Solid wheels on an Ultra-Classic
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2nd Gear
Joined: Sep 2012
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From: Olive Branch, MS
Solid wheels on an Ultra-Classic
Does anyone know if you can retro-fit Fat Boy / solid wheels to a dual disk, 89 FLHTCU ? I got a bro that didn't like his wheel, got spokes and wants 50 bucks for his dish wheel....
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
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From: Bedford UK
I know of FB solid rear wheels being fitted to later RKs, which is what prompted me to try a Deuce rear wheel. For a straight bolt-in get a rear with tapered roller bearings, probably up to 1999. For the front I'm not sure if an FB wheel will take twin rotors.
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,952
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From: Senoia, Ga., by way of Miami, Fl..
I tried to put a solid on the rear of my '95 Ultra and it didnt work out like I planned, so I scrapped the idea.. The biggest issue is that the rotor is completely different. Rather than a small (roughly 2") center circle mounting flange. The dresser has a larger star shapped mounting flange area.. I did find an addapter that appeared would work. But, the wheel would not accept it due to the addapter offset.. Long story short, if you arent comfortable and competent at fabrication, I'd pass.. I may give it another shot at some point, but needed to get the bike back on the road with the new tire, just ran out of time..
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,952
Likes: 15
From: Senoia, Ga., by way of Miami, Fl..
Graham, what rotor was on your Deuce wheel?? Did it bolt right up?? I wouldnt have thought that it would be that different from my ST Custom/Fatboy wheel.. It may very well be the difference in model year and bearing design..
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
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From: Bedford UK
Greg, I bought the wheel bare. That proved to involve a long learning curve I didn't expect! The hub of a Deuce has the same bolt pattern for rotor and pulley as the touring wheel I replaced it with, however as an engineer I should have realised that a solid looking wheel is actually hollow. The consequence is that there are finger sized holes between the rotor and pulley bolt holes, where the casting core (ask and I'll explain that another time!) lived.
Which means that a stock touring pulley doesn't cover those holes, leading to the risk of rain water getting inside the wheel (v bad!), also the rotor needs a solid centre, to cover the holes on that side of the hub. I posted pics in my wheel thread. A Deuce pulley has a larger diameter centre, plus a rubber sealing ring to cover that side and the factory stock rotor covers the other side. I have a rotor with pretty holes in the hub and resorted to using blanking shims on both sides of my hub, which is a right royal PITA. When I have proved everything works OK (I hope!) I will revisit my current setup.
I suspect that other softail wheels are closer to touring in shape and geometry, around the hub.
Which means that a stock touring pulley doesn't cover those holes, leading to the risk of rain water getting inside the wheel (v bad!), also the rotor needs a solid centre, to cover the holes on that side of the hub. I posted pics in my wheel thread. A Deuce pulley has a larger diameter centre, plus a rubber sealing ring to cover that side and the factory stock rotor covers the other side. I have a rotor with pretty holes in the hub and resorted to using blanking shims on both sides of my hub, which is a right royal PITA. When I have proved everything works OK (I hope!) I will revisit my current setup.
I suspect that other softail wheels are closer to touring in shape and geometry, around the hub.
Last edited by grbrown; Sep 25, 2012 at 06:25 AM. Reason: Expanded.
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