Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums General Tech Why can't I get my rear wheel on?

I figure if nothing else I can open myself up to some abuse....and maybe even get an answer. I have been fighting my rear wheel now for about an hour and have run out of ideas. I have to be missing the easiest way to single-handedly get that monster back on.

I am having trouble getting it back up between the rear forks. I have mounted the brake caliper where it belongs, and I can't sqeeze the tire up into all the places it seems to have to fit so snugly. Either I get the spacer on the disc side up or I get the sprocket side up with the bearing...but not both. I am trying to use the Triumph manual, but the step "lift the wheel into position, ensuring the spacers and caliper mounting plate remain correctly positioned, and insert spindle" has been a little easier said than done....so not much has gotten done.

So let's play "Help the moron."

It's simple you just need three hands.

Hey Dave,

A couple of posts from moe, the master of the rear tire:

http://www.bonnevilleamerica.com/forums/...=true#Post47644
http://www.bonnevilleamerica.com/forums/...=true#Post45637

Patience grasshopper. I've found the easiest way is to start on the left side, slowly inserting the axle through the various brackets, spacers and the wheel hub. Also I lower the bike down over the wheel so that it's resting on the ground at roughly the correct ride height. Then it's "simply" a matter of wrestling it all into place. All the spacers, the caliper bracket and hub have to be perfectly parallel to fit together.

And don't forget the chain adjusting brackets. Last summer while I was installing my replacement belt on my aborted trip to Idaho, I finally got it all together but in the process didn't notice that the axle did not go through the adjuster bracket. I just about lost it and kicked the dammned bike off the jack.

Thanks all. I finally did get it. I was wary to do it, but I ended up lowering the bike towards the ground slowly and was able to get it lined up. I also had to loosen the chain slack adjusters to get the spindle through the far side by the sprocket (no mention of that in the book...they make it sound like snapping a couple legos together !!)

BTW, I took the recommendation I found re: the Sears bike lift. I found it for $65 after tax and it really helped out. I was paranoid to begin lowering the bike since I was solo and wasn't sure about letting the jack support the weight of the bike outside the 3 pre-set heights. It finally worked though.

Sorry to post in the wrong spot and thanks for moving it and all the help.

One last thing...how freely should the wheels turn when the bike is fully suspended in neutral? There's definitely some friction happening but where's the line?

Thanks again all.

It takes a little muscle to roll the rear wheel even in neutral. Remember, it's got a chain and some gears attaches along with some possible brake pad contact. Fairly normal. Not like break a sweat hard, but it's not gonna spin like a Lego wheel
I love instructions that use terms like "put it on" or "lift into place". Gee thanks...

Take the caliper back off and don't mount it until after the wheel is on. Makes it much easier when you don't have to worry with aligning the disk and the hub with bits on the bike.

I am trying really hard not to make a Polish joke...come on, ski?
Oh drat, I did it anyway didn't I?