When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I have a 08 softail custom with a 21x2.15 spoked front wheel, which is rusty. A friend has a 21x2.15 spoked front wheel off of a 05 softail standard. The wheel bearings on my wheel are for 25mm axle, his are for 3/4" axle. The 25mm bearings are much thinner than the 3/4" bearings. I think the OD of both bearings are the same. If I use the center spacer from the 08 wheel in the 05 wheel with new 25mm bearings, should this setup work using the 08 outer spacers?
You would probably have to enlarge the hole in the 3/4" wheel's center section to accommodate the larger OD of the 25mm/1" center spacer sleeve for clearance. You would then use 25mm bearings and the '08 center spacer sleeve WITH THE ADDITION of a SPECIFIC Harley Bearing Shim to space the LEFT 25mm bearing out to where it's needs to be for your '08 FXST.
The Bearing Shim for your application is 43315-07 ... (it's also included in Harley's wheel installation kit if you bought the kit from HD for your application)
Alternately, you could get a 3/4" conversion axle (or machine down a 1" axle) and new spacers to use the 3/4" wheel as is.
Btw, do you have a pic of the 3/4" wheel with the bearings removed?
.
Last edited by multihdrdr; Mar 13, 2026 at 12:50 PM.
Hi, thanks for your reply. I haven't removed the bearings from the 3/4 wheel yet, so no pic. You mentioned a 3/4 axle conversion kit. I didn't know there was such a thing but that sounds like something I would be interested in. Would that consist of a 3/4 axle & spacers to fit my bike? Do you know where I could find one? Thank you for your time!
You can get 3/4" spacers from them as well ...
The Left spacer used should be the same as for a 2000-06 FXST.
The Right spacer may be slightly different length than a stock 2000-06 FXST because of a possible axle dimension change between your 08 axle & conversion axle ... I might be able to check on that
Thanks! I decided to go with using the 25mm bearings with the 08 spacers using a 1" step drill bit to enlarge the opening in the wheel hub and installing the additional bearing spacer. I sure do appreciate your assistance! Many thanks, Dale
Thanks! I decided to go with using the 25mm bearings with the 08 spacers using a 1" step drill bit to enlarge the opening in the wheel hub and installing the additional bearing spacer. I sure do appreciate your assistance! Many thanks, Dale
Thumbs up ...
Btw, it will need to be bigger than a 1" hole. The 25mm sleeve has a 1-1/4" OD and you'll need it to be a "Clearance" hole ... so "Bigger". (the wheel rotates around the stationary sleeve)
Remember to install that Bearing Shim under the "Primary bearing side" Bearing (ie. Left Front (brake rotor side))
.
Last edited by multihdrdr; Mar 16, 2026 at 05:29 PM.
The step drill bit goes to 1 3/8. It appears that once I drill through the outer part of the hole, the center portion of the hub should be large enough to accommodate the 25mm spacer, but I have no way to measure past the outer hole.
Slideshow: Jason Momoa's latest restoration project blends 1920s Harley-Davidsons with modern electric technology, creating some of the most unusual hybrid motorcycles ever built.
Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Becomes a Dark, Decepticon-Inspired Custom
Slideshow: Killer Custom's latest build relies on styling changes rather than performance upgrades, giving the cruiser an entirely different personality.
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.
Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.
wheel compatability
