Hello. I have a 1979 FXEF Superglide that a previous owner converted to a wide glide with a drum brake. Don’t ask me why they put a drum brake on a 79’ but they did.I have purchased an OEM Superglide Front forks, with duel disk hydraulic brakes and would like to use the axle, rim and tire that is currently on the bike.
I have the manuals and parts books for this bike. However, there are a lot of variations in wheels for bikes in this range of years and I can’t really tell what is what. Currently, it looks like the axle is held to the drum with five Allen bolts.

Are all the wheels basically the same with the exception of the axel guts or am I wasting my time and should just buy a new axel/rim? Pictures to follow. Thank you!

Lowoilpressure
Tom



What’s on the bike n ow

What’s on the bike now

1979 Superglide front end I am installing.

 

no the hub is a star 1936 to 1966 - or a mid star 1967 to 1972 and none had disc brake mounting only the drum to hub mounting

to re use the rim you need 1973 up hub for the front wheel and a set of spokes

 

To amplify what John is saying, the drums bolt directly to the star hub, whether a true star or Mid star, same idea. The '73 and later wheels will have a plate built into the hub for bolting up a rotor, very easy to identify. Good luck.

 

Thanks for the info. Upon looking at my wheel more closely I do see how this particular wheel will not work. So on the hunt for the right wheel. That is also a chore since there are a gazillion wheels for bikes in this year range.

The HD owners manual and the HD parts manual show slightly different wheels for this bike. Grr.

Tom

 

To Amplify the Answer Even More... No Dual Flange Hub is going in a SuperGlide/Sportster/NarrowGlide Front end... Gotta have a SuperGlide/Sportster/NarrowGlide, front wheel...
Those Forks aint going in FL trees either...
Best bet to go Trees and all, front end...

 

If you are going to run spokes, you need and aluminum dual flange hub ('77 and earlier front hubs are single disc only) #43600-78. The hub is used for 73-83 FX/E/EF/EF-80 & E-80 models. You see used ones come up on the flea for around $50-$100. V-Twin carries repops that includes bearing, races and seals for $157 (V-Twin #45-0310).

The rim you need is a 2.50 x 19. There are two of those '73 to '80 and '80 ^. '73-'80 is #43018-73. 80^ is #43001-79. I am runnig the former on my 78. I have the latter one bare. There must be a difference between the two but honestly I do not know. Perhaps someone else can shed some insight on the difference.

There are two different spokes and nipples used for the 19" rim. They are #43024-73A - short metric and #43025-73B - long metric. Buchanan sells spoke kits for the rims. On a side note I will say that lacing and truing the front aluminum hub on my 78-1/2 FXE was the hardest wheel job I have had to do.

The complete front wheel assembly (rim, spokes nipples, bearings and spacers is #43341-78.

I see a couple of complete rims on the flea now. One has the correct rim but is a single disc hub.

The other looks to be a correct dual disc assembly but lists it as a different part number and states it is for a DYNA model. The part number does not show up under my Dyna parts books and the part number they show #43321-79A does not show up in the FX parts book either. Might be worth cehcking and seeing if they will show you the rime number and if it has the stamping on the outside of the rime as well.

That said they state is is OEM. So if it is .....

Rim # is gonnal look something like this



And on the ouside of the rim there will be a number similar to this




Here is the link to the one that looks promising

https://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-NEW-OEM...53.m1438.l2649

 

@panz4ever Thank you for the detailed info!

My current wheel is about 3.5” wide. And... I’m just not ready to respoke a wheel so I bought the one you suggested. It looks like it ‘should’ work. We shall see and I’ll re-post again.

-lowoilpressure

 

At least it is for a NarrowGlide...The dual disk wheel, the one that goes with your forks [shown] was 1978 until 1983... FX/XL/FXR, absolutely Not Dyna, but many Ebayers have absolutely no Clue...
Edit; Did you say you had the trees for that front end??

 

Yes I have the trees for it and everything seems to fit nicely.
Ebayers use all sorts of keywords in the title to get people to find search queries. Not uncommon but often misleading.

13’ at my house this morning so no more riding til March. After the front end is done it’s onto taking off the primary to find the leaks.

-Lowoilpressure

 

My new wheel arrived today. Hmmm.
Everything fits. However, I don’t have another bike to compare it with. I did a mock up of the wheel with the disks, calipers and speedo on the axle.

Here’s my issue, my clearances are very tight. I have less than 1/8” clearance from the disks to the forks. Is it supposed to be that tight? I’m pretty sure the fender won’t fit once the tire is on but I can deal with that.
The rim is 3.5” OD The bolt holes line up exactly on disks. I guess when they tell you it’s a 2.5” rim/wheel they are measuring inside the bead.