Newbie! 1996 Springer - Modifications question
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2nd Gear
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Oregon
Newbie! 1996 Springer - Modifications question
Hello all,
Its an amazing feeling being part of such a great heritage..
My question(s).. I just inherited a 1996 Softail Springer! It is fully stock but has not run in over 5 years. I am getting a new carburetor and having it "Gone-Thru" to make it road worthy.. My first question is I would like a bigger front tire and a larger rear tire(180) .. I have searched and I know both can be done BUT can they be done "reasonably" I am a blue collar guy and proud of that, I still need to support my family but would love to make this bike mine. Also would like a drag bar set up. So, is any of this possible realistically? Any comments would be greatly appreciated and again very excited to be on the road with you.
Thank you all in advance
JT
Its an amazing feeling being part of such a great heritage..
My question(s).. I just inherited a 1996 Softail Springer! It is fully stock but has not run in over 5 years. I am getting a new carburetor and having it "Gone-Thru" to make it road worthy.. My first question is I would like a bigger front tire and a larger rear tire(180) .. I have searched and I know both can be done BUT can they be done "reasonably" I am a blue collar guy and proud of that, I still need to support my family but would love to make this bike mine. Also would like a drag bar set up. So, is any of this possible realistically? Any comments would be greatly appreciated and again very excited to be on the road with you.
Thank you all in advance
JT
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 13,098
Likes: 13,030
From: Texas, USA
Welcome to the forum from Texas.
I can't give you specific answers to your questions but, in general, anything is possible. How reasonable or realistic it is depends on the state of your bank account.
Congrats on the new ride. Post pictures when you can.
I can't give you specific answers to your questions but, in general, anything is possible. How reasonable or realistic it is depends on the state of your bank account.
Congrats on the new ride. Post pictures when you can.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,830
Likes: 302
From: Lorain Ohio
Hi...sounds like a nice bike...sad circumstance to get it though.....a carb cleaning an rebuild is good, flush the gas tank with some fresh gas...new gas line...change the oil/filter, transmission oil an primary oil to start. may need to change the brake fluid an fork oil too. Tires my look good but are probably too old to be safe.
bars are easy an cheap just make sure they work on springer front ends...you may find lots of routine front end stuff is different for a springer but it's well worth it because they are rare an cool.
as for the rear tire.....180 will take some work, aftermarket stuff an MONEY. I hear a 140 will fit, might need a quarter inch spacer behind the pulley to move it out so the belt will clear the tire. some say a 150 will work with a half inch spacer an making sure no bolts are sticking inside the fender, turn them around an use chrome acorn nuts on the outside...you luck may vary. you may have to trim the belt guard too. I'm probably going to try a 150 soon.
I had a 94 an I put a 160 on a Deuce wheel. I turned all the bolts around, got a skinny belt an pulley....You have to pull the primary to install the skinny belt, that's why I'm going to try a 150...might go 160 later if I need to do primary work. I picked up a hand full of spacers an had to start the axle in the wheel, shove the brake caliber in an slide the axle the rest of the way through to get it together.
that's a little led run/brake/turn/plate light I got from demon customs
bars are easy an cheap just make sure they work on springer front ends...you may find lots of routine front end stuff is different for a springer but it's well worth it because they are rare an cool.
as for the rear tire.....180 will take some work, aftermarket stuff an MONEY. I hear a 140 will fit, might need a quarter inch spacer behind the pulley to move it out so the belt will clear the tire. some say a 150 will work with a half inch spacer an making sure no bolts are sticking inside the fender, turn them around an use chrome acorn nuts on the outside...you luck may vary. you may have to trim the belt guard too. I'm probably going to try a 150 soon.
