961 gearbox

Norton588

Norton588

Joined
May 19, 2021
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OK, just to settle a discussion was a Harley Sportster gearbox used in the 961 ? Too many people seem to have said yes for there not to be something to it. Otherwise it must be a bespoke box ?
 
No one knows where SG sourced the 961 gearbox, or if someone dose, he ain't talking.
Kenny Dreer, said that his prototype 952/961 was designed using a Harley Sportster gearbox.
That was a special Baker Transmission XL6 - 6 speed box with the overdrive pair removed, and a special shifting drum.
The assumption is that Kenny intended to offer a 961 6-Speed performance upgrade.
SG never offered a 6 speed upgrade.

961 gearbox
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BritTwit said:
No one knows where SG sourced the 961 gearbox, or if someone dose, he ain't talking.
Kenny Dreer, said that his prototype 952/961 was designed using a Harley Sportster gearbox.
That was a special Baker Transmission XL6 - 6 speed box with the overdrive pair removed, and a special shifting drum.
The assumption is that Kenny intended to offer a 961 6-Speed performance upgrade.
SG never offered a 6 speed upgrade.

961 gearbox
Hosted on Fotki
Click to expand...
OK so if that Baker gearset was used then we can assume that a standard Sportster gearset would also fit.
 
Norton588 said:
OK so if that Baker gearset was used then we can assume that a standard Sportster gearset would also fit.
Click to expand...
Not so quick.
Dreer's prototypes utilized Baker gearboxes.
We don't (me mainly) know if SG sourced his boxes from Baker, or if he had a UK, or China source making units for him under license.
Are they functionally the same, or have they been modified in any way from the original Bake design?
Visually, the 961 and XL6 box look like very close cousins, but no one knows if they are the same, or interchangeable.
We need someone in the know to set us straight.
Maybe like a former employee, perhaps SG's original Lead Engineer.
 
It would be doubtful if any part is a direct fit to the Norton 961 transmission. If we could find a trap door 91-03 HD Sportster gearset cheap on ebay , a compare and contrast is possible. Seeing that HD hasn't made it since 03 , they are getting slim out there. I have found a complete Sportster gearset for a 14 , and they want $225 for it , so cheap.. There was a major change to the HD Sportster after 03 and now no trap door , and two separate shift fork shafts . This may be a waste of time , but if somebody is willing to buy the gearset and send it to me ? I will try and collaborate with David C. But somebody else has to start spending some money on this .
 
Their pics sure look real similar to a Sporty. But for fact in their cam section, there is a pic of a shovel head or evo cam shaft! Shame I can't read the info
 
I think this probably answers the question about getting spare gearbox parts.....
 
cliffa said:
Thanks Stuart.

I just found their website and there are some familiar looking parts on it…

www.worldwild.com.tw

Other - 世野交通器材股份有限公司

www.worldwild.com.tw www.worldwild.com.tw
Click to expand...
Always made me wonder if someone cocked up at World Wild and its a typo....surely World Wide Enterprises sounds better?
But yes, definitely them....I unpacked enough of them.
Slightly off topic but I read many different thoughts on here regards clutch plates and where they came from. They were genuine Yamaha. Ive unpackaged tonnes of those, and made up in ready to go sets for the 961 (the plates came individually packaged...was a bit of a ballache). So at least you're all sorted on wear and tear items like the plates.
 
OK, I will try and explain this as best I can, if Norton used the Baker box and that box was a direct replacement for the standard HD box then assuming Norton didn't modify the gearset in anyway then a standard HD box but must fit.
 
I'll explain this as best possible....they didn't use a Baker gearbox. They bought one from Taiwan.
Will a genuine Breitling watch strap fit my moody copy Breitling from Turkey...who knows.
 
S. Bodycote said:
I'll explain this as best possible....they didn't use a Baker gearbox. They bought one from Taiwan.
Will a genuine Breitling watch strap fit my moody copy Breitling from Turkey...who knows.
Click to expand...
They did originally use a Baker box though then swapped to cheaper set made in Taiwan, I assume a direct copy of the Baker box ?
 
I cant remember what the changes were, around 2012ish...where they switched the shifter from a direct lever, to one with a linkage. Can anyone confirm?
 
Kenny Dreer used a Baker box in his development but we dont know 100% if that was carried over.
 
Right so its starting to come together, up to 2011 Norton used the Baker box then I assume they changed to the box from Taiwan. I'm guessing a little but because the Baker gearset was a direct HD replacement logic suggests that the HD box can indeed be used which confirms what I have been told.
 

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