Ok guys, I have a 72 Electraglide and my trans stopped upshifting into 3rd and fourth without reaching down and yanking the hell out of the shifter with my hand, so I tore it down to inspect the trans. Problem is, I have the primary off, battery and oil tak out of the way, all bolts securing the trans out, and It wont come out. Its loose, but there is a welded support above in the way, it straddles the swingarm where it mounts to the primary, and has studs sticking out below. Do I remove the studs, or does the rachet top assembly have to come off to get this bastard out?

 

It comes out as a unit. Remove bolts holding the tranny plate. Tranny plate and tranny then come out the left side of the bike.

 

Ok, I got it, one last bolt in the tranny plate. Ooowa Tenass I am!

 

The problem in shifting is probably in the ratchet lid. There are two large and two small springs inside the cover. These shifter pawl springs and pawl carry springs break or become so weak they will not allow the ratchet to reset to change gears. You have to remove the inner primary to get to the cover but you don't have to remove the transmission.

 

Yep but, if you do pull the trans, make sure to leave the Trans bolts loose when you go to install so you can align the trans in the Primary with the engine, then tighten last.