I had tires installed yesterday and when I got home, I noticed a gap in the front axle. I done know if it was like this before or, if there is a spacer missing. Does this look normal?

 

This exact situation came up on the forum last summer, and since I had an `89 FLST up on the lift and was getting ready to torque the axle nut, I took some pictures...

The right end (unthreaded end) of the axle has a larger outside diameter than the rest of the axle, so there is a shoulder that comes up against the bearing spacer as the nut is torqued on the left end of the axle, this pulls the bearing stack together.

Note: if you install the axle cap to keep the axle from turning while torquing the nut on the left side, make sure to loosen the cap nuts afterward to allow the fork leg to go back to its normal position, then torque the cap nuts (it is easier to simply use a round piece of steel through the hole to keep the axle from rotating).


Shoulder on end of axle



Shoulder pulled up against bearing spacer after nut is torqued.




Cap installed

 

Thank you Sir! I was a little concerned and would have worried about it until the shop opened on Tuesday. I can relax now,.

 

Removing the Gremlin Bell will dramatically improve reliability......

 

Tough dookie! It aint going nowhere. It was given to me by a very close friend.