Can anybody tell me what the differeance between the Sportster front end and the widw glide front end?

 

Width?

Many differences, depending on what year Sporty and what year Wide Glide. Sporties used to have loose ball bearings in the neck, while Big Twins had roller bearings. There are aftermarket kits available for many narrow front ends that include new wide trees and the appropriate spacers to make everything work.

 

Does the Sportster have a 1" neck like the V-twins? I know the width of the tree is wider and the forks are 41mm instead of 39mm, but could you bolt say a 2002 Fat Boy front end to a 99 Sporty? What should I look for to change, cup sockets and bearing, the neck spline (Ithink it's called that), or something else.

 

Seems like I remember Sporties having 7/8" necks, but my knowledge is from "back in the day". Unless I had access to a cheap front end, and a good machine shop, I'd start checking out the adapter kits. If yo have that front end, then it's a matter of tearing both down, measuring, and modifying.

 

Well here's what I've found out so far. All the current Harley's have a 1" neck. So the only problem with the conversion is the forks stop. All the trees use the same bearings now days. I'm still trying to find out about the internal fork stop. Yes I did get a Fat Boy front end, got it for a good price, but I need to do some work on it and figure out the rest of the modificatio.

 

Used to make internal fork stops by welding a piece of key stock on the front of the neck post. Then drill and tap through the frame neck on both sides at the points that'll give the turn angle desired, install a couple socket head set screws to the depth they will contact the key stock, weld them to the neck post, hit 'em a dab with Bondo, prime, and paint.

 

That simular to what I've found out, but what I was thinking of was a washer bolted to the bottom tree with a stop welded to the bottom cup. Then cut a V in the washer to match the angle you want. It would look clean. Skip, what did you use to hold back the spring on the front fork when you took it apart? A C-clap or something simular.

 

That is a modification I would really like to make to mine .
I was thinking about useing an after market conversion kit .
You lucky dog , I like the low fat look . good luck .
lostinal

 

What I liked about making the internal stops was everything was completely hidden. And I never used anythingto hold the springs, just made sure I wasn't in the flight path if I lost control!

 

I start to read the copy of 101 Harley projects I got. There are 2 project in there that cover the front end. Very simular to what i need to do. Makes alot more sence then the manual.

"just made sure I wasn't in the flight path if I lost control!" Now that's a statement to remeber!

Skip, do you know a Ron Cambell? I think that's his last name.