Topic: 750F's and Lester wheels

[Bankerdanny]

I have a line on a 17" rear Lester off of a Harley Sportster (don't know what year). It's rear disk but the seller says it's a 5 bolt pattern and I am pretty sure that the F rear rotor is a 6 bolt.

I am still very tempted, I have to think with some effort and ingenuity I could adapt it and then pair it with the 19" Lester front wheel from my 550 or I can just pick up another front, they are actually pretty easy to find. The F rear's however are not.

Anyone feel strongly that it wouldn't be worth the effort?

[slikwilli420]

I have never seen Lester wheels in 17"so I would double check that first. I would say keep searching and not worth the effort but maybe get a Harley rotor and ruin the whole thing.

[scottly]

Got pics? For a while, Hardley used Morris wheels, then switched to their own variation of Morris, like Kawasaki. 

[754]

I bet 18 or 16..
 5 bolt is standard for HD disc wheels.
5bolt to 6bolt never works unless one I'd greater diameter, or you stuff holes.
 Better look for another wheel..

[seanbarney41]

It is probably do-able if you have access to a lathe and the skill and knowledge to operate it.  Many other aftermarket wheels were not bike specific castings.  They had one wheel casting that was used for many different bikes with appropriately machined bearing, brake, and rotor adapters.  Examples being Kimtabs, Shelby Dowds, Morris and many others.  Are you sure it is a lester and not a Morris?  They look very similar and certain year Sportsters came with Morris wheels.  Later, Harley copied the design (whether under license or not, I don't know) and cast their own.

Could probably just use a Harley rotor.  I have a CycleX offset sprocket that is 5 bolt and was designed to adapt harley wheel to Honda 750...you are welcome to it.

F bike rear lesters were available.  Yeah, they are pretty rare.  I do have one.  I will be using it for the rebuild of my black F3.

[scottly]

For purposes of identification, Morris and clones from Hogley and Kawasaki have spokes with an "+" cross-section, while Lesters and clones from Yamaha have an "I", or "H" cross-section.

[754]

If it's disc brake HD  it's 3/4 inch tapered rollers.
 If you find a smaller bearing than the bore, you can sleeve them.. bore iscaround 1.950  IIRC.
 Or run 3/4 axle its about 1/32 smaller than Honda axle.

Morris looks nothing like a Lester. . Always  have removeable sideplates.
 One is svelte the other is chunky..

Harley issued ones have black sideplates, others are bare aluminum.

[Yamahawk]

If it's disc brake HD  it's 3/4 inch tapered rollers.
 If you find a smaller bearing than the bore, you can sleeve them.. bore iscaround 1.950  IIRC.
 Or run 3/4 axle its about 1/32 smaller than Honda axle.

Morris looks nothing like a Lester. . Always  have removeable sideplates.
 One is svelte the other is chunky..

Harley issued ones have black sideplates, others are bare aluminum.

Pat has an AMF Harley Iron Head rolling chassis in the backyard right now, the AMF mags look like Morris, but have the AMF casting and part #'s on them, looks like the 1st pic you posted Frank. I believe they are 18" rear and 19" front...
Charlie

[Bankerdanny]

 Thanks guys,  that's all really helpful. I'm going to talk to the seller again tomorrow to see if I can get some photos.

[754]

The F model  disc had a pretty wide bolt pattern, it may clear on an adaptor.