Converting 14mm wheel to 17mm?

[DanielMc]

Does anyone have experience of fitting a larger 17mm post '75 spindle into an earlier 14mm '74 wheel?

Reason I ask is that my new bike currently has a later 17mm type slider on the rhs (packed out with a home-made collar) as a result of the original 14mm slider receiving damage. The current set-up works (I think) but I'd prefer it to be one or the other rather than a mixture. I've had no joy getting hold of a 14mm slider, but have managed to get the matching 17mm lhs slider easily enough.

Apart from the sliders, spindle (plus spacer washer and nut) and the 17mm "pipe" (part number 36311237606) are there any other bits I need / ideas on how best to proceed?

[Duane Ausherman]

You will need the thinner wheel bushing, but that should be easy to find. Maybe that is what you call a "pipe"

[DanielMc]

Thanks for the reply Duane - the pipe is item 3 in the parts fiche shown below. It appears to directly replace the two spacers labeled "2". Having never attempted to deconstruct a BMW wheel before I was just suspicious that there might be more to it than just swapping out the bits shown!

[George Ryals]

I think if you are going from a 14 mm axle to 17 mm axle, all of the bearing pack and seals have to be changed to have a 17 mm id.

[Motorhead]

I see you have a 1980 R80 wreck for parts

Just use the inner pack for that system or I can send you a 17mm wheel that has new bearings but you might want to change the rim

its a 1975 R75 wheel from a ATE single no problem to add another disc

[DanielMc]

Thanks for the offer Motorhead, but I'm here in the rainy UK while you're in the sunny US!

I did think about buying a 17mm spoked wheel but figured it would just make the whole exercise more expensive than just altering the 14mm one - especially as the previous owner had the hub blasted and respoked with stainless on a nice polished rim...

[Duane Ausherman]

Oh, I see now that you have the disc wheel, not the drum. I was only around for a year and a half with the disc, so I tend to forget it. You don't have a bushing to replace.

I would have to fiddle around with it myself.

[Motorhead]

From the Pix I see you just need to remove the 14mm adapers 2 piece and replace the seals

about the same thing you do with a /5 drum when you go to 17mm axel

[Airbear]

Daniel, if it was me I'd just make a new collar for the RH slider - a nice, perfectly sized one with a slot that could be located at the existing slot in the slider. Then when it came time to replace bearings I would consider making the change.

[DanielMc]

Hi Charlie - must say your idea has merit and I hadn't actually thought of just tidying up the current set-up. I'll take a good look at it tomorrow with a micrometer. Got a 17mm spindle on my other bike to use as reference for o/d. Could save me a load of bother (especially as the major job's still the electrics) and like you say, I can always assemble the relevant bits for that time in the future when I need to strip out the bearings.