I couldn't understand why my 150 Avon wouldn't work, having had a 140 in there. What I found is the 140 was actually 139mm wide, but my 150 was 153mm wide, both of them on 3" rims. I tried a narrow spacer, while I still had the wide belt in place, but the pulley hit the swingarm, so that was no go!

I reckon not all Harleys are created equal! I've read on other discussions on this subject on HDF that some of us have got wider tyres in where others of us couldn't make it work. Certainly as NGH comments, tyres vary greatly in actual width, when compared with their nominal size.

The tyre makers often post fitted widths on their websites, but in my experience even that data cannot be relied upon. A 140 Avon should be 143mm wide and a 150 exactly 150, according to Avon, but you see the sizes I actually had above. Fitting non-stock tyres is not an exact science!

 

Great advice from all, thanks. The MU85 Dunlop may be the simplest solution.

 

Trade off with a narrower belt? Wider tire. My '97 FXDWG had a 130 tire and 1 1/4" belt; went to a 150 tire and a 1 1/8" belt = no problems.

Now running a 3/4" belt with a 180 tire. Still early to tell, but I do not anticipate any problems. (Cut fender horns and re-welded wider; '06 Softail fender).

 

That's quite something! But I think you have a wider stock rear fender than we early Evo owners have, or did you fit a different one?

 

Gr your narrow spacer was too wide. A .060" spacer puts the pulley close to the swing arm but it misses if you have the wheel straight. Well at least on the ones we've done so far, but you may have just jinxed us!!!! LOL !!!

 

John, I hope not! But that is why I said that not all Harleys appear to be created equal. I have several spacers and the thin one didn't give clearance of belt and tyre, when I achieved that, checking off the bike, the pulley clashed as I mentioned. But my narrow belt and 150 are in there and working just fine together.

 

Edited my post to add more info. Had to cut and re-weld the fender horns wider and am now using an '06 Softail fender. Stock swingarm. A 3/4" belt and 18" x 5.5" wheel.

 

So would love to get a 180 under my 94.