1987 softail project
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 15,705
Likes: 22,718
From: Farmington ,MS
I was hoping that i could switch to 3/4 axel, make spacers to center the wheel, witch to chain sprockets and and use spacers to line them up. Looks like there might be more to it than that after looking at some of the links that you posted. I see that the kit has a transmission plate, what is this for? does the whole trasmission need to be offset or just the sproket?
Running a 180 with a stock swing arm is really tight...to pull it off, you will have to offset the trans/primary and probably run the tire/wheel offset (as in not in the center of the frame) Which requires modifying/machining the stock brake mounting bracket. That is not as bad as it sounds...the first Harleys with the 200 tire had the rear wheel offset .5 inch. To pull it off and get everything centered you need a wider swingarm. I would put it on the back burner. That motor you have looks to be much more potent than stock...which will eat that 87 primary/clutch/trans/starter set-up for lunch. That is a bastard set-up, and there are no performance up grade parts....hell you can't hardly find replacement parts at all. First order of business to run that motor for me, would be to find some 91 up primary/trans /clutch/starter parts...the spline mainshaft is much stronger and hop up parts abound... and the newer type starter will crank that motor with less effort. You should be able to find plenty used on ebay....and your old parts are impossible to find...so they should sell well to people wanting to repair 86-88 stock bikes.
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Tourer
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 354
Likes: 24
From: near dayton ohio
Just got hit with a $3600 plumbing bill wich stopped my project dead in its tracks. I have decided to hold off on the wider tire and just work on getting the bike rideable for now.
I did manage to get a primary gasket kit. So over xmas break I should be able to at least get the motor into the frame and bolted up to the primary. I think I have everything I need to get it running except the ignition set-up
I havn't given up already just a little set back.
I did manage to get a primary gasket kit. So over xmas break I should be able to at least get the motor into the frame and bolted up to the primary. I think I have everything I need to get it running except the ignition set-up
I havn't given up already just a little set back.
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Tourer
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 354
Likes: 24
From: near dayton ohio
Told you this would not be a fast paced project.
I finaly was able to get started doing something to this bike. Got the motor put in and the primary all put together. I dont have an ignition that came with the bike but I did manage to come up with a module from a buddy then i orderd the rest of the parts. (should be in about 1 week) found wout that the voltage regulator wouldn't hook up. I called the guy I bought it from and he said that he had switched the voltage reg. with an older one before i picked up the bike and that he didn't think about it not hooking up, but that he would mail the correct one to me. (hope he does) Bike also did not come with the v.o.e.s., I was looking at some on ebay. Does anyone know if there is any difference between the ones from a softail and a touring bike? I would think that would be the same but not sure.
It has a new Primo Rivero clutch that came with it. Makes the clutch lever pretty tight.
Still have a ways to go yet, but at least i have finaly started. Here are a couple of pics taken with my phone. a couple tanks just sitting on the bike to see how they looked. i think I kinda like the copper color. Not sure yet if i'm gonna keep the fender struts or not
I finaly was able to get started doing something to this bike. Got the motor put in and the primary all put together. I dont have an ignition that came with the bike but I did manage to come up with a module from a buddy then i orderd the rest of the parts. (should be in about 1 week) found wout that the voltage regulator wouldn't hook up. I called the guy I bought it from and he said that he had switched the voltage reg. with an older one before i picked up the bike and that he didn't think about it not hooking up, but that he would mail the correct one to me. (hope he does) Bike also did not come with the v.o.e.s., I was looking at some on ebay. Does anyone know if there is any difference between the ones from a softail and a touring bike? I would think that would be the same but not sure.
It has a new Primo Rivero clutch that came with it. Makes the clutch lever pretty tight.
Still have a ways to go yet, but at least i have finaly started. Here are a couple of pics taken with my phone. a couple tanks just sitting on the bike to see how they looked. i think I kinda like the copper color. Not sure yet if i'm gonna keep the fender struts or not
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 7,736
Likes: 1,524
From: Coromandel Peninsula New Zealand
I did a 170 tyre and chain conversion on a Dyna once. Got a blacksmith to widen the frame rails and then just centred the wheel and made new spacers.....handled like a stoned Hippo afterwards....never again!
Being a wrench I like to keep my bikes frames etc stock .....gradually, some of my regular customers are beginning to understand why that is.......
Being a wrench I like to keep my bikes frames etc stock .....gradually, some of my regular customers are beginning to understand why that is.......
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 15,705
Likes: 22,718
From: Farmington ,MS
The only difference between any V.O.E.S. switch is the amount of vacuum required to open/close it. I would doubt that any V.O.E.S. would be correct right out of the box for that motor. You can adjust them...or at least some of them. You don't have to run one at all..but they can really help on keeping a motor from pinging...especially if you are on a trip and have to put some crappy gas in it. Here is a article on how to adjust one:http://www.mklsportster.com/xlvoes.htm
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,897
From: Bedford UK
Back to tyres for a moment. The stock 3" rim is wide enough for a maximum of a 150/80 tyre, which will give the same rolling diameter as a stock MT/130. A 140 should just go in, probably after trimming the belt guard to give clerance where the tyre and belt get close. A 150 may be too tight to fit without mods. I use a later spec narrow belt and can get a 150 in with room to spare (on my Glide). Some Glide owners can get one in with an early wide belt, but that seems to be luck of the draw, rather than a dead cert!
Later narrow belts will run on your current front pulley, which is much wider than any rear pulley. It will allow some spacing of the rear pulley away from the hub. Some later softails have 4.5" x 17" wheels (including Deuces) which take a 160/70 tyre and may be worth you looking into. A compromise on a 180, but using stock Harley parts that come with 3/4" bearings and can be got cheap off Ebay!
Later narrow belts will run on your current front pulley, which is much wider than any rear pulley. It will allow some spacing of the rear pulley away from the hub. Some later softails have 4.5" x 17" wheels (including Deuces) which take a 160/70 tyre and may be worth you looking into. A compromise on a 180, but using stock Harley parts that come with 3/4" bearings and can be got cheap off Ebay!
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,641
Likes: 4
From: south of Boston
i run a 150 on a 2000 rear wheel on my 91 evo ..... had to swap out the 1.5 rear pulley for the 1.25....but still had to shave down the inside lip/hub of the pulley about 3/8 of an inch in order to get equal space between swingarm and tire
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Tourer
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 354
Likes: 24
From: near dayton ohio
went to a swapmeet today and picked up some old junk fenders to play with. Here are some pics of the front wide glide fender and how I cut it down. haven't decided if i'm going to run a front fender for sure or not but I think I like the way this turned out. Let me know what you think.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 6,848
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From: Florida
went to a swapmeet today and picked up some old junk fenders to play with. Here are some pics of the front wide glide fender and how I cut it down. haven't decided if i'm going to run a front fender for sure or not but I think I like the way this turned out. Let me know what you think.