I had a 94 an I put a 160 on a Deuce wheel. I turned all the bolts around, got a skinny belt an pulley....You have to pull the primary to install the skinny belt, that's why I'm going to try a 150...might go 160 later if I need to do primary work. I picked up a hand full of spacers an had to start the axle in the wheel, shove the brake caliber in an slide the axle the rest of the way through to get it together.
that's a little led run/brake/turn/plate light I got from demon customs
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 604
Likes: 22
My advice is to ride it first and get to know how it feels and on a longer run what would make it more fun and comfortable. Springers have different risers and cost more to change when doing different bars. I'm not a big fan of drag bars but to each their own and like bars that are shoulder high and about 4"s wider than shoulders. Definitely change tires but use what you have for the time being. I'm assuming a 21 shinny up front and 130/16 in the rear. I've been running a 140 where a 130 belonged and then found a .30 spacer that allows a 150 comfortably on one of my bikes. Get you a service manual and read up on the springer service. A bit more in depth and more frequent service than the plunger front end but I love my springer. Got five bikes and the 08 Crossbones is my most ridden. Watching the springs do their job is pretty cool. I've already got the big front and rear tire though wish the rear would last longer than 5k. You're ahead of the game there cause 15k is the norm for the 140 on my 80 FXWG.
Novice
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 15
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From: South CA
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Tourer
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 354
Likes: 0
From: Indianapolis, IN
Double, triple and then have someone else double and triple check clearance if you put an wider tire. Picked up an 02 back in May. Had a wider tire, looked awesome and I thought it felt great. After about 300 miles had an electrical issue, brakes and dash lights quite working which led me to a blown fuse. Found which fuse, which led me to try and research why it blew. Turns out the wide rear tire was rubbing wires. Not only was it rubbing wires causing the fuse to blow, there was a significant groove in the sidewall where it was rubbing a bolt. It was on the left side, who knows how long until I would have noticed since the valve stem is on the right and the bags made the tire hard to see. Another 300 miles and that thing just might have blown on me. Have had tires go flat before, it's not fun to try and handle a bike without air in the shoes................
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Road Master
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,240
Likes: 14
From: lancaster,ca
Hi...sounds like a nice bike...sad circumstance to get it though.....a carb cleaning an rebuild is good, flush the gas tank with some fresh gas...new gas line...change the oil/filter, transmission oil an primary oil to start. may need to change the brake fluid an fork oil too. Tires my look good but are probably too old to be safe.
bars are easy an cheap just make sure they work on springer front ends...you may find lots of routine front end stuff is different for a springer but it's well worth it because they are rare an cool.
as for the rear tire.....180 will take some work, aftermarket stuff an MONEY. I hear a 140 will fit, might need a quarter inch spacer behind the pulley to move it out so the belt will clear the tire. some say a 150 will work with a half inch spacer an making sure no bolts are sticking inside the fender, turn them around an use chrome acorn nuts on the outside...you luck may vary. you may have to trim the belt guard too. I'm probably going to try a 150 soon.
I had a 94 an I put a 160 on a Deuce wheel. I turned all the bolts around, got a skinny belt an pulley....You have to pull the primary to install the skinny belt, that's why I'm going to try a 150...might go 160 later if I need to do primary work. I picked up a hand full of spacers an had to start the axle in the wheel, shove the brake caliber in an slide the axle the rest of the way through to get it together.
that's a little led run/brake/turn/plate light I got from demon customs
bars are easy an cheap just make sure they work on springer front ends...you may find lots of routine front end stuff is different for a springer but it's well worth it because they are rare an cool.
as for the rear tire.....180 will take some work, aftermarket stuff an MONEY. I hear a 140 will fit, might need a quarter inch spacer behind the pulley to move it out so the belt will clear the tire. some say a 150 will work with a half inch spacer an making sure no bolts are sticking inside the fender, turn them around an use chrome acorn nuts on the outside...you luck may vary. you may have to trim the belt guard too. I'm probably going to try a 150 soon.
I had a 94 an I put a 160 on a Deuce wheel. I turned all the bolts around, got a skinny belt an pulley....You have to pull the primary to install the skinny belt, that's why I'm going to try a 150...might go 160 later if I need to do primary work. I picked up a hand full of spacers an had to start the axle in the wheel, shove the brake caliber in an slide the axle the rest of the way through to get it together.
that's a little led run/brake/turn/plate light I got from demon customs
Thanks
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 9,193
Likes: 494
From: Richmond, VA
Lot's of wide tire 180 kits on the market for old Softails. The 160 kits are less money, and IMHO, actually look better. But that's your call. A simple swap from the stock 80/90 to a 90/90 front tire, really filled up the fender on my '96 Springer.