1" axle swap on 2002 FLSTC
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6th Gear
Joined: Nov 2015
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From: saskatoon, Canada
1" axle swap on 2002 FLSTC
So I searched this forum and others looking for answers, found some close, but not exactly. Most point to going to the dealership and getting a kit for it.
I bought a 2002 Heritage Softail on the cheap because it got dumped and the fork tubes were bent. I sourced a set of 'new' tubes and legs from a guy locally (he bought them for another bike and didn't like the look/fit) and the price was right. Problem is they are the 07 up with the 1" axle and my bike came with the 3/4" axle. No problem right?? I picked up a screaming eagle 1" axle and 1" bearings for the swap. Now, the axle only came with the left side spacer, which is longer than the original left side spacer, and nothing else. Also, I still haven't managed to get the bearings out of the wheel yet to swap those over, but I can tell the 3/4's are wider then the 1" bearings I grabbed. The 1" bearings are the 15mm ones.
Is this going to be as simple as machining a spacer to sit behind each of these new bearings and machining a bearing spacer to match in order to keep my overall width for the bearins in the hub the same, then machining the new supplied spacer to the same width as the original 3/4 spacer? and then machining a spacer for the other side to keep my total width all the same??
BTW I have access to a machinist, lol!
Unless theres an easier way?? That's why I've come here.
Thanks
I bought a 2002 Heritage Softail on the cheap because it got dumped and the fork tubes were bent. I sourced a set of 'new' tubes and legs from a guy locally (he bought them for another bike and didn't like the look/fit) and the price was right. Problem is they are the 07 up with the 1" axle and my bike came with the 3/4" axle. No problem right?? I picked up a screaming eagle 1" axle and 1" bearings for the swap. Now, the axle only came with the left side spacer, which is longer than the original left side spacer, and nothing else. Also, I still haven't managed to get the bearings out of the wheel yet to swap those over, but I can tell the 3/4's are wider then the 1" bearings I grabbed. The 1" bearings are the 15mm ones.
Is this going to be as simple as machining a spacer to sit behind each of these new bearings and machining a bearing spacer to match in order to keep my overall width for the bearins in the hub the same, then machining the new supplied spacer to the same width as the original 3/4 spacer? and then machining a spacer for the other side to keep my total width all the same??
BTW I have access to a machinist, lol!
Unless theres an easier way?? That's why I've come here.
Thanks
Thread Starter
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6th Gear
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: saskatoon, Canada
K, found out a few things today. The bearings are pressed in and are interference enough that there is no spacer required between the bearing and the hub bearing shoulder. All I need is the spacer between the bearings and the one on the right side by the fork. Then I need to mill the hub to fit the larger spacer. Close to finishing this thing now.
Thread Starter
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6th Gear
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: saskatoon, Canada
Some progress today, got the hub reamed out to accept the larger diameter spacer. Went to the dealership and bought that spacer, and ordered a spacer kit for the outsides. Plus I found 21mm wide bearings so I don't need to use the 15mm ones I already bought. Its starting to come together!!
Thread Starter
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6th Gear
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: saskatoon, Canada
So, after realizing I wasn't sold a 1" axle, but a 25mm axle, and a number of wrong bearings and spacers...I finally got some help and bought an axle install kit 43851-11A. I'm still one spacer away from making this happen. The bearing spacer is 3mm shy of being long enough to keep the bearing face to bearing face distance the same. the originals were 21mm wide with a 122mm spacer. the new bearings are the 15mm ones with a center spacer of 131mm, not the 134mm I need....so close
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 392
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What size axle do the fork legs take? Aside from the correct bearings, the fork legs need to be the correct size as well.
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6th Gear
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: saskatoon, Canada
What do you mean size of the fork legs? They should be dimensionally the same except for the axle holes, should they not?
I should say, the axle fits. I've had it in the new ford legs for mock up to make sure that end of it fit.
I should say, the axle fits. I've had it in the new ford legs for mock up to make sure that end of it fit.
Last edited by 390fastback; Nov 20, 2015 at 01:09 PM.
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Tourer
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 392
Likes: 12
The fork legs are made to fit specific axle sizes. On older softails the axle size was 3/4", on older touring bikes the axle size is 1", and on newer touring bikes the axle size is 25mm and I believe the axle is hollow. Which ever size axle you have it needs to fit the fork legs so it will clamp the axle correctly.
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