Old mag wheels

[bump]

I am restoring  78 Lowrider and am wondering if the original mag wheels need to run a tube in tire. It had tubes in tires when new and I always put tubes in new tires. Can I run tubeless tires or will I need the tubes.

[fulldress79]

 On my 81 FXEF (mag wheels) I ran tubeless tires. On my 79 FLH I run tires (old repro bias ply) with tubes, mag wheels also.I believe it all hinges on the tire itself.

[Hazy]

Check on the mags. There should be a stamping on them that'll say whether you can go tubeless. O' course it's fine to run a tube with a tubeless rim.

[HarleyCharley]

Been running tubeless on my '81 FXE stock mags for years without any trouble.

[MMOCGuy]

I have a '78 Low Rider and I always ran tubeless tires on the mag wheels without any problems.
Hope this helps.

Norm.

[Old Crow]

On my '82 FLT the rims are clearly marked as "tube type only". 
That being said, I'll say that I've been running them tubeless for 6 years with no problem. 
A guy I know who works for HD told me that the difference was that the tube type rims were not subjected to a porosity test during the manufacturing process.  After I heard that, I mounted up a set of tires and kept watch on the pressure.  When it didn't go down I started riding and never looked back.
I believe that I had to drill out one of the valve stem hole to a larger size when I wanted to install metal valve stems, but although I check the tires about every third day during riding season, I usually only have to add air once or twice a year.

[hgailey]

My '78FX came with tubes (it came out of the crate with a mag rear and spoke front, I made them put a mag on front to match before delivery) and I was told the 78 mags were not rated for tubeless. If you're talking stock 78 mags I'd put tubes in 'em.

[Inda Win]

I'm restoring a 78 Low Rider as well.  The mags are physically in good shape, except their appearance is fairly ratty.  Any suggestions for cleaning them up?

[Yona]

I just blasted mine with walnut shell, they are the 79 FXS AMF mags.....Less spokes,

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[pappyfreebird]

79 fxs mags were like 9 n 7 spoke n 16 n 19" ers...them must be baggars wheels (flh) n seems mebbe one of differnet year  er 9 spoker is n fx rear  cause my ol 79 flh n 80 flt had same no. per wheel..now i been all fugged up befoe n wouldnt hurt me ta be wrong..but ive been say very cclose to 4 a 78- 3 79 fxs n all were as  said,,,wallnuts made em fuggan cool thou!!!