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Well I guess its safe to say I am the proud owner of 1996 Frankenfatboy. This bike has had so much done to it I really dont know what im getting into half the time. I am trying to ditch the stock (sorta stock) fatboy front rim and really need to figure out what I need while I have it apart. First off someone has added dual disk to the front and to do that changed the lowers to something that used a front wheel drive speedo, all good but not when I bought a wheel off a 97 Fatboy that wont work. Heres some pics of what im dealing with.
New wheel
Wheel centers with right side spacer no problem
Where the speedo drive goes and there no notch in the disc for it either
Here is my setup I have now
The left side where speedo drive goes. Both sides have these spacers behind the rotor, not sure if thats normal?
Other side
Shaft installed with spacers and speedo drive
I really dont like the new wheel anyways, looks too much like a chopper with it. Id like to get something I do like but dont know what I need? How would I messure and what? Want to get this figured out so I dont get the wrong wheel again so any help would be great.
Are you sure you got a '97 FB wheel??
From what I can see it has sealed bearings and the '97 didn't come with that.
Honestly tex I didnt know that im really not sure what bearing is what. I bought the wheel on the bay and they said it came off a 97 Fatboy, they had the rear wheel for sale too. What kind of bearing are on my stock wheels?
After thinking about it a little more they changed more than your lowers.
If you have spacers behind your rotors they had to have changed your trees too.
Honestly tex I didnt know that im really not sure what bearing is what. I bought the wheel on the bay and they said it came off a 97 Fatboy, they had the rear wheel for sale too. What kind of bearing are on my stock wheels?
Timken.
The race goes in first and the bearing rides on the race.
What you should see from the outside of the wheel is a rubber disc that is your bearing seal.
You can take out the seal with a screwdriver.
Have a look at your old wheels.
Timken.
The race goes in first and the bearing rides on the race.
What you should see from the outside of the wheel is a rubber disc that is your bearing seal.
You can take out the seal with a screwdriver.
Have a look at your old wheels.
Ok that makes sense. Looking at my stock wheel it does have the bearing inside the hub with a rubber seal over it. Can I use either type of bearing on this shaft?
Ok that makes sense. Looking at my stock wheel it does have the bearing inside the hub with a rubber seal over it. Can I use either type of bearing on this shaft?
I don't' think so.
It's not really the shaft that is a problem it is the OD of the hole in the wheel where the bearing goes.
Do you have a micrometer?
If so you can measure the hole diameter and that will tell you if you can put the stock bearings in there.
I think others have gone to a bearing shop to get the tapered (timken) bearings they needed to adapt a 2000+ wheel (what I think you have) to go on our older bikes.
You will also have to adjust the center spacer and set end play on that wheel if you go to tapered bearings.
If I remember right Harley used the 3/4" axle up until '06 but I'm not sure on that one.
It's not really the shaft that is a problem it is the OD of the hole in the wheel where the bearing goes.
Do you have a micrometer?
If so you can measure the hole diameter and that will tell you if you can put the stock bearings in there.
I think others have gone to a bearing shop to get the tapered (timken) bearings they needed to adapt a 2000+ wheel (what I think you have) to go on our older bikes.
You will also have to adjust the center spacer and set end play on that wheel if you go to tapered bearings.
If I remember right Harley used the 3/4" axle up until '06 but I'm not sure on that one.
Ok thanks for the explanation, really appreciate it!
Just so im clear....my stock Fatboy wheel is setup for a 2000+ bike? Or the wheel I just bought is? I just want to make sure and get a wheel thats as much a bolt on deal as possible for what I have, not looking to do any more mods I dont need.
Ok sorry I read what you wrote again and understand the Timken (tapered) bearings were used on the older bikes and the sealed bearings were used later. So I need to find wheel for 3/4 axle and Timken bearings correct? And need to figure out what will fit between the forks without too much trouble.
Ok sorry I read what you wrote again and understand the Timken (tapered) bearings were used on the older bikes and the sealed bearings were used later. So I need to find wheel for 3/4 axle and Timken bearings correct? And need to figure out what will fit between the forks without too much trouble.
Correct for that part.
Using the spacers makes me think they just used a stock FB wheel and spacered it to fit the trees.
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I REALLY need to figure this out!
