hey guys, I'm doing the Swing arm upgrade on my 01 RK. I need to know what diameter to have the machinist drill out my wheel for the 1" axle? .05 over? .10 over? If it's a little big will it hurt anything, the bearings should take up any play right? Maybe it doesn't matter? Also what about the brake caliper? Don't want to much play in that Thanks for the suggestions.

 

I'll throw in my .02, if you don't mind.

I am NOT a motorcycle mechanic, but I've been a machinist in training for 36 years. Here's how I would go about it.
Check existing bore, compare to existing axle, and simulate it to the new axle dia.
I would believe the axle should be supported only by the bearings.

I'm sure others with specific knowledge will respond.

 

Search Harley swing arm upgrade.

 

I have a 2007 swingarm on my 1990 bike, so have done the complete installation as a retrofit. I also used a later wheel and brake caliper, so no drilling was involved (until I later fitted a Deuce wheel, but that is another matter!).

So give us more details on what you are doing. I don't see any need to drill your wheel as it should already have 1" bearings. You're leading us to more questions than we can give you answers at the moment!

 

Very confused on what your doing to the wheel

 

Ok. I have searched and read as many threads on this as I could, including yours Mr. brown
All very informative thank you! I'm doing the swingarm upgrade. I have bought the 2007 swingarm, the pivot shaft bushing kit for my 5/8" pivot shaft etc.
I have 2001 RK with 3/4 axle, I purchased a new 1" axle and bearings. The wheel needs to be drilled (machined) to accept the new 1" axle as 2001 and earlier are 3/4.
What Mab says above makes sense, just keep the tolerances the same

 

It was my understanding that the center portion of the wheel hub needs to be machined to accept the 1"axle, am I wrong? Heck maybe I'll just pull the wheel off and look at it...have to get started sometime...

 

The axle is not supported by the bearings...

The bearings are supported by the axle.

The axle is supported by the swingarm.

 

This is what I would do.

 

I now have a Softail wheel in the rear of my bike and that had 3/4" sealed bearings when I bought it secondhand. All the critical dimensions are fine, except the hole through the centre of the hub, which is too small for the 1" internal bearing spacer. Daft that Harley doesn't make it bigger, as all the other dimensions are identical for those plus 1" and 25mm wheels!

Confession is good for the soul and I must admit that I simply took my wheel to my local Yamaha dealer, who runs a race shop, and got them to bore the hole and install the bearings. Unfortunately I don't know what size they used.

If you are able to I suggest removing at least one of the current bearings to check how big the hole in yours is. I bought a H-D wheel bearing kit, to get the 1" bearings but also the central spacer. I would guess that hole would have to be around 1 1/2" to provide clearance (the spacer will not rotate with the wheel).

Sorry I can't be more helpful!