Does anyone know anything, good or bad, about this H-D pre Evo replacement transmission? Anyone here using one?
I know of a Harley/Liberty combo with one here in Boise and the owner swears by it. I also saw the rig at the Tahoe Rally.
Lonnie
Thanks, Lonnie, I contacted Sputhe and they said they are not making them at this time.
I have the Sputhe 5 speed with the reverse, here in Boise. I put it in seven years ago. Now have around 30,000 miles on it. No problems, love it. It is on a 1978 FLH with a S&S Shovelhead style 93" engine. Sputhe must not have had enough sales to not be making them now. I doubt if you can find a used one. If you can, it should be easy to rebuild since all the guts are Harley parts, I understand. I use Belray synthetic oil and change it every couple of years.
Mike
What did it sell for? Got a chance to buy a used one for $1500.
Originally written by silvergoldsmith on 7/10/2009 7:58 AM
What did you sell for? Got a chance to buy a used one for $1500.
There's one on eBay right now.
Subject : RE: Sputhe 5 sp with reverse
Posted : 7/11/2009 11:33 PM
Post #45157 - In reply to #45146
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Originally written by silvergoldsmith on 7/10/2009 7:58 AM
What did it sell for? Got a chance to buy a used one for $1500.
There's one on eBay right now.
[Edited by gnm109 on 7/11/2009 11:36 PM]
Thank you, I do know about it. That is the reason I started this thread as I had never heard of this trany before.
Originally written by silvergoldsmith on 7/12/2009 2:37 AM
Subject : RE: Sputhe 5 sp with reverse
Posted : 7/11/2009 11:33 PM
Post #45157 - In reply to #45146--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally written by silvergoldsmith on 7/10/2009 7:58 AM
What did it sell for? Got a chance to buy a used one for $1500.
There's one on eBay right now.
[Edited by gnm109 on 7/11/2009 11:36 PM]
Thank you, I do know about it. That is the reason I started this thread as I had never heard of this trany before.
It probably works OK but it is what one might call an orphan. They are no longer built and, if there are any parts fot the specialized portions of it, they will be expensive. (transmission case, shifting fork section, shifting drum, etc.) With a starting point of $3,500 originally when new, that transmission costs nearly twice what you would pay for a brand new 5 or 6-speed transmission from a number of sources, including notably Harley-Davidson. Obviously, those won't fit your four-speed frame and have no reverse gear but I'm only making a rough comparison.
In the past, Sputhe has built cylinder heads, crankcases and even entire engines in the past. They also built a high cam replacement engine for HD but as far as I know, those are no longer built and were only limited at best when in production. I've been to his shop and I was astonished at the prices he charged for his specialty items.
I prefer standard machinery with high parts availability to keep repair and maintenance costs down. Another issue if you purchase the one on eBay would be making sure that it has the correct mainshaft. There were several different lengths for four speed Shovelheads based on year model. (See the S&S website for information on the different mainshafts.)
Good luck.
Thank you for your help. I agree with all that you have said and have lost all interest in this transmission. I will instead go back to trying to find 'raked' trees for my rig. Can't find any for a 1980 FX narrow glide and the people recommended at this site never answer my emails so I quit trying to contact them.
Call Peter Smith at:(250) 573-2364 and UPS your trees to him.
He may even have exchange trees already made up for the older 35mm narrow glides.
Lonnie
Northwest Sidecars
Thanks, Lonnie but they are 35mm and I won't deal with anyone that has never given me the coutesy of a reply to my kites.
35mm it is. My memory only goes back to the obsolete 39mm trees anymore.
Lonnie
he reverse gear transmission is the latest development in Sputhe’s long line of special application transmissions. The internals of the 5 forward speeds are borrowed directly from Harley-Davidson’s Evolution 5-speed transmission including the deep 3.24 to 1 first gear.
