Ironhead swapping 35mm to 33.4 complete

[73HEAD]

hi everyone, looking for clues, ideas, advice, and knowledge here as i totally have no idea. ive entertained the thought of a 33.4mm front end on my 73 xlh for a while now and the opportunity get hold of a complete unit has popped up. ive offered the owner $ before but he has always declined. ive not actually seen it but spoken on the phone so cant positively comment on condition, whats there etc. last night i receiced a call offering it to me as $$ are required by the owner in a hurry. cool, im going round to have an optic this morning. part of the info i received was that it has the neck for a big twin. i cant recall if it is 7/8 or an inch but it is apparently different to whats stock on mine. my top tree # is 45740-62a
i believe they are interchangeable with the right bits etc.
my main question is....how much of a drama is it to make it happen so i can run the hamburger on my 73? if the parts are accessable and technically is it dooable ? i want to by it.
currenly i have a 35mm with an old honda xl500 front drum on harley showa forks. works ok but love the look of the hamburger setup. would love to hear any thoughts, ideas, ins and outs to steer me in the right direction.
i really have no idea. as long as my mechanic can technically change it all with the right bits etc is good enough for me. im going to buy it because they are quite hard to find here in oz. and i guess i can always unload it later if it doesnt fit the bill. thanks guys

[rocketnorton]

bt triples would have -71 pn's if different from xl parts?

[73HEAD]

Originally Posted by rocketnorton

bt triples would have -71 pn's if different from xl parts?

hello mate, thanks for getting back. .. the top tree is # 45738-62. the bottom is #45707-72 i was told it was off a night train. dont really know about that particular bike. am i able to fit this front end with the correct bearings or will the stem be too short? do i need a sportster bottom tree? and anyone know what the front end might be off with those numbers. thanks

[84rzv500r]

I like these forks for draggin a knee or hangin out the tail on my rigid evo sporty... and my XR...

[73HEAD]

Originally Posted by 84rzv500r

I like these forks for draggin a knee or hangin out the tail on my rigid evo sporty... and my XR...

nice,

[rocketnorton]

Originally Posted by 73HEAD

hello mate, thanks for getting back. .. the top tree is # 45738-62. the bottom is #45707-72 i was told it was off a night train. dont really know about that particular bike. am i able to fit this front end with the correct bearings or will the stem be too short? do i need a sportster bottom tree? and anyone know what the front end might be off with those numbers. thanks

71&2 are only years for drum brake fx/superglide front end
73 got 35mm jap front end w/banana [disc] brake, as did sporty
no night train back then
im gonna guess the fx lower triple has bigger stem, from pics i looked at online, couple days ago, so -62 top triple might fit it, but not on sporty frame

[rocketnorton]

not sure on pn, but youd be lookin for sporty lower triple
rest should work
someone here will know #

[73HEAD]

looking at the parts manual, there seems to be quite a difference in the internal parts that go into a 71-72 sportster 33.4mm front set of forks versus a set from set from 1970 back . Has anyone any idea which front end is the better of the 2 is there any other differences and so on. leaving the internals aside for now, is there any distinctive features setting either set apart? are the internals interchangable?? ( full set to full set )
are the stem diametres different and if so what from what???.
ive been trying to identify what set i have. i suppose i have to pull them apart and marry the internals with the manual to get my answer.
any bits of info anyone can supply me with that can help me here would be great.. i found a lower tree # 45703-71 and a top tree 45739-62b i can buy. are these the correct parts to bolt up this front end to my late 73? very difficult to find info on stem size etc, what goes with my frame etc etc. There is so much conflicting info floating about. it can be a little confusing to say the least. thanks in advance

[brucstoudt]

many years ago i needed a new set of fork tubes for my 1960 33.4.the only new ones available from my local indie a v-twin dealer were the 71-72 tubes.i put all my internals into the new tubes with no mods. done.still working fine 4 decades later.

[73HEAD]

thank brucstoudt. now i know that. knowledge is good.... more questions mate. ....are you able to confirm for me if the upper and lower trees i mentioned above are in fact what i need to bolt up the 33.4 i have in the shed. the correct bearings are easy enogh to source to fit the trees but is the 7/8 stem correct for the yoke on my 73xlh. are all yokes on sportsters the same size? thanks mate