Here’s Dan from Rob’s Dyno Service installing the new metal valve from the H-D wheel installation kit into the new chrome H-D 6-spoke rear wheel using a ½” deep socket he ground down for this purpose.
By Chris Maida
Part I: Installing a new chrome Harley-Davidson 6-spoke rear wheel and pulley, with a new H-D polished rotor and Shinko 150/80-16” rear tire
Want to add some instant flash to your bike? Bolt on a nice set of custom wheels! When I had my bike shop, back in the day, guys would come in before the new riding season and ask how they could change the look of their bike without going for a complete overhaul. My answer was to change the wheels and paint job. After all, once the front end and engine are chromed or blacked-out, you’re done there. But bolt on a slick set of wheels with matching rotors and pulley, and you’ll totally change the look of the bike. And, though not cheap, you get a lot of bang for your buck!
After checking the directional arrow and locating the balance dot alongside the valve stem, he installs the new Shinko 150/80-16” tire onto the H-D 6-Spoke wheel.
And that’s exactly what we decided to do to step up the look of a 2006 Fat Boy. Though those iconic solid wheels are a trademark of the Fat Boy, the stock units were dull, pitted, and, in short, needed replacing after many miles of hard service. Since the original Harley-Davidson components had served the owner well, he decided to go back to The Motor Company for its replacements. He selected a set of H-D’s Slotted 6-Spoke wheels that feature a combination of polished and textured chrome finishes on the spokes, rim, and hub. We also got a matching rear pulley and new standard rotors all around. In this article, however, we’ll just be installing the rear wheel setup, and we’ll do the front wheel in a future issue.
This cast aluminum 16″ rear wheel (#43930-08/$559.95) requires, as all Harley P&A wheels do, the purchase of a separate H-D wheel installation kit (#43854-08A/$89.95). These kits are specific to year and model bikes, so be sure to order the correct one for your bike. However, the installation procedure is the same. For our matching cast aluminum textured chrome rear pulley (#40447-01/$399.95), we also got a set of chrome bolts and flat washers (#94773-00A/$29.95). There’s no way we were going to reuse the old, beat-up hardware. When installing this pulley onto the wheel, make sure you properly align its spoke pattern with the wheel’s pattern. Our rear rotor (#41832-05A/$149.95) is a polished version of the stock unit since, like the hardware, the original had seen better days and would ruin the look of our new wheel package. Of course, we went with a set of new chrome rotor hardware (#46647-05/$13.95).
With the rear wheel in a lift’s wheel chock, he uses a wheel bearing installation too to install a wheel bearing (both the same) from the H-D installation kit into the right (primary) side of the wheel, as indicated by the lines on the wheel hub.
When it came to getting a new set of tires, the bike’s owner decided to go with a pair of Shinko 777 tires, which are available exclusively from the HardDrive catalog. We got a 150/80-16″ (#87-4597/$129.95) for the rear wheel. This tire features a newly redesigned carcass that has a higher load rating thanks to heavier nylon belting. This results in ample load capacity, while also giving more stability and longer tire life. The 777 series is specifically designed for cruiser machines and is available in a multitude of sizes for many V-twin models.
We went to see our old buddies Rob and Dan at Rob’s Dyno Service to do the install. We’ve done many articles with these guys, and they always do the job right, the first time. Check out the photos and captions to see how to do this installation in your own garage. In a future issue, we’ll bolt on the new matching front wheel and new rotor, as well as another new Shinko tire. AIM
Dan slips the new wheel bearing and the proper center wheel spacer (spacer C #43608-00 for our application), both from the H-D installation kit, onto the shaft of his wheel bearing installation tool.
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SOURCES
HARDDRIVE – HDtwin.com
Harley-Davidson – harley-davidson.com
Rob’s Dyno Service – RobsDyno.com 978/895-0441
Like what you see? The full article with all the steps, tips, tricks, and tools needed is in American Iron Magazine issue # 340! To order a back issue of this or any other issue of American Iron Magazine, visit Greaserag.com. Follow American Iron Magazine on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram! To subscribe to the PRINT edition, click here. To receive DIGITAL DELIVERY, click here.