I have and 81 FLT that I'm doing a RK conversion. My front brakes are bad and can't find replacements. But i have the fork sliders and brakes from a 97 roadking, will these work?

Thanks!

FYI my local mechanic got hit on his bike this summer and died. He was helping a twin cam guy (my self) make my shovel dreams come true! This forum has been amazing finishing up the bike on my own!!

 

1984 was a big change year every thing after that became from 84 to 96 then 97 into the 2000s

the 81 FLT falls into 80 to 83 in flt and some mix in pieces late 1977 to 1983 flhtc

you can get the complete fork assembly 84 on and swap it out just check the length is tube length I don't recall if a difference exist but your wheel and all the brakes are different the 81 FLT has a odd did I say odd wheel assembly both front and the rear < they cant be used with any conversion

 

Thanks for the info. Do you think that a set of stock forks off of a 95 FLHTC ULTRA would work with the 97 fork sliders?

 

Yes I do.

 

I'm also having an issues with the speedo drive unit on the front axle. The book says to torque axle nut to 50lbs then 11lbs on the smaller nuts and the bottom of the forks. when i torque the axle nut down it puts the speedo in a bind and nothing rolls smooth? I was thinking about drilling a hole through the nut and axle and putting a key through it or using a nylon nut? Any suggestions? I also notice in the book that 82 doesn't have the speedo unit?

 

??? I do Not understand!!!
Remove the Speedo drive, hold it in yer hand and rotate the "flange" or Drive tang.The Internal Drive unit should rotate.
The Hollow part where the axle goes thru is Nothing but a Stationary spacer...
Have you replaced the Wheel bearings Recently???

 

No, i have not replaced the bearing. I got the bike a couple of years ago and have never had it on the road but its getting close! It seems to me that the spacer on the speedo drive is not touching the bearings. Almost like it needs a washer to fill the gap.

 

be careful mixing and guessing what will work with what

at this point you will need to explain what year parts and even picture up what your trying to accomplish as mixing is easy to do <<<< reason you think you need a washer between the drive and the bearing -- they never did

 

Dude, I am lost. You have a '81 FLT, with Road King lowers and Ultra trees, or something like that. Back up a half step and explain to us what you are using from each year. Be specific and lots of help can be had here.

PS if (not really sure) you are replacing the tubes and lowers with parts from a '97 King, and they fit in your trees, then everything below the trees should be '97. That will make your life easy. Lowers, spacers, axel, wheel, rotor, the whole thing from '97. If you don't have all of it, eBay is your friend. Trying to get the '81 wheel to work with the '97 setup is going to be difficult. Good luck.

 

Sorry for the confusion. I feel I should have started a new thread! When asking about the fork sliders I was trying to figure out what worked with what. I have found that Harley uses a lot of the same parts on many bikes.