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This page describes a problem I experienced the first time I went to pull
the rear wheel to change
the tire on the '07 Street Bob: Stuck axle!
I tried a lot of things that didn't work - sprayed WD-40 into the
crevices, turning the axle (with the help of Sheena, below), prying
it from the other side while
banging on the other end, loosening the
adjusters to give the belt slack... Nothing I tried got the axle to
budge.
Eventually Pete, from down the lane, came over with some punches in
his saddlebag (he has way more tools than I have). We tap-tap-tapped
on the end of the axle for quite awhile, still unable to get the axle to
move even a hair. I didn't want to whack it *too* hard and mushroom
the end of the axle.
Next we phoned Rick (an HD mechanic) and asked him if he'd ever
encountered this. His reply was "Yes". It seems HD doesn't use any
(or enough) anti-sieze lubricant when they put the bikes together in
the factory. He said the axle binds on the sleeve located inside the
hub, between the bearings.
Finally I suggested to Pete that what we needed was
a brass drift - something I could whack it *really* hard with -
basically the age-old, "Get a bigger hammer" approach. Pete zipped back
home again and came back with one (it's nice to have friends who have
practically everything!)
Armed with the brass drift and large hammer, I proceeded to smack the
axle again and, for the first time that day, the axle finally started to
move a little! I had to pound that stupid axle (hard) the entire way out!
I was just shaking my head while doing it, saying, "Unbelievable!"
Test re-fitting the axle into the wheel later, it was clear that the
axle does, indeed, bind on that sleeve inside the hub. There was some
residual grease on the axle, but bake-hardened and non-slippery.
Might as well have been glue they put in there.
So, when I put it back together I'll clean the axle, probably use
some emory cloth to polish the surfaces a bit and it should be good.
Hopefully the bearings aren't damaged. We'll see...
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Left side of bike, axle nut removed.
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Right side.
|
My neighbourhood helper, Sheena - recruited to pry on
head bolt while I bang axle end from other side
|
This page describes a problem I experienced the first time I went to pull
the rear wheel to change
the tire on the '07 Street Bob: Stuck axle!
I tried a lot of things that didn't work - sprayed WD-40 into the
crevices, turning the axle (with the help of Sheena, below), prying
it from the other side while
banging on the other end, loosening the
adjusters to give the belt slack... Nothing I tried got the axle to
budge.
Eventually Pete, from down the lane, came over with some punches in
his saddlebag (he has way more tools than I have). We tap-tap-tapped
on the end of the axle for quite awhile, still unable to get the axle to
move even a hair. I didn't want to whack it *too* hard and mushroom
the end of the axle.
Next we phoned Rick (an HD mechanic) and asked him if he'd ever
encountered this. His reply was "Yes". It seems HD doesn't use any
(or enough) anti-sieze lubricant when they put the bikes together in
the factory. He said the axle binds on the sleeve located inside the
hub, between the bearings.
Finally I suggested to Pete that what we needed was
a brass drift - something I could whack it *really* hard with -
basically the age-old, "Get a bigger hammer" approach. Pete zipped back
home again and came back with one (it's nice to have friends who have
practically everything!)
Armed with the brass drift and large hammer, I proceeded to smack the
axle again and, for the first time that day, the axle finally started to
move a little! I had to pound that stupid axle (hard) the entire way out!
I was just shaking my head while doing it, saying, "Unbelievable!"
Test re-fitting the axle into the wheel later, it was clear that the
axle does, indeed, bind on that sleeve inside the hub. There was some
residual grease on the axle, but bake-hardened and non-slippery.
Might as well have been glue they put in there.
So, when I put it back together I'll clean the axle, probably use
some emory cloth to polish the surfaces a bit and it should be good.
Hopefully the bearings aren't damaged. We'll see...
|
|
Left side of bike, axle nut removed.
|
Right side.
|
My neighbourhood helper, Sheena - recruited to pry on
head bolt while I bang axle end from other side
|
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