Mod to a Wideglide?
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Tourer
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 330
Likes: 0
From: Redford, MI
Mod to a Wideglide?
have an 03 Superglide with a 39mm front end that I want to convert to a 41mm aka wide glide front. This is a list of the parts that I plan on using to do this...1) A set of triple trees HD part # 45748-01A HD says these have 1.5 deg reduced in the trees, it also says they will work on a WG with adding an internal fork stop kit. They are called Skull and groove not that that matters..
2) Complete front end from an 03 Duece, consisting of sliders, wheel and spacers, tubes...etc
3) A set of Lower sliders off a 01 Fxdwg..
4) A progressive lowering spring kit for WG up to 2"
My questions are. Will the triple trees listed HD part # 45748-01A.. the fork tubes, and sliders from the 03 Duece, work together to do this conversion. If the duece sliders wont work, I am assuming the WG will.
2) I also wanted to know since that the 03 SG has only 28 deg of rake in the neck will I have to get different tubes, the reason I am asking this is that the duece has a different rake in the neck making the tubes longer. If I am right the conversion would lift the front end of the bike a bit. From what I have read the progressive spring kit will correct this issue as long as I dont need new tubes..
3) With this conversion being done. My concern is the effect on trail.. Will I need to drop the rear at all?
4) If I do lower the rear I am concerned about bottoming out.. the roads here in Michigan are pretty rough due to potholes and such.. I ride 2up quite often so I also need to be aware of this.. I am sorry this is so long
2) Complete front end from an 03 Duece, consisting of sliders, wheel and spacers, tubes...etc
3) A set of Lower sliders off a 01 Fxdwg..
4) A progressive lowering spring kit for WG up to 2"
My questions are. Will the triple trees listed HD part # 45748-01A.. the fork tubes, and sliders from the 03 Duece, work together to do this conversion. If the duece sliders wont work, I am assuming the WG will.
2) I also wanted to know since that the 03 SG has only 28 deg of rake in the neck will I have to get different tubes, the reason I am asking this is that the duece has a different rake in the neck making the tubes longer. If I am right the conversion would lift the front end of the bike a bit. From what I have read the progressive spring kit will correct this issue as long as I dont need new tubes..
3) With this conversion being done. My concern is the effect on trail.. Will I need to drop the rear at all?
4) If I do lower the rear I am concerned about bottoming out.. the roads here in Michigan are pretty rough due to potholes and such.. I ride 2up quite often so I also need to be aware of this.. I am sorry this is so long
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,699
Likes: 2
From: Deltona, FL
Ok, the main thing you want to do is this. Measure your 39mm fork tube length and compare it to the 41mm fork tubes. If they are longer, to keep your bike at the stock angle you will need to lower or shorten the 41mm tubes accordingly. Remember that you're also going from a 19" front wheel to a 21" so you need to lower an extra inch to make up that difference.
I did a similar conversion to my old FXR and wound up with 2" under tubes to make it work and keep the stance of a stock FXR.
I did a similar conversion to my old FXR and wound up with 2" under tubes to make it work and keep the stance of a stock FXR.
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 330
Likes: 0
From: Redford, MI
Ok, the main thing you want to do is this. Measure your 39mm fork tube length and compare it to the 41mm fork tubes. If they are longer, to keep your bike at the stock angle you will need to lower or shorten the 41mm tubes accordingly. Remember that you're also going from a 19" front wheel to a 21" so you need to lower an extra inch to make up that difference.
I did a similar conversion to my old FXR and wound up with 2" under tubes to make it work and keep the stance of a stock FXR.
I did a similar conversion to my old FXR and wound up with 2" under tubes to make it work and keep the stance of a stock FXR.
Stage I
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: France
Hello Gladiator!
Sorry but I'm french and my english is not perfect.
I have a question to ask.
I have the same triple tree S/N 45748-01A but i don't avec any harware to install it. Did you use the OEM parts to install it or is it necessary to have specific parts sold with the triple trees?
At last, do you have the installation manual?
Thanks a lot
Vince
Sorry but I'm french and my english is not perfect.
I have a question to ask.
I have the same triple tree S/N 45748-01A but i don't avec any harware to install it. Did you use the OEM parts to install it or is it necessary to have specific parts sold with the triple trees?
At last, do you have the installation manual?
Thanks a lot
Vince
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 4,919
Likes: 23
From: Seattle, WA
have an 03 Superglide with a 39mm front end that I want to convert to a 41mm aka wide glide front. This is a list of the parts that I plan on using to do this...
