How to replace primary chain on a 1999 softail custom
This will be quite an involved process, just to let you know. If you have a motorcycle lift or can borrow one it makes things so much easier.
The first thing to do is drain all the oil out of your primary. Next remove the bolts from the primary, noting which ones went where as there are short and long bolts. Next under neath the primary is the adjustment for the chain tensioner. Loosen the jam nut, then unscrew the adjuster. Remove the primary cover gently, you may have to tap on it with a rubber hammer to get it loose. While removing be careful not to pull the 2 pins out of the inner primary, the are for alignment. Now you need to remove all the gasket material from the primary and the inner primary. Remove the retaining clip off you clutch hub. This is the one right where your clutch adjustment is. Once removed just pull your adjuster nut and adjuster threaded shaft out. Okay here is the fun part, in order to remove the chain you must remove both the front sproket and the rear clutch basket, etc. But before you can do this you must lock the chain from moving, Harley makes a tool for this or if you are very careful and I do mean very careful, you can take a large screwdriver and wrap it in an old T-shirt, place the wrapped screwdriver between the chain and top of the clutch sprocket. You must always lock the top of the chain NEVER the bottom. Okay the nut on your clutch assembly is reverse threaded, so while the chain is locked you turn the nut clockwise to loosen. Once lossened go to the front sprocket and repeat process, this nut is standard thread, and on tightly. Loosen this nut, then go to your chain tensioner and loosen the nut holding it on, and lower it as far as possible. remove both the nuts from the front sprocket and clutch. On the front sproket there are some items you just pull off the shaft and leave the sprocket. Note the order of removing. Okay now pull both the front sprocket and the clutch off at the same time avoiding the chain tensioner.
Now this is just advice not a must do. Inspect your sprockets for wear, if they need replacing by all means replace them...yes they are expensive...so are tow trucks! Also on some 1999-2000 models the OEM chain tension could and would fail, this doesn't make for a bad day, but a REALLY bad week! My point for about a $100 you can replace the OEM tension with the Harley auto adjusting one.
Now you are ready to replace the chain and put the sprockets back on. You should use the red loctite(sp?) on both nuts, your front nut should be tighten to 150-165 ft./lbs and the rear 50-65 ft./lbs check that number for the rear before you put it back together I may be incorrect. Once you have those tightened up put your chain tension back in the proper position. Now would be a good time to make the adjustment. Place you clutch retaining plate and adjuster, then put the retain clip back in, adjust clutch. Replace gasket for primary, install primary, remove inspection plate, put oil in, bolt plate back on.
Start it up, check for leaks, all cool, get some time in the wind.
Hope this helps,
JP
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