Idea-tranny bearing support

[PROFLYER]

Ok, I just had an idea while looking at the open belt drives...from what I understand (and please correct me if I'm wrong) our tranny's are put under lots of load and torque laterally (perpendicular) to the tranny shaft which is causing failures. Also, I've noticed that the clutch hub/carrier wear is almost ALWAYS on the left (when looking at it) side of the inner primary...could this also have something to do with the flex of the tranny shaft and probable failure of the related bearings????

Most guys run an outter bearing support bracket when doing an open belt drive...how hard would it be to make the primary cover stiffer and have it provide the same type of outter support in the wet (stock) bikes? I'm not an engineer by any means but this seems like it would be somewhat simple to design....

Discuss

 

[dogvet]

I believe it would be a bit tricky since the throwout bearing lives in the pressure plate on this particular clutch set up but anything is possible with a suitable application of cubic dollars. Sometimes not being an engineer is an asset because you may still have common sense.

 

[V]

Yep having the outer support would help for sure. Would be nice if one was made that could go ounder the cover but would require mega mods. Also when we put the right side drive bikes under load the sprocket turning the belt tries to pull the wheel closer before it turns or tries to make the trans twist more. Both the primary and secondary are trying to turn the trans sideways in the bike when under load.

I've seen a couple of left side drive bikes with a extra brace between the engine and trans on the right hand side to help tye the two together.

Would probabley be nice to have one on the BD

I don't know

 

[PROFLYER]

^I have seen those! My dad has one on his FXR EVO harley...it was called a Race Brace to solve that very problem...I wonder if the guy is still around as he WAS an engineer!

 

[Gas Man]

I believe it would be a bit tricky since the throwout bearing lives in the pressure plate on this particular clutch set up but anything is possible with a suitable application of cubic dollars. Sometimes not being an engineer is an asset because you may still have common sense.

But you could run a standard HD clutch rod setup with the throw out bearing at the ball ramp assembly.

Pro... the race brace would only stop flex between the tranny and motor. This is to stop the inner primary bolts at the motor from pulling out and screwing up the motor case. But by all means read up more on the race brace
http://www.bigdogbiker.com/forums/performance/3965-carlini-race-brace-torque-arm.html

 

[PROFLYER]

Got it, but the problem is with the tranny shaft not the actual torque arm put on the motor/tranny that shifts the cases themselves. This is an internal issue. Also, I'd wager that the guys running the open/supported setups aren't having the bearing or clutch basket issues those of us with the stock primary are having...I'm proposing a setup that would support the crank and the tranny shaft to keep them both aligned and separated perfectly no matter the power...

 

[Gas Man]

Yeah and you may be right... a OBS may be a fix. But IMO I don't care what you have or don't. YOU SHOULDN'T EVEN break a mainshaft!!!

 

[PROFLYER]

True, but it's a known issue, this could be a fix. Tons of $$ is made solving factory problems that lead to expensive failures...