Hey guys,

I'm looking for anyone who's done a front end conversion, or can offer advice to change out the front end on an Iron.

 

Planned changes:

-Triple trees changed to a Mid-Glide (Or 48 triple trees - same size) including tree bearings, etc

-possibly the fork tubes and all innards

-axle and spacers between brake disc rotor and forks

-mounting a stock 16" rear Iron 883 cast aluminium wheel

-Running a fat tyre up front

 

..probably a few other changes that I can't remember. Anyone done it?

Any advice?

 

Cheers in advance

You'll need a wide glide front end if you want to fit the sporty rear wheel without machining it...
There is a company that makes a wide glide kit to suit http://vulcanworks.net/39mm-Wide-Glide-Triple-Tree-Conversion-Set-Black-p-17044.html you need spacers ect to make it all work. Well thats what my brother did.

Yeah you're on to me motor head. Me and everyone else who've tried this mod. Hope I can pull it off!
Cheers

Thanks nhb,
I've emailed them and they've gotten back to me with some good info..
The thing that's tripping me up is that I've seen this done with a mid glide front end. Not sure why, but i was kinda trying to avoid a wide glide, wondering if it might look massive on an iron.

Hmmm.. Maybe not
I went to HH and they quoted me $2500 for a new HD Mid Glide front end, (basics only). Vulcan works do a complete conversion for $450 plus postage!! Sheeesh!

Thanks for posting though. I'll let you know how I go. 6 months from now, every 5th guy on the block will have done this mod, just seems that I gotta figure it out myself for now.

Ozroder - you're a legend!
There is a difference in length between a 48 39mm fork tube and a iron 39mm fork tube. The 48 i think is shorter, but also there is a difference of a matter of a few inches where the fender supports are. I'll have to check it out more.

The oil change due to wieght..something i hadn't even considered until you bought it up. Food for thought
Thanks again

you're awesome

Should be able to do it with mid glide try to get genuine 48 tripple tree's & front Axle front fork brace. i think the wide glide too big & heavy for the sportster. good luck with your project. if it was me i'd check out Stortz they make some good bits for Sporsters that work.

The stock Iron rear wheel is too wide for a mid glide.

nhb...thank you!
This is the question that makes me wake in a sweat at 3am.

I really don't know how the hell the other people did it. I mean, I've seen it done, but a picture doesn't let on if they machined the actual hub of the wheel rim itself or not. I want to put a rear wheel up front, but not if I have to recruit some crazy German scientist and build an underground bunker to machine the wheel hub!

I'll try and find a pic, and you can let me know what you think of it " border="0" src="/DesktopModules/NTForums/themes/_default/emoticons/smile.gif" />

 

OK... pic 1. shows an original custom bike with a Custom set of triple trees, but uses the original Iron 883 39mm fork tubes. Note the position of the fender support brackets being right on the rim of the wheel. They have also salvaged the "hub plate" from the original front wheel, and reused it to 'blank' out the ugly looking non-rotor side of the wheel hub.

Pic 2. Shows a clone of the original custom bike.. the rocker box covers are different for starters, plus, the bike is a 48 I'm pretty sure. Soooo they used the stock 48 triple trees.. ah hell the whole stock front end. Note on the fork tubes that the fender support brackets are much higher up the tube, and in fact clear the tyre altogether. They also left off the hub plate.

 

So, what's got me buggered, is: The 48 (cortrect me if I'm wrong here please) uses a Mid Glide front end, I think the same as an XL1200C.... so how did they put this thing together?! Any ideas?

All I have to go on is cobbled together info from the internet, and dealers.

 

 

This photo is from Neil Carkeek who has a front end conversion slowly coming together... not sure if he's on here but you can find him on Victorian Harley-Davidson Riders Social Group on Facebook

 

They machine the Hub area of the stock Iron rear wheel. - It's the hub thats the problem.

Thanks Uncle Ho
I might chase him down eventually.

nhb, that makes sense that they machine it, as the hub is heaps wider than the rim.

Guess I'll put the ad in the paper for some German scientists, and get to building my bunker with a lathe set up for them to work in

Hey Uncle Ho,
was just doing a little digging, and checked the Victorian Harley-Davidson Riders Social Group on Facebook. Can't seem to find Neil Carkeek as a member on there. Do you know if he goes by any other user name?
Thanks mate

You'll have to change the whole front end to a 48.Doing that you can fit 90/16.

 

I sell a complete 41 mm Wide Glide Front End to suit Sportsters in Black or Chrome. The one in the photo shows it with pointed Legs but it comes in Round Bullet Axles Caps as well.,,, You can then fit a Rear Wheel on to the Front

 

Nice looking trees Walka - how wide is the axle, (inner fork to inner fork) and what price?

Between the Lower Legs 190 mm, $800.00