New Top Gear

[WinderFab]

I think the top gear gets machined to accept the DMC bushing.

 

[Turboflash]

Yes.

 

[Dave385]

yikes

When the stock top bushing and the suggested mcmaster carr bushings fail and wear enough they will damage the jack shaft (see attached bill from dealer to replace the jackshaft on my 2018 sidewinder $700.00). also I was not ok with knowing that the top bushing was contamination the chaincase oil and this metal was running through the bearings. So we started testing 1.5 years ago and went through several designs until we had this solution.

Let me know if you have any questions. I will try to help.
I was tired of having my expensive trips ruined so we developed this solution.

Thanks Dave

 

[Dave385]

When the stock top bushing and the suggested mcmaster carr bushings fail and wear enough they will damage the jack shaft (see attached bill from dealer to replace the jackshaft on my 2018 sidewinder $700.00). also I was not ok with knowing that the top bushing was contamination the chaincase oil and this metal was running through the bearings. So we started testing 1.5 years ago and went through several designs until we had this solution.

Let me know if you have any questions. I will try to help.
I was tired of having my expensive trips ruined so we developed this solution.

Thanks Dave

They are available on
Ebay "Top Gear Sidewinder Thundercat Super Bushing 1702-490 1702-491 1702-488"
Facebook market place "Heavy Duty Top Gear Bushing, Sidewinder Thundercat"

 

[cannondale27]

Glad you stepped up as a advertiser. I will try one out in spring. Have to save some $ first!

 

[putz21]

Great install video of the DMC Gear and Heavy Duty bushing:

 

[Dave385]

Thank you Putz21.
I will have one for the brass pads soon.

let me know if you have any questions.
Dave.

 

[yamamarc]

Very nice design!!! Great Video!!! Great support along the shaft!!
I will be opening up my chaincase mid season to inspect new upper bushing. If she's worn I'll order one!!

 

[Motorhead]

That gear has 10,000 miles on it.
I was expecting it to look like my buds' at 4000 that was completely shot.
I bought the bushings you suggested.
My plan is to see how the new gear with 3 holes works.
Next year i'll put the new bushing in & every year after that just put a new bushing in.
I'm going to MIC the results & record them.

I will definitely pull this chain case apart & tear through it EVERY year

I did notice how the center post is worn, i think from a loose chain, so this tensioner HAS to be checked regularly, but it's a PITA when sled left up North.

BTW: If anyone is interested, i use Amsoil Chain Oil & a touch of NRG Release above the sight glass with tension 1 turn out when i check it which will be A LOT more now that i've seen the inner workings of this case.

My stock 21T looked half as bad as your original gear, it was showing the bronze/copper color on only one half side of that gear, and that inside case damage also happened to mine with the original 21T when I found my chain stretched again at 1100-1400 mile. (I have been in there too many times and it was back in 2017, so it’s all memory). At that point I added my first tune so I also tested with both the 21T and the 22T. Bottom line for me is, that 22T added to both smoothness and speed, but the best is the added circumference of the 22T. It keeps the chain further away from that center pole that gets chain rubbed. Every time I check my chain it is out 2.5 - 3 turns, and that is at around 800-1200 miles only.

Just changed out my chain and 22T. Chain had a bit over 7K on it, and my 22T had over 5K on it. This time around chain tension was loose again, thus there would not have left many threads on the adjuster bolt, but the good news is, No new damage has occurred since I added that 22T with it’s larger circumference, and the 22T had not worn through it’s grey/silver coat as of yet but does show the beginnings of wear with 5-6 tiny spots, on one, very small portion of that bushing.

So just my 2 cents here, but even at 2.5- 3 turns out, no new damage. I have to wonder if there would have been more damage with loose chains and that original 21T gearing?

As a chain stretches and gets longer, the tensioner spring becomes unwrapped more whereas it pushes the chain further in, and may loose some of it’s tension force, and so doesn’t hold the chain as tightly as when it pushes on a unstretched chain.

New stock 86 pin chain with new 22T is a slight challenge getting it on, whereas it is Really Tight.

 

[WinderFab]

Very nice design!!! Great Video!!! Great the support along the shaft!!
I will be opening up my chaincase mid season to inspect new upper bushing. If she's worn I'll order one!!

X2.. In a 24 tooth ..

 

[Dave385]

Very nice design!!! Great Video!!! Great the support along the shaft!!
I will be opening up my chaincase mid season to inspect new upper bushing. If she's worn I'll order one!!

Thank you Guys.

 

[YamaSpark]

They are available on
Ebay "Top Gear Sidewinder Thundercat Super Bushing 1702-490 1702-491 1702-488"
Facebook market place "Heavy Duty Top Gear Bushing, Sidewinder Thundercat"

I assume that this will fit the SR Viper also, correct?

 

[cannondale27]

I assume that this will fit the SR Viper also, correct?

Not unless you switch to 15 wide or he offers self install in existing gear.

 

[fatchance]

Just had my top gear covered under warranty. It was in for the shaft and they replaced the bearing while they had it apart.

 

[Dave385]

Just had my top gear covered under warranty. It was in for the shaft and they replaced the bearing while they had it apart.

My first gear was replaced under warranty. The gear also damaged the jackshaft and I had broken link plates in the chain from the uneven loading On the chain.
Here is a link to the installation instructions.