wheel diffrences

[meetz]

hi, could anyone tell me the diffrence between a fatboy front and rear wheel. i went to a swap meet, and the guy told me that the rim i bought from him was a rear. after getting home, i discovered that it was infact a front wheel. is there any way as to mount this rim on the rear, or am i going to have to look closer next time i go to a swap meet. thanks.

[frisco-rigid]

Although I've swapped wheels a few times over the years I wouldn't recommend it for others.. Here's why..

Most OEM HD rear wheels have an off-set built into them, in-other-words, the left hub is longer than the right hub.. So it would be up to you to space out the belt-drive pulley correctly on this front wheel so the wheel could still be centered correctly and match up with the rear brake caliper..

Another reason is that the front wheel bolt holes for the front brake rotors are usually 5/16" I believe.. Now that's OK for the rear brake rotor, you know, it's sufficient, but the rear belt-pulley usually requires 7/16"..

If it didn't cost too awfully much keep it as a spare front, heck, always good to have.. Alota times the seller really doesn't know what he's selling.. Other times they fib,,,,, ok, lie..

[Motorman7]

The front and rear wheels do have different offsets and the Fatboy front is 3" by 17", the rear is 6" by 17".
There are clearance issues both front and rear if different wheels are used. Also when installing the wheels get the appropriate front and rear wheel install kits as they are specific for each wheel.

[HarleyCruiser]

Humm the older rims, before they put on the wide tire, I believe are the same. Both 16 x (I believe 3 or 4)
But do not know for sure. The brakes are reversed front to rear, so the rim would have to be flipped, and the holes for the sprocket are covered up with a cover.
I have had my rear mounted on my front to polish it.
They sure looked the same to me.
Not sure about the bolt holes.
Get out your calipers, start measuring.
I will check mine tonight.

[HarleyCruiser]

They are definitely different, the rear is cone on both sides and then has a half moon scalloped on both sides up by the mounts for the brake and the pulley.
The large side is on the pulley side (left).
On the front on the brake side (left) has the large cone and has the half moon scallop by the brake, but the other side is coned ALL THE WAY UP, with a step where the wheel has had the casting machined out.
You could run a rear up front easer than the front in rear.
Front on rear, your bolt sizes would be wrong for the pulley.
Rear on front, you would need to check your offset, and run the rim in reverse with the brake in the left.
This would put the large cone on the right, exposed side, also has the half moon by where the pulley was.
It would not be as pretty as a front rim.
Also need to check axle size, they changed the rear, not sure what year.
You can change the bearings, but that would probably cost you as much as you spent on the rim.
Also it is 16x 3 on the 01 Fatboy.
Hope this made since.

[Tbone]

3/4 in. front axle - '00 -'03 Dyna
3/4 in. rear axle - '00 -'05 Dyna
1 in. front axle - '04 -'07 Dyna (except '04-'05 FXDWG)
1 in. rear axle - '06 -'07 Dyna
25mm front axle - '08 - '09 Dyna (except FXDWG and FXDF)
25mm rear axle - '08 - '09Dyna (except FXDF)
3/4 in. front axle - '00-'05 FXDWG