Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums General Tech Rear wheel removal??

Just wanted to know the size of the rear axel nut's. Want to make sure I have everything before I start. Any Tips on removing the wheel?

Thanks

Never adjusted the chain yourself eh?

The nut is 24mm; 15/16 works. Never had to hold the axle either.

Procedure:
Remove brake line wire guide from caliper
Remove brake line clamp off swingarm
Remove caliper from caliper plate
don't disconnect the brake line from the caliper...
Hang caliper
Leave adjusters alone BUT make sure they are on their shoulders.
Remove nut
Support bike on jack to the point where the rear tire barely touches the ground.
Remove axle.
Lift bike a bit higher
Roll wheel forward to take chain off of sprocket.
Lift out caliper plate
Catch wheel spacers.
Jack up bike high enough to remove wheel.
Roll wheel out
Lower jack to a more happy level…

Install:
Position wheel under fender.
Insert caliper plate
Put chain back on sprocket.
Clean then dab some grease on the spacers
Replace wheel spacers
Lower bike to wheel
careful
Insert greased axle from the left just enough to hold the caliper plate
lower/raise bike on jack to align rear drop outs with axle.
When you get the left side aligned push axle in.
Finagle the jack to allow a push of axle through wheel
put (Washer if yours has one) then nut on
Torque.

TRICK: 90 degrees you want the wheel to be with the frame. You will have to shift the wheel to the left as you lower the bike to it. (Jack on the right) When all is good, that is, the spacers are against the adjusters and the caliper plate is in line...PULL the wheel back to you as you sit behind the rear wheel and using your left foot kick the axel in. (you will not be able to kick it hard enough to damage anything). You'll have to pull and look to ensure alignment first, as when you are not pulling, the wheel will not be far enough back. That way when you do a for real pull, you know that the axle should shove in enough to set you up for the final push. As long as you can get the axle in a bit you can fine tune the horizontal with the jack. A rubber mallet helps save the palm of your hand. Use the rubber mallet once you are sure things are aligned up. Meaning that the axle is inserted from the left to at least an inch or so in wheel hub, and that the wheel is 90 degrees to the horizon, and the axle is horizontal to the floor. Then you pull once again the wheel back and using the mallet, nudge the axle home. Yes a one handed pull. Critical that the wheel almost floats on the floor. Too high or too low will cause a binding of the axle.

OKAY: Since you’re a wheel newbie, loosen the adjusters so the chain tension doesn’t come into play when you reinstall the rear wheel. However you must adjust the chain after rear wheel re-install should you mess with the adjusters....

Thanks Moe !!!

Just in case you mis-read part of Moe's post like I just did, I'd like to emphasise that you don't disconnect the brake line from the calliper... just the guide & clamp. If you separate the brake line you're left having to bleed to hydraulic system unnecessarily which is a PITA to do.

Personally I don't even do the guide & clamp - I just pull the axle and let the calliper hang. It's not the right way to do it as it stresses the brake line but I've not had a problem with it (yet).

Oh, getting the wheel, calliper, adjusters, and spacer to all line up when reinserting the axle can be a pain too.. make sure you have a friend handy to help.

I just pull the axle as well. There is no need to do anything else. I also do it by myself with no problem.

Thanks all!!