I change my own tires and just put a new front on my new-to-me 1998 Road King, and while reinstalling the axle it looks like there is a good amount of space outboard of the right side spacer that would be pulled in - pulling in the forks to the spacer...I reviewed the parts diagrams and it doesn't look like I am missing anything (its the first time I took the wheel off since I bought this bike). Is this a normal part of reinstalling the front wheel? It seems like there would be a good amount of tension pulling the forks in and I have not seen that much space on my 93 heritage softail or any of the sportbikes I have changed tires on.

 

That's pretty close to normal. With the axle nut tight on the other side then you put a (I use a drill bit) in the hole on the end of the axle shaft in your picture and pull the fork tube to it and tighten the two nuts to hold it there.

 

Also those spacers are side specific. One is a fraction longer

 

Panheader yes that's normal.

 

Thanks Fellas, I'll double check that they are on the correct side - I put em back where they were but maybe they were wrong to begin with.

 

Ride the bike and take your hands off the handle bars.
If it tracks straight then you're good if not then switch the spacers and try again.

 

Buy a shop manual!!!!!!! Especially when the bike is old, you are not the original Owner and as you stated maybe the parts were on wrong to begin with, good luck.

 

There is supposed to be a slight gap on the right side like that. The right fork leg clamps to the axle so there's no side loading on the fork sliders.

 

The spacer rests against a shoulder cut into the axle, not against the fork leg. The gap in the photo is correct.

And you very much don't want any "side to side" pre-load on the forks. Leave the lower fork clamp nuts finger tight (especially the right hand side), tighten the axle nut to torque, then tighten the fork clamp nuts. That way the axle can float side to side relative to the fork until it is set.

 

you will know if the spacers are on the wrong side as the brakes will be dragging.