16" front wheel need help

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#11

02-10-2011 | 04:57 AM

Limey

Tourer

Joined: May 2007

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Personally I'd always get a professional to do a job like this, and you may need to get spokes made specifically for the job. Certainly in the UK there are plenty of specialist wheel builders that will custom make spokes so presumably there are in the States too?

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#12

01-28-2018 | 06:55 AM

Mendrax

Stage II

Joined: Jan 2018

Posts: 2

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From: Geneva

Quote:

Originally Posted by wag_oh_neer

Hey guys I'm trying to lace a 16" wheel on the front of my '08 street bob. I ordered spokes from hdwheels and got the hoop (16x3) off a softail heritage. I can't get it laced correctly, the outside (short head) spokes are coming up a little long and the inside (long head) are a little short. I'm beginning to think the hoop is incompatible. To those who have done this, what kind of hoop did you use? Or if anyone else has any suggestions I would appreciate the help. Thanks in advance.

Sorry about moving this old thead up... I am exactly in this situation. Could somebody tell me what should be the length of the spokes for this setup ?

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#13

01-29-2018 | 06:34 AM

wag_oh_neer

Thread Starter

Cruiser

Joined: Apr 2009

Posts: 149

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From: wichita, ks

I don't recall the length. I simply called the spoke manufacturer (hdwheels.com in my case) and told them what I was doing. The way you load the spokes into the hub is slightly different than what the factory service manual instructs. I outlined the deviation above.

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#14

01-29-2018 | 04:54 PM

AFMM3

Road Warrior

Joined: Apr 2010

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From: North Dakota

There is a second option. There are only two size hubs that H-D uses. Narrow and wide. Mid glide Dynas use the narrow hub. Fat Bobs use the wide hub. The wide hub is also used by all Electra-Glides. Therefore changing to a Fat Bob set of triple Trees would allow you to use an FLH front wheel and axle. Your lowers will accept either the one inch or 25MM axle. Your brake caliper will line right up with the wide hub when using wide trees. Do not use any FL Softail 16 inch front wheel. They are a different creature entirely requiring Softail sliders for the brake to line up.

Some don't like the wide forks, some do. Just another option. Good luck.

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#15

01-30-2018 | 10:24 AM

DéDé1

Advanced

Joined: Feb 2015

Posts: 56

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From: Germany

I did it this way. Took spokes from a supplyer here in Germany (W&W) part number 25-280 on a 16" Nightster rear rim.

by https://www.flickr.com/photos/am-iron-ger/, auf Flickr

It´s tricky, I sat the approximatly spoke pattern before and taped the crossing points, then began to fit with an little angle in to the rim - this works, a second person would be helpful

by https://www.flickr.com/photos/am-iron-ger/, auf Flickr

Last edited by DéDé1; 01-30-2018 at 10:28 AM.

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Mendrax (01-31-2018)

#16

01-31-2018 | 02:46 PM

Mendrax

Stage II

Joined: Jan 2018

Posts: 2

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From: Geneva

Thank you very very much for your answers. It will help me a lot !

172mm

Last edited by Mendrax; 01-31-2018 at 03:17 PM.

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#17

01-31-2018 | 04:37 PM

blueangel73

Elite HDF Member

Joined: Mar 2010

Posts: 3,947

Likes: 148

From: South of Mordor

Quote:

Originally Posted by AFMM3

Do not use any FL Softail 16 inch front wheel. They are a different creature entirely requiring Softail sliders for the brake to line up.

I am not sure this is completely true. I have Fat Bob trees, 25mm axle and bearings (used on Wide Glide and Fat Bob), my original Street Bob legs, brake caliper and axle spacers. I mounted a complete take-off Softail Slim front wheel on my ride. Everything mounted/lined right up other then the wheel hoop being centered. So I adjust the offset to put the tire center. I am pretty sure that the Slim uses the FL frontend just like the Fat Boy and Heritage.

I know none of this help answer the question of using the Mid-Glide setup.

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