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Wheel replacement

Old Dec 8, 2025 | 09:53 PM
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Default Wheel replacement

Good evening all. Im working on a 98 heritage classic. The wheels are rusted, the hubs chrome is bubbling due to rust, so I am not going to use them. This is a budget build of sorts, so new wheels are not an option. Used wheels for this year are hard to come by, but newer years are plentiful. There is a nice pair from an 02 road king available for a good price. I understand that axle size is different, so either different bearings or reducing bushings will be required, and most likely different spacers . What else should I be aware of? It doesn't seem to be too difficult to do, am I missing anything? Thanks in advance

Doc
 
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Old Dec 8, 2025 | 10:12 PM
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Brake rotor location may be different.

Requiring different calipers. Or, shimming what you've already got.

Other option is to take your existing wheels apart and get you hubs stripped and re-plated. Then you can spec polished stainless steel spokes instead of chrome spokes that rust and peel.

Buchanon Wheels can build them, if you want.

https://www.buchananspokes.com/
 
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Old Dec 9, 2025 | 06:14 AM
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Oh, I didn't think about disc location. Hummmm, more research. I had thought about re plating mine, but I imagine that's pretty pricey. Im hoping for a less expensive option.
 
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Old Dec 9, 2025 | 06:45 AM
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Lots of used wheels on the Bay:

86-99 Harley Softail Dyna Sportster 16x3 Laced Spoke Chrome Rear Wheel | eBay

Always best to stay in your lane with wheels. You have a Softail, find a used Softail wheel. Pre-99, get a pre-99. Some of the differences are subtle , some are big like different bearings or offsets. You need to do some research on what wheel fits your bike then what other bikes came with that wheel. You can see from the posted add the seller implies a rear wheel of that vintage is the same for Softail, Dyna and Sportster. With no research I am inclined to agree for a rear wheel, but the point is with research you can pin point the wheels you need which will result in not having to modify them to fit your bike. Good luck.
 
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Old Dec 9, 2025 | 08:43 AM
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Good advice, thank you.
 
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Old Dec 9, 2025 | 03:20 PM
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FWIW

The 02 RK will have 1 inch bearing.. You can swap to 3/4 bearings and center spacer. The bolt holes for the discs and pulley are correct but the step that the disc and pulley rides on are larger.. They need a 2.20" hole there. You can use later discs and pulleys tho I'd check the spacing on the front rotor.
 
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Old Dec 9, 2025 | 05:05 PM
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Be careful, its hard to tell if that wheel is "true" by looking at a pic, nothing like getting your new wheels and one of them has a little warp in it.
 
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