HarleyTechTalk

Ya humble bugger! 

Quote from: Fugawee on December 18, 2024, 11:04:55 AMNope...nope...not necessary...thanks anyway...appreciate the kind words.
My entire system will get way out of whack with too many You're rights.
Totally unaccustomed to it.

You should at least get an attaboy.

Definitely not a front axle. It has a hex head at the opposite end and measures exactly what an 06 Softail rear axle is in length. 

post a pic of the axle by itself

Quote from: Garagerat on December 17, 2024, 01:20:53 PMThe axle fits great. It must be the spacers causing the problem. 

It is not being caused by spacers.

Spacers do not change the space between the swingarm ends.

Take the wheel and spacers off, slide the axle into the swingarm with just the adjusters, it will still be too short..

Here's a picture of a used #41110-79A axle, with the spacers, from eBay. It is listed by a motorcycle dismantler that sells a lot of used parts..





Anyways, since the picture has a ruler in it... You should be able to tell if you have the OEM axle, and spacers.

If what you have matches what's in the picture, I'd have to guess you are doing something wrong to keep it from fitting properly.... 

PS- I just noticed he has the axle spacers aligned with the axle going from left to right, and I believe they go right to left as OEM, but that shouldn't make a difference in fitment..

Likely correct, Dan although the hole in one end sure gave us hope. 

No one is sure just yet but we were thinking he may have "spread" the Swing arm to fit the spacers thus losing his thread purchase. He does mention the fight he had installing them and without clarifying pics, we don't know for sure about anything. 

There's likely a background story missing and with a lack of pictures.....well, we can only offer a guess. We only just found out it's a basket case build so.....who knows what's really in the basket? 

Just looking at the picture Garagerat provided in #16 and noticed the adjuster is "flex'd" (cock-eyed) against the swing arm. Something most definitely doesn't belong here!

I kind of noticed that Myself.

You mention that the Bike came to You in pieces...
Is it possible that the previous Owner replaced the Rear Fork/Swingarm with one for a Wide Tire Kit?
Do You have any communication with the Former Owner to find out?
What size Rear Tire is being used?
HD had their own Swingarm for a Wide Tire which is Part #48747-07.
If You may have the time...You may want to go to Ronnies HD Parts Numbers, or another HD source and compare the Frames and Swingarms.
If You should compare an '05, '06, and an '07 FXSTB for instance...
You may find that there are some different Part Numbers for Frames, Swingarms, Spacers, etc.

Maybe Someone on-board here with a Similar Bike can measure their Inside, or Outside Width of their Swingarm and compare it to what You have.

The spacer I was using was 3/8" too wide. A smaller width spacer was installed and solved the problem of the nut not having enough threads to fit on the axle. 
I appreciate everyone's suggestions and insight. As always, the expertise on this forum is invaluable.

Quote from: Garagerat on December 23, 2024, 12:45:39 PMThe spacer I was using was 3/8" too wide. A smaller width spacer was installed and solved the problem of the nut not having enough threads to fit on the axle.
I appreciate everyone's suggestions and insight. As always, the expertise on this forum is invaluable.

Did you miss the part about "you have the wrong axial"   

post a pic of the axle by itself 

found this one on ePray ....

  I owned a ST and I don't ever remember there being a hole in the end like that of the rear axial. Lot of things I don't remember these days though.

added, oh yeah, the cotter pin. 

Hi Coyote,
The hole was there at least in the 06,07 Softail as mine had it as well. It housed one of those fancy round split pin thingys that worked very effectively to be a final line of Defence for the nut coming off.
Thanks
Pauly

All solved but that's the reason I asked about the wheel.
In verifying your axle part number I noticed the FL Softails and the Deuce use a different left spacer and swingarm than the rest of the FX Softails.

Unaware if the spacer difference is due to what wheel they used.