1) A set of triple trees HD part # 45748-01A HD says these have 1.5 deg reduced in the trees, it also says they will work on a WG with adding an internal fork stop kit. They are called Skull and groove not that that matters..
2) Complete front end from an 03 Duece, consisting of sliders, wheel and spacers, tubes...etc
3) A set of Lower sliders off a 01 Fxdwg..
4) A progressive lowering spring kit for WG up to 2"
My questions are:
1) Will the triple trees listed HD part # 45748-01A.. the fork tubes, and sliders from the 03 Duece, work together to do this conversion. If the duece sliders wont work, I am assuming the WG will.
2) I also wanted to know since that the 03 SG has only 28 deg of rake in the neck will I have to get different tubes, the reason I am asking this is that the duece has a different rake in the neck making the tubes longer. If I am right the conversion would lift the front end of the bike a bit. From what I have read the progressive spring kit will correct this issue as long as I dont need new tubes..
3) With this conversion being done. My concern is the effect on trail.. Will I need to drop the rear at all?
4) If I do lower the rear I am concerned about bottoming out.. the roads here in Michigan are pretty rough due to potholes and such.. I ride 2up quite often so I also need to be aware of this.. I am sorry this is so long
1) A set of triple trees HD part # 45748-01A HD says these have 1.5 deg reduced in the trees, it also says they will work on a WG with adding an internal fork stop kit. They are called Skull and groove not that that matters..
2) Complete front end from an 03 Duece, consisting of sliders, wheel and spacers, tubes...etc
3) A set of Lower sliders off a 01 Fxdwg..
4) A progressive lowering spring kit for WG up to 2"
My questions are:
1) Will the triple trees listed HD part # 45748-01A.. the fork tubes, and sliders from the 03 Duece, work together to do this conversion. If the duece sliders wont work, I am assuming the WG will.
2) I also wanted to know since that the 03 SG has only 28 deg of rake in the neck will I have to get different tubes, the reason I am asking this is that the duece has a different rake in the neck making the tubes longer. If I am right the conversion would lift the front end of the bike a bit. From what I have read the progressive spring kit will correct this issue as long as I dont need new tubes..
3) With this conversion being done. My concern is the effect on trail.. Will I need to drop the rear at all?
4) If I do lower the rear I am concerned about bottoming out.. the roads here in Michigan are pretty rough due to potholes and such.. I ride 2up quite often so I also need to be aware of this.. I am sorry this is so long
I am unfamiliar with the HD part # 45748-01A you reference for the 'triple trees' ... as I am aware, the Wide Glide triple trees add rake (i.e., move the wheel forward as compared to the stock orientation) ... thus, I would attempt to validate the "reduced" rake and ensure you are not misreading or confusing the terms ...
[... the way that could be validated is looking at the centers of the holes the fork tubes ride in ... compare the upper triple clamp with the lower ... if the centers of the holes are closer to the stem on the lower trees then it does in fact reduce the rake ... if the other way around, then they add rake ... else, if they are the same, there is no rake ...]
I would caution you not to get to 'spun up' about the rake and trail calculations ... one-and-a-half degrees of rake (one way or the other) is not going to affect handling or stability enough to notice ...
Likewise, the additional 2" of length of the fork tubes is not going to turn your Super Glide into a chopper ... if, once you mock it up, you are not happy with the way it sets, then look at using a lowering kit or shorter fork tubes ...
If you are concerned about handling and ride quality, I'd advise against lowering the rear ...
If you have all of the parts in hand, I'd just get out to the garage and start doing a little experimentation ... trial and error ...
Good luck ...
R/
'Chop
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Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,554
Likes: 52
From: Ottawa Canada
I did something very similar, my bike is an 02 FXD with 28 degree neck, i installed wideglide front and this added 1.5 to the neck, i had a 21 inch wheel initially and the front end was raised about 2 inches and no lowering kit installed, i then went with a 16 inch front wheel with not much change in ride height.as for handling there was no issue for me, the 16 wheel feels better when riding into cracks and provides a smoother ride.
I replaced my rear shocks with the Fatbob shocks that are 12 inches eye to eye, the stock shockes were 12.6 eye to eye and no bottoming out and provides a nice ride.
I replaced my rear shocks with the Fatbob shocks that are 12 inches eye to eye, the stock shockes were 12.6 eye to eye and no bottoming out and provides a nice ride.
Last edited by Robtarra39; Oct 10, 2012 at 09:04 PM.
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