need help when i tighten the axle nut my front tire wont spin freely ? any suggestions

 

What year and model? Also, check your bearings and see if they spin freely before the wheel is on. They may be seized and need replaced.

 

More info needed:

Bike's year and mileage?
How many pounds of torque are you using?
Did you install the axle spacers in the same positions they were removed from?
Do the wheel bearings turn smoothly without any binding when the wheel is off the bike?

Do you have a Service Manual?

 

i have an 08 nightster it has 2500 miles i bought it used so no manual, it needed a new front rim when i bought it but the hub was fine and bike was ridable but i wanted a new rim i bought the whole new rim and hub everything but when i got the rim the bearings that cam in side the hub where 3/4 not the 25mm i needed so i had a guy remove those bearings and put the ones i needed but now i put the rim and tire back on the bike it spins fine until i tighten the axle nut then i pretty much stops the wheel from spinning. i did notice when i had the old rim and tire off that the innner bearing sleeve had some play and with my new one there isnt much play if any im thinking that might be the reasoning for when the axle nut gets tightened the wheel wont spin. thanks for the quick responses

 

the bearings in the new hub can be spun with your finger pretty easy but they dont like spin a bunch of times if u try to spin them the bearings are new maybe they arnt broken in yet idk?

 

I may be wrong, but I believe the innner bearing sleeve needs to be changed when you switch to the 25mm bearings. I'm not sure about the outer spacers.

 

If you are able to move the inner spacer with little effort, the bearings should be set right. If the spacer is flopping around in there with play between the bearings, then they are not set right and you are binding them when you torque the axle down.

This should explain what might be going on.

http://www.allballsracing.com/media/...ng_Install.pdf

 

I just looked up the inner sleeve p/n and it did change in 2008 when HD changed to the 25mm bearings.
The p/n for the inner sleeve that goes with the 25mm bearings is: 43906-08

 

I used the inner sleeve from the old hub that was on the bike stock I'm thinking the bearings are just too tight

 

I don't think a 25mm axle would fit in a 3/4in axle spacer anyway.