Topic: A question for the Lester wheel experts?

[Terry in Australia]

Well this has got me stumped. I bought a set of Lester wheels for my K2 on Ebay USA recently, and after a couple of weeks, they've finally arrived. They look good too.

Terry's Lesters by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

The seller did a magnificent job of packing them (unlike MyUS.com, see my rant in the pissed off thread from a couple of days ago) and they arrived in pristine condition. On examination though, I noticed that the drive side bearing housing looked a little bigger than on a stock hub.

Lester Problem 1 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

Lester Problem 4 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

So when I go to install the standard Honda sprocket carrier, this is as far as it goes.

Lester Problem 3 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

Whereas, with the standard hub pictured above, it goes straight on.

Lester Problem 5 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

I went back and checked the Ebay auction to make sure I hadn't missed something in the description, but no, it was definitely listed as being for a CB750.

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/1970s-Honda-18-FRONT-BACK-Lester-Mag-Wheels-CB500-CB550-CB750/143447684635?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

Hmmnnn, so I contacted the seller, and asked him if he took them off a CB750, and he replied, "Hi, Sorry to hear your having problem with this. Yes I believe the wheels originally came from the CB750. It was removed from my buddys bike a few years back. Looks like from the photo you may need a Hub adapter or interchange hub. I hope this helps"

Soooo, my question to the assembled genius of this forum is, is there such a thing as a hub adapter or an interchange hub for a Lester wheel to make it fit on a CB750? I've had some thoughts as to how I could make the Honda sprocket carrier fit, but I need to be careful that I don't damage the wheel, or potentially risk life and limb by doing something that could result in a catastrophic failure at speed. Considering my recent track record, I don't need any more injuries, and everyone knows that "Safety" is my middle name........  

Swamp Rat Sunday Clutch Repair 4 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

[BenelliSEI]

Terry....the 18” Lester I have on the back of my K3 just subbed in with no issues. In your first photo I see notched teeth on the perimeter. Could that be a wheel for an early GL1000? The differential engages on teeth like that?

[Terry in Australia]

Good eyes mate, but that doesn't make sense either as that's a brake drum just past the notched teeth, and all goldwings had rear disc brakes, to my knowledge? It is a strange one, as the cush drive side does look like CB750, but I couldn't see Lester making a separate sprocket carrier either, I know my Henry Abe mags just used the honda cush drive and brake plate. I take it that your 18" Lester didn't have a special sprocket carrier? Thanks for your reply!

[Zunspec]

Hi Terry,

I am not sure if this has any relevance to your problem but here goes.  The Lester Wheels fitted to my Seeley Honda 750 (rear disc) had the rear wheel modified at the Seeley factory.  As far as I know the drive side sprocket carrier/cush drive is std. Honda. I don't exactly know what was done to the rear Lester but happy to take measurements if it's of any help.

Cheers  Geoff

[Terry in Australia]

G'Day Geoff, thanks mate, yeah, I suspect that there is no "Hub adapter" or "Interchange hub", but I'll wait until Frank and a few of the Lester experts here see this thread and chime in. Thanks mate!

[BenelliSEI]

Terry......To answer your question; my Lester 18” came on the back of a K8 and is now on my son’s K3. In both cases, the brake plate and drive plate fit straight in.....

[hondaron]

Should be a part number on the wheel that will identify if it's a 750 wheel

I think it appears to be a 500/550 wheel maybe ?

Look in the proven tricks section of the website, under wheels and tires, you'll see wheel bearing removal on CB500, sprocket side looks to be the same

[jgger]

Could that just be a carrier that you can change?  It looks like it may be a sleeve that is pressed into the wheel, so maybe it is set up to accept different bearings. Change it out for the correct bearing/sleeve combo???  But I'm just guessing.

[edwardmorris]

By no means an expert, but on mine everything standard worked out of the box. This is best pic I could find, I can dig up one with everything assembled if needed.

[Just John]

Terry that is not a Lester CB750 SOHC rear wheel.  The wheels were made to be exact bolt on and ride. No adapters or modifications required. I have been in the Lester factory and had a long association with them between 1983-1988.  They built wheels for nearly every bike made between 1976 and when they ceased production around 89 or so.
Regards,
John

[754]

Not a Goldwing  rear wheel , i have an NOS wing  Lester wheel for sale 16 inch.

