I took my 73 FLH for a ride yesterday. Started off ok, but after about a half hour I started hearing a funny noise when I went over good sized bumps in the road. Sounded like the rear tire scraping, and it was. The left edge of the rear tire is scraping on the fender sometimes when I hit bumps. I put the bike on the lift and the tire sits much closer to the left than to the right. Started it and put it in gear while on the lift and the wheel appears to be spinning true. I loosened the fender struts and that seemed to help a great deal, but when I tightened the left strut back up, it did it again. I have some stainless washers, so I may try to shim it a little. Any other ideas? Thanks.

 

Most I've seen are always closer on one side. Usually it's not a problem unless you are using wider tires or lowered the rear end. 1973 and later models the rim was centered on the hub. You could check that to see if sometime in the past it was relaced off set.

 

Thanks for your reply. I've seem them slightly offset too. It looks like it has the shorter shocks, so that may be it. The tire doesn't look oversized, but I don't know what the stock size for that bike is. I shimmed it slightly. That helped a good bit, but it still does it on large bumps. I tried to adjust the shocks to increase the preload a bit, but I can't budge them. Maybe I need a different type of spanner wrench. Mine is the half moon type. Maybe I need the one that looks like a pair of pliers. Thanks again.

 

CORRECT TIRE SIZE IS 5.10 X 16
Modern 130-90-16
wuzfuz

 

The 73 original equipment tires were 5.10 x 16 Goodyear Speedgrips which are long obsolete. The pliers type of wrench is much better than the crescent shaped ones.

 

Thanks. Tire size is correct. I guess I'll order the pliers type spanner wrench and try to adjust the shocks. The bike sits pretty low. I measured the shocks and they look to be 11 inches. If I got new shocks, any recommendations for longer ones? Mine are the chrome shocks and they have chrome dome that sit on top and has a clamp around it. I would like to keep that style. Thanks again.

 

Many of those bikes have the fender biased towards the left from what we've witnessed.
From what we suspect, the frame jig/fender mounting holes in the fenders were not correct.
Scott

 

you can use a rubber band wrench on your shocks - there is no reason why the wheel can't be centered - just have the spacers machined - I'll do it for ya if you want - ferg

 

It's not that easy. The rear sprocket has to line up with the transmission sprocket.

 

yes - but the sprocket alignment can be handled using spacers as well - either move to a non-dished rear sprocket and shim left as needed - or shim what you got - of course - being an ironhead guy - I offset the rim from the hub by adjusting the spokes - ironheads have about an 1/8 offset - ferg