New guy here but bought first HD in 79. Scored a rat 72 FLH. USED to be a police bike with sidecar. Has adjustable triple trees to adjust rake. Tubes are 41mm that have been cut 5 inches. Front end measures 28" from top of trees to axle.

I'd like to keep everything except the lowers. Are there any dual disc lowers that will fit these tubes?

 

Early 70's tubes will not adapt to the later 80+ dual disk legs and you'd still have a crappy front end when done with marginal brakes.

What I'd suggest is trolling craigs list or ebay and upgrading to a 2000 to 2007 dual disk front end , tubes on both yours and the later bikes are both 41MM so they'll fit your tree's. You can find tubes, lower legs and the stock dual calipers and even wheels with rotors at popular indy shops in their junk & pull offs piles very reasonable after guys do the chrome upgrades on the newer ones. I've done several 70's shovels like this, serious improvements all round .

Scored everything in the pic for $200 and another $125 for a complete wheel with tire, rotors and the 1" axle.

 

What's an Indy shop?

 

Thanks for the reply. Indy=independent. Duh.

The picture you show...will those fit. What about the nuts sticking out on top? How's that work? Those stick out?

 

Rereading your post I'll apologize for my advice as it won't work for your setup, you have the old adjustable trees which has shorter tubes than the stock FLH and a different top cap for the tubes.

I don't think that cap will thread into the later tubes but can't say as I've never tried that combo before. There is a tread difference on them.

 

Some guys love the retro look of the adjustable triple trees. I'm not into nostalgia that much. In a Year or two I'll probably port and polish heads, add S&S carb, .514 cam and 93" stroker kit. Stopping fast is not optional. I'll probably keep the juice rear brake because it will lock up the rear tire so that's that.

Front end is a different story. I'm not opposed to fx or anything else (btw...while I'm thinking about it, nice shovel you have). Can get a wide glide front end with calipers locally with triple trees for 300$. Wondering if that will fit my 7" neck? Is that a 1" stem or 7/8"? Anybody know?

 

Any shovel or evo era wide glide trees should work they all have 1" stems , can't remember what the adjustable's had so you'd have to check. You pick up different trees even aftermarket off ebay or something definitely look into doing the conversion, night & day difference in handling and comfort over the old stuff.

 

Well duh...my brother has a 1983 Willie G. Special edition wide glide. Remember those? They were all black and purple, black cases, primaries...everything. So he lost the stock paint for a flame job and swapped our his front tubes for chrome. So he has a set of dual disc glide forks waiting for me.

Said they were 43mm. I told him to shitcan the harbor freight calipers for some Starrets! I don't think HD ever made a 43mm front end. Pretty sure they are 41mm. So I need brake calipers and a wheel. Easy.

 

Yeah the 83 was 41's only thing is they won't work on your early tubes so you have to get those, the internals and the cap's & nuts too ( different threads in the top ). Then finding the old rattler brake calipers will be hit & miss. Wheels the easy part.

 

He has the tubes and sliders. I can just bolt them into my triple tree. Don't think I need tubes.