CHAIN & SPROCKETS GEAR RATIO CHANGE

Well the stop light racers wouldn't like it a bit!
But I have stayed with the 630 chain, but went away from the stock gearing on my 82 1000 LTD, I traded the stock 15/39 for 16/38. Now I actually CAN shift up when it feels like that is what it wanted. Gone is the BUZZ on the freeway, I now get about 3000 RPM at 60 mph, and about 3800 at 65 mph. Its roughly about 1000 rpm difference on the freeway. This is much closer to the 1100 A2 shaft I have at the same speed, actually just less RPM. I am planning on a 3000mi trip, so this is what I wanted. Now if all goes well I can change back to a 15T front later if I feel like having the off the line power again as they are pretty cheap still. Its to bad these big blocks never had a 6th gear, for that is what would have been perfect, then there would be no compromise.

SORRY ABOUT THE "ELECTRICAL" CATEGORY

Did the new chain and sprockets fix the dry bearing noise?

Well its different, but gone? No. But I could not find any other reason for it. You say the "PULL RING" from the pan, and there is no sign of anything else. When I had the sprocket cover off I pulled the side cover and looked at the shaft bearing while I rotated, felt smooth and had no signs of problems. Also had the clutch and stator covers off with nothing found, and other than the pull ring, and some clutch sludge, the pan was pretty clean. Just took it out for a 60 mile ride to test the gearing change, and still a bit whinny when I down shift through the gears. As it is rotating, so I will still take it on the trip. At least if I get to Bend Oregon my buddy has a whole shop full of bikes and all of the tools needed. I've put a few thousand miles on this bike since I got it going, and it has always had this noise. After riding the Shafty the different sounds are more noticeable.

I see, you have to get to Bend to meet up with all your vampire buddies, eh. :laugh: I'm sure you'll make it ok. BTW I don't blame you for putting highway gears on the bike. You'll thank yourself on that long trip. I remember a pickup that my father had when I was a kid. It had 4:11 gears, and of course no overdrive. It was wery tiring taking longer trips in that thing. It was a blast from stoplight to stoplight though. :woohoo:

Yea a sprocket is much faster to change out than gears in a rear end. Those old 4:11 ratios are great for the Boulevard, I used to run 3:90's in my Camaro, good all around ratio that, and still good for 140mph.

I want to change the rear sprocket on my 550 ltd. At 60mph, its turning about 5,000 rpm. Its all stock. I NEED to change my rear sprocket cuz the previous owner threw a chain, and then ran it adjusted wrong, its SO worn out. Im gonna be changing my tires soon, and while the wheel is off i wanted to replace the sprocket. I want to gear it up. do i need more teeth or less? any sugestions?

www.gearingcommander.com is what I use when changing sprockets.

Less in the rear/ more in front to gear up. JT Sprockets has a great web site, you can find your make/ model, then it will tell you the available sprocket sizes. They also have the Math for figuring out the ratio's.
IF you have A worn sprocket, then a full replacement is due/ the chain will be toast and the front not much better. Less than $200 to the door, once you figure out the sizes you want. PO may have changed different from stock already.