Very simple and I did it last week.

My speedo is the Medallion type (with two buttons) so I don't know if it calibrates the same.

 

[Rex Winters]

Looking at Google, it appears you go to setup, adjust speedometer, then ride 30 mph and hit enter. Thats for the bagger model, but should be similar.

 

[Rex Winters]

Looking at Google, it appears you go to setup, adjust speedometer, then ride 30 mph and hit enter. Thats for the bagger model, but should be similar.

 

[MtrCity]

I have had the 32 tooth front pulley on my 2010 Bulldog for about 3,000 miles now. To recap, I bought a cheap 32 tooth Harley pulley on ebay to see if I could machine it to fit a late model Big Dog with RSD. The machining went well and it has worked flawlessly. It is much easier to cruise in 6th on the highway and easier to take off from a stop. I didn't mind losing some top end...I don't cruise at 160 that often anyway. Really, I rarely hit 90 on the highway.

Anyway now I decided to drop one more tooth down to a 31T, which should be just about right for my liking. Here are a couple of things I have learned: Every tooth drop on the front pulley equals about .200" that the rear tire has to move back. That is with a 65 tooth rear pulley and I am still using the stock 139 tooth belt. Rear fender clearance is a big thing to take into account. It could use a shorter belt with the 31Tpulley on and the next smaller belt is a 137 tooth. I haven' ridden it with the 31T pulley on yet, still waiting on getting some parts back from the chromer. I used a Baker pulley this time and it was easier to machine because it had all machined surfaces to start with. (The cheap pulley had a lot of cast surfaces on it)

Here are a couple of pics with the 31T on.

With the locking ring on.

This is a pic of the stock 34T and the 32T

Hey Mike,
New here and came across your thread. Still able to obtain and machine the 32 and 31 tooth pulleys for the BDs?
If so I'd be interested. I have a 2008 Pitbull I'm looking at upgrading.

Thanks!

 

[Jwooky]

Hey Mike,
New here and came across your thread. Still able to obtain and machine the 32 and 31 tooth pulleys for the BDs?
If so I'd be interested. I have a 2008 Pitbull I'm looking at upgrading.

Thanks!

Barnes was making one, not sure if he still is.

 

[DynoDave]

Barnes was making one, not sure if he still is.

I have a Baker Long Life 32 tooth pulley for sale on Ebay; https://www.ebay.com/itm/144249544070

 

[lentzii]

hy, bei Baker Drivetrain kannst du in den Geschwindigkeitsrechner die Geschwindigkeiten und Drehzahlen ausrechnen. Ich habe auf der K9, vorne die 34T behalten und hinten auf 55T reduziert, mit 128T Riemen. = 2800 U/pm 90 mph. Läuft wesentlich ruhiger und wir fahren hier höhere Geschwindigkeit.
Greeting Lentzi