Pre 04 Tire Size issue
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From: Jacksonville, OR
Pre 04 Tire Size issue
I had my rear wheel replaced on my 03 Ultra Classic. They put on a 140/90/16 tire (which is for the 04 and newer). It rubbed on the belt debris guard which was ejected in the middle of a long ride. By the time I got it back to the shop a rock had punctured the belt.
Our local HD dealer stepped up and took care of me... Changed the belt and put a smaller tire (130mm) on the back. All at no charge (impressive!) Said that the pre 04 FLHT's can only run the narrower tire and that they should not have installed it.
From what I have heard the 140mm tire is thicker tread than the 130/90/16, more stable, and last much longer. The rear tire is way off center in the swing arm and fender. I understand that it must line up with the transmission (belt) on one side and the brake on the other. Is there spacer kits available for the belt and brake to center the wheel so that a skightly wider tire can be run???
Our local HD dealer stepped up and took care of me... Changed the belt and put a smaller tire (130mm) on the back. All at no charge (impressive!) Said that the pre 04 FLHT's can only run the narrower tire and that they should not have installed it.
From what I have heard the 140mm tire is thicker tread than the 130/90/16, more stable, and last much longer. The rear tire is way off center in the swing arm and fender. I understand that it must line up with the transmission (belt) on one side and the brake on the other. Is there spacer kits available for the belt and brake to center the wheel so that a skightly wider tire can be run???
Last edited by Dan-up; Oct 17, 2011 at 10:29 AM.
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From: New Egypt, NJ
I assume the bike you're talking about is the '03 Ultra Classic that "your garage" says you have? If so, the stock tire size is 130/90/16. That means 130mm wide, the sidewall is 90% as high as the tre is wide, and the rim size is 16". So I'm a little unsure what you'er talking about when you state 110mm and 90mm tire sizes.
I ran a 140/90/16 on the rear of my '02 Road King for a long time, which required the removal of the lower belt guard. I then was sold an "MU" size tire, which is supposedly the same size but has a higher load rating (I don't know why I went with this, as I'm only 170 lbs and ride solo most of the time, but that's another story). It turns out this tire is just a little bit wider and just barely rubbed the belt. So I used a couple of brake rotor spacers, which required drilling the bolt holes to accept the larger pulley bolts, to space the pulley away from the tire about 0.060", which solved that issue.
If the tire isn't centered in the fender that sounds loke a seperate issue, unless someone messed with the wheel spacers somewhere along the way. But if the stock caliper fits and operates properly, and the drive belt is aligned with the transmission pulley, then most likely the wheel is in the right spot. Possibly the fender is misaligned or bent?
I ran a 140/90/16 on the rear of my '02 Road King for a long time, which required the removal of the lower belt guard. I then was sold an "MU" size tire, which is supposedly the same size but has a higher load rating (I don't know why I went with this, as I'm only 170 lbs and ride solo most of the time, but that's another story). It turns out this tire is just a little bit wider and just barely rubbed the belt. So I used a couple of brake rotor spacers, which required drilling the bolt holes to accept the larger pulley bolts, to space the pulley away from the tire about 0.060", which solved that issue.
If the tire isn't centered in the fender that sounds loke a seperate issue, unless someone messed with the wheel spacers somewhere along the way. But if the stock caliper fits and operates properly, and the drive belt is aligned with the transmission pulley, then most likely the wheel is in the right spot. Possibly the fender is misaligned or bent?
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From: Jacksonville, OR
Yes, The bike is my '03 Ultra Classic. Sorry about posting the wrong numbers, I got confused.
The HD shop installed a 140/90/16 tire on my bike, the stock size for my year is 130/90/16. My wife's bike is the '05 Ultra Classic and her tire is the 140/90/16 and it is centered. From what I have read the bigger tire has thicker tread and a higher load rating. I am thinking ahead for when the stock size tire that is currently on the bike wears out I would like to use the 140/90/16 tire but it will rub the belt guard, that is why I am asking if there is a kit that would space the belt pully further away from the wheel, of course there would also need to be different size wheel spacers to move the wheel to the right, and there would also need to be some brake correction spacers.
Just wondering if anyone has heard of such a kit available to accomplish this!?!?!?
The HD shop installed a 140/90/16 tire on my bike, the stock size for my year is 130/90/16. My wife's bike is the '05 Ultra Classic and her tire is the 140/90/16 and it is centered. From what I have read the bigger tire has thicker tread and a higher load rating. I am thinking ahead for when the stock size tire that is currently on the bike wears out I would like to use the 140/90/16 tire but it will rub the belt guard, that is why I am asking if there is a kit that would space the belt pully further away from the wheel, of course there would also need to be different size wheel spacers to move the wheel to the right, and there would also need to be some brake correction spacers.
Just wondering if anyone has heard of such a kit available to accomplish this!?!?!?
Last edited by Dan-up; Oct 17, 2011 at 10:27 AM.
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From: Bedford UK
You don't need a kit as such. All you need is a thin spacer to fit behind the pulley, say 1/8". With a little care and the bike supported with the wheel just clear of the ground you can remove the pulley screws, retract the wheel axle and slip the spacer behind the pulley, then rebuild. Spin the wheel a few times and the belt should reset itself on the front pulley.
You can use a 140/90 tyre by simply trimming the belt guard where the tyre is closest to the belt, that is what I did when using one. It's cheaper!
You can use a 140/90 tyre by simply trimming the belt guard where the tyre is closest to the belt, that is what I did when using one. It's cheaper!
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From: Jacksonville, OR
Thanks,
I will have to crawl down under there and study it, but I thought you would have to move the wheel away from the swing arm to clear the belt guard. Mine seems to be unusually close to the left side. There is less than 1/4" clearance to the belt guard and well over an inch on the other.
I will have to crawl down under there and study it, but I thought you would have to move the wheel away from the swing arm to clear the belt guard. Mine seems to be unusually close to the left side. There is less than 1/4" clearance to the belt guard and well over an inch on the other.
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From: Bedford UK
Hi Dan, I realise I didn't tell you the whole story! Having used a spacer on the pulley, which will move the belt away from the tyre, you can open up the screw holes in the belt guard to move it away as well. That will give you a little extra clearance between guard and tyre.
There is not a great deal of spare room in that area, without taking radical action. With a little care you can get the extra bit of space that will let everything do its thing without touching other parts, but clearances will be small.
Moving the wheel is more complicated, as it involves modifying the brake side as well.
There is not a great deal of spare room in that area, without taking radical action. With a little care you can get the extra bit of space that will let everything do its thing without touching other parts, but clearances will be small.
Moving the wheel is more complicated, as it involves modifying the brake side as well.
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