2001 pro sport - missing front wheel spacer?

[LA_Dog]

Hi all- Need some expert help!

So I just got this bike and have been going through it front to back- it has a new 21" wheel on it, and looking closely it appears like there should be a spacer on the throttle side of wheel.

Here are some close up pics- anyone know?? there is no play in the wheel and it seems to turn freely besides some friction against the outer brake pad, the brake rotor is sitting slightly right of center (towrds outside) in the caliper (looking from front of bike).

The brake side of wheel has a spacer and it seems to sit inside the wheel bearing a bit. On the throttle side, there is a thin metal sleeve protruding about 1/8" from the bearing, and no spacer.

The axle diameter seems to measure 22.09 mm (0.89 in).

 

[KaptinAmerika]

Your setup is correct
There are spacers under the brake caliper that allow you to move the caliper left to right. Add or remove accordingly to center the caliper on the rotor

 

[LA_Dog]

Your setup is correct
There are spacers under the brake caliper that allow you to move the caliper left to right. Add or remove accordingly to center the caliper on the rotor

Thank you! I was just a bit concerned since I've always seen spacers on both sides of wheel- plus, the left fork leg is dished out wider to acommodate a wider sleeve, sort of like a spacer should be over the axle and fits into the wider recess of the fork leg.

Also it seemed odd that there was some inner sleeve protruding from the left side wheel bearing.

I guess I'm just not sure what all keeps the wheel innards from walking to the left, unless the axel is stepped down inside the wheel?

 

[LA_Dog]

BTW I have PM brakes on the bike- not sure if those were stock or put on afterwards by the prev owner.

 

[LA_Dog]

[EDIT] - ok I found the spacers, was looking on wrong side. thx

here is a pic of the brake assembly- I don't see any spacers on caliper, everything is flush bolted to brackets. you can see the disc sits to outside of center line on caliper, not sure if this is normal or out of alignment.

 

[KaptinAmerika]

You can do one of two things

1) Mill the brake caliper mount the required amount to make the Caliper line up correctly
2) Change out the spacers so the caliper lines up right.

Because I have a shop I would mill the caliper mounts.
Someone with out a shop might prefer to try and adjust the wheel spacers to make it line up correctly.

Its not a major issue but I would want it right.

 

[LA_Dog]

You can do one of two things

1) Mill the brake caliper mount the required amount to make the Caliper line up correctly
2) Change out the spacers so the caliper lines up right.

Because I have a shop I would mill the caliper mounts.
Someone with out a shop might prefer to try and adjust the wheel spacers to make it line up correctly.

Its not a major issue but I would want it right.

Roger that, thanks. I have a selection of spacers so swapping out would do the trick. Do you know if the " axle spacer" for the left side was just a decorative covering sleeve? I can't find any example bikes of my model to reference, but looking on the fork lower, it looks like it was machined to hold a larger diameter of something.

 

[KaptinAmerika]

Your front end is modeled after generic Harley
The left spacer is decorative but it also serves to seal against the bearing seal and prevent water and dust intrusion.
The right spacer is a little more intricate with a set screw, I believe, so you might need to file it down to allow the wheel to move to the right

 

[LA_Dog]

Your front end is modeled after generic Harley
The left spacer is decorative but it also serves to seal against the bearing seal and prevent water and dust intrusion.
The right spacer is a little more intricate with a set screw, I believe, so you might need to file it down to allow the wheel to move to the right

Thanks again, I appreciate your knowledge of these bikes. I got the caliper aligned with a thinner spacer, pretty easy.

Now to track down one of those left side spacers, or have one made up. Should the spacer have a stepped lip so it sits over the protrusion and flush against the bearing face?

 

[LA_Dog]

I like how BD patterned it after HD, but made it a lot better. Especially, 54mm and inverted. This bike handles amazingly well, almost sportbike like

 

[KaptinAmerika]

The spacer does have a lip on it so our sits against the inside race of the bearing

 

[LA_Dog]

perfect, thanks

 

[LA_Dog]

ok so I disassembled the front wheel while changing tire and noted it all seems correct. However, the left side spacer (the one slightly protruding from the left bearing) was installed backwards. It has an inner recessed shoulder that was facing the inside of wheel, when it should have been facing outside so it fits into the step-up lip on the left side of axle. everything holds tight assembled and fits as it should.

It seems that there is probably some sort of decorative sleeve that can go over the left side between the fork leg and the bearing face, but I would probably have to have something milled. the ID is 1.118" and OD is 1.27", and about 1.4" long.

On both the left and right sides of wheel, the bushings fit inside the bearing but do not totally cover the bearing's outer face.