[hondaron]

This website is the best, I don't post hardly, just soak up all the info and builds, but I visit this site religiously every day 😀 As I have the addiction, that lots of us have.

I knew I'd seen the info here before when I was researching Lester wheels.

Info on this website shows that the Lester Wheels should have part number 20200 for a 750 and part number 20100 is for a 500/550, that number should be inside the brake drum area 😀

And when I try and blow up your wheel pic it looks like the number is definitely 20100, which if that's the case, according to info on this site, with a 500/550 sprocket carrier, you should be able to make this work on your 750.

Hope this helps solve your issue

[Just John]

Hondaron for the win! Found this earlier thread regarding Lester 750/500/550 wheels. http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=80350.0

[754]

If it's for a 500 the drum width will be narrower.

[Terry in Australia]

Thanks guys, I'll go out and take another look at the wheel. Okay, so I need a CB500 sprocket carrier, cush drive rubbers, and rear brake plate assembly with brake shoes etc. Anyone got all this sitting in a box? Let me know if you do, and how much you want with shipping to Oz, or if you don't like shipping internationally, you can send it to my MyUS.com suite in Sarasota Florida? I checked Ebay and only saw a complete wheel for $43, but it looked like it'd been dragged out of a drain. Thanks again!    

[Terry in Australia]

Well the good news is the missing pieces are on their way, for cheap. A seller on Ebay USA had a sh1tty wheel for sale for 45 bux, so I asked him if I could buy all the guts out of the hub for the 45 beans he wanted for everything, and he said, "Sure......" and sent me some pics of what he's sending me.

CB500 four rear hub guts by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

Once I saw the sprocket carrier, I understood how it would work with my wheel. Cool, so now to decide what tyres to install. My wheels are both 18 inch, so there'll be a fair gap betwixt the fender and the tyre, but I might do a fork change too, so will have to look at 18" fender options. I'll also need new brake shoes and a bigger rear sprocket, I hope they do a 48T sprocket for a 500? We'll see.

CB500 four rear hub guts 1 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

[754]

 Well I hope it's 500 , check the number on wheel, twill tell the tale..

[Terry in Australia]

Thanks Frank, yep I checked the wheel by part number and it's definitely CB500.

[Scott S]

 I don't see the reverse thread bearing retainer in that pic. And there's an internal spacer you'll need, too.

 You may also need custom spacers to center the wheel in the 750 swing arm.

[Scott S]

 Look at the diagram posted in this thread:  https://www.google.com/search?q=cb550+rear+wheel+hub+diagram&client=ms-android-verizon&prmd=sivn&sxsrf=ACYBGNQgGtK5gREF6qISfjgrgrhnG4m8vQ:1576679289085&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwir-8yHtL_mAhUYX80KHTLfBxkQ_AUoAnoECA8QAg&biw=360&bih=560#imgrc=V4Y74t6OFNynNM

 You'll need #3 and #10. If the Lester still has bearings installed, #10 should still be inside. Don't toss it out with the old bearings!

[Terry in Australia]

Thanks mate, yep, it still has the bearings installed, which feel fine, but I have new ones if necessary. I meant to order the retainer, I'll do that today. Thanks for the link!

[Terry in Australia]

Well two lots of good news this week, one is that Dave is selling me a 19" front Lester so I don't need to worry about using my 18" sucker and trying to bridge the gap betwixt fender and tire, and the box of CB500F hub parts arrived yesterday, and everything fits the rear wheel, so I don't need to worry about having a wheel that won't work with my bike.

I'm still in need of a 45 or 48 T rear sprocket though, the CB500's alloy (interesting) sprocket is only 38T, so I'll need to source either a custom sprocket that'll bolt straight on, or a blank sprocket that I'll have to machine to suit the wheel, and maybe a spare too. Anyhoo, all's well that ends well, I'll have some nice wheels on my K2 and I've got a spare 18 inch front Lester for a future project, or some garage art.

[dave500]

the 500 and early 550 that shared the same frame used the same hub and brakes,the later 550s with the new frame and flip cover on the fuel filler the rear hub changed and the spacers and brake assembly.

[JerrodR]

I believe the spoke wheels are 2 1/2, and Lester's are 3"

[low-side]

Terry, I'm using a Lester 20100 on my CB750.  A 48 tooth sprocket from a 750 fit right onto the carrier I'm using.  Those 18" fronts are pretty rare; might make someone's day here or on eBay if you sold it.