front end swap
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Intermediate
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front end swap
Anyone know how difficult it would be to swap a stock springer front end from a softail? I know alot would depend on what bike it came from and what year but would the hieght be a problem? Can you lower a springer front end to match a dyna? Would 3 degree raked tree's work with a springer? Should this swap just be totally forgotten becuase it wont work? I just saw a few adds and got to thinking about a stock springer swap as opposed to a fatboy or heritage front end swap.
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From: From Long Island, now in So. Cal
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Wichita, KS
Do a search under member id's. Gorilla, Kpreese, and Kansashellride have all got springers under their dynas. To me, and this is only me, the external shocks of a dyna kind of distract from the springer front end. Not to mention, the bike needs to be the right color too. A dark color seems to bring out the springer, whether in black or chrome.
I had considered a springer conversion too, but with my bike, I just can't quite see it, so it's going to be a WG conversion instead! Best of luck!
Mike
I had considered a springer conversion too, but with my bike, I just can't quite see it, so it's going to be a WG conversion instead! Best of luck!
Mike
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Joined: Dec 2004
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From: Texas! Ya mean there's someplace else?
Anyone know how difficult it would be to swap a stock springer front end from a softail? I know alot would depend on what bike it came from and what year but would the hieght be a problem? Can you lower a springer front end to match a dyna? Would 3 degree raked tree's work with a springer? Should this swap just be totally forgotten becuase it wont work? I just saw a few adds and got to thinking about a stock springer swap as opposed to a fatboy or heritage front end swap.
You can't lower a springer without changing (cutting/welding) the front and rear legs, except by installing a set of custom rockers that move the position of the front axle relative to the rest of the front end. This can dramatically affect trail, which can cause handling problems if not engineered correctly.
Springer trees are completely different from hydraulic tube trees, so there is no direct changing. The springer top tree is removable, while the bottom tree is normally welded to the rear legs. Also, the top spring perch is welded to the rear legs. That makes a lot of work to change the rake. Some spring forks have a built-in rake; I don't know about the stock HD version. I have seen custom springers with raked trees, and well-designed rockers to achieve correct trail.
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Intermediate
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Thanks for the reply's. After considering what pococj posted and looking at a few bikes i dont think what i want would work / work well. Thanks everyone for clearing things up though and you guys here with springers i think your bikes look great, just not what i was going for.
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