I'm wondering if the guy who worked on this bike knew anything at all. I bought it from the original who was NOT a mechanic. He had all kinds of things redone before he sold it to me. The newest thing I noticed only because I put it up on the stand and heard a clunk at the front wheel. There's quite a bit of slop side to side and the hub plate is rubbing on the fork nut. The original manual is rather useless with info regarding this. Is there a better more thorough manual available? I'm sure there must be shims or spacers to get the side to side correct so things are not rubbing. Thoughts?

 

What year/model is the bike?

 

You should always start your topic out with that info, my bad. 1970 XLH

 

I am not familiar enough with that year front end to have a useful suggestion. It did take me a bit of looking though, to see the reflection and figure out what is in the pic Hopefully another forum member will have a comment.

 

Thanks Mick, the nut is scraping on the hub shield. Common sense tells me there should be a certain spacing spec between there so nothing rubs.

 

Silly me, I have the manuals here, just did not think of it

 

Thanks Mick, there's more there than in the manual I have. I think I'm just going to take it apart and figure it out. Something's not right, there should be no rubbing, probably left out the spacer or something stupid. Time to learn about the Sportster front end!!!

 

The manuals you need are...
99451-78B Factory parts Catalog
99484-78 Factory Service Manual
You can order these thru any HD Dealership or Indie motorcycle shop. Be sure to bring the part number

Also useful...
Haynes Service & Repair manual, HD Sportsters '70 to '03 [has best photos]
Clymer HD Sportsters 1959-1985 [another point of view]
You can order these thru any bookstore

 

Got the parts manual, I'll get clymer and haynes as reference going forward. I have found the original factory manual lacking quite a bit.

 

I have never before heard anyone say that about the FSM for these motorcycles. For some things like transmission rebuilds, bottom end refurbs, etc you will need the FSM