Re:stuck spacer

wildbill · Nov 20, 2004

I decided to remove the rear axle and give it a good cleaning and greasing back when I had the old engine out.The spacer on the right side seemed to be stuck to the axle.I could move the axle with difficulty using a hammer and a length of wood.The spacer seems to be the main problem.I need to remove the rear axle and clean it up but how would you do it?The rear tire is in good shape and everything else seems OK but sooner or later I will have to remove the axle.Any ideas?Thanks.

FC501EAST · Nov 20, 2004

Stuck spacer

Hi, Bill......
I replaced the rear wheel bearings earlier this year, had the other side of the problem - the spacers stuck in the bearings. I had taken the axle out on a regular basis and greased it, but hadn't touched the bearings. I had to take a long brass rod and knock the spacers out, then the bearings. Used quite a bit of WD-40 first, letting it soak in for a couple of days, then a lot of grease on the axle, and a bit of anti-seize on the spacers where they fit in the bearings when I put everything back together. Came right apart last week when I pulled the rear wheel.

wildbill · Nov 20, 2004

Back when a shop put the back tire on they had a time getting the axle out.I talked to the person who did the job and he said he cleaned up the axle and put quite a bit of antiseize on.I have tryed to get the spacer to turn on the shaft but the thing will not even do that.I guess I will just have to worry it off to see what is the matter and then cure it.Thanks.

nsman · Nov 20, 2004

stuck axle

Wildbill,We see this problem on a regular basis at my shop on both bikes and atv's.There is no magic that I am aware of,a little heat,penetrating oil, be patienct ,repeat till it comes apart.Clean it up well and take it apart a few times a year to clean and grease the axle....nsman

wildbill · Nov 20, 2004

Thanks for the advice.I will see what I can do.I thought the antiseize would solve the problem but that is what I get for thinking.Thanks again and take care.

wildbill · Nov 29, 2004

wildbill said:
Thanks for the advice.I will see what I can do.I thought the antiseize would solve the problem but that is what I get for thinking.Thanks again and take care.

I got the wheel off.Now the spacers are stuck to the bearings on the wheel.I put penetrating oil around where the spacers are stuck.They are in good and when they turn the wheel bearing turns also.Would it be better to clean everything up good and lay the grease to the axle and inside of the wheel and put it back together?Thanks

nsman · Nov 29, 2004

Hi Bill,Good to hear you got the spacer and axle apart,sounds like you have the same problem now as fc501east had.You may as well finish the job and separate the spacers from the bearings, you know that someday you will have to change wheel bearings and it will not be any easier then.Then grease everything well an assemble...nsman

wildbill · Nov 29, 2004

nsman said:
Hi Bill,Good to hear you got the spacer and axle apart,sounds like you have the same problem now as fc501east had.You may as well finish the job and separate the spacers from the bearings, you know that someday you will have to change wheel bearings and it will not be any easier then.Then grease everything well an assemble...nsman

Thanks I will see what I can get into.Thanks again for the advice and tips.

husabutt · Nov 29, 2004

Heya Bill:

Do you remember about a year or so ago (pre server crash) an Australian gentleman or Bloke, same thing isn't it, not quite sure..........anyway he used a small amount of Lucas heavy duty oil stabilizer mixed in with grease to coat his axles and wheel bearings. The theory was that the oil stabilizer keeps the metal parts from ever running completely dry especially in the case of very wet conditions which eventually wash the grease away to an extent. He swore by it. Might be worth a try.
Lucas Heavy Duty Oil Stabilizer

wildbill · Nov 29, 2004

husabutt said:
Heya Bill:

Do you remember about a year or so ago (pre server crash) an Australian gentleman or Bloke, same thing isn't it, not quite sure..........anyway he used a small amount of Lucas heavy duty oil stabilizer mixed in with grease to coat his axles and wheel bearings. The theory was that the oil stabilizer keeps the metal parts from ever running completely dry especially in the case of very wet conditions which eventually wash the grease away to an extent. He swore by it. Might be worth a try.
Lucas Heavy Duty Oil Stabilizer

Now that you mention it, I do.I`am going to try to free the spacers first.I have them soaking in oil to see if that will loosen them up.The biggest problem I have is the wheel bearings turn when the spacer turns and I have one on each side.I will see what I can do.I don`t have any Lucas but I have gear oil and Marvel so something might work like what he described.Thanks and I hope I don`t ruin a bearing or two in the process.Thanks and take care.

husabutt · Nov 29, 2004

If the spacer won't let go no matter what an old autobody trick for freeing rusted bolts is to heat till red (for steel) and let cool. Do this 3 times or so then hit with penetrating oil. If you are not real handy with a torch have someone that is do it for you. This should be considered a last resort.

You may even want to use a heat gun first and see if the resulting expansion and contraction will help break it free.

Taffy · Nov 30, 2004

we had this a few months back and my answer was to lay the bike on it's side with the swing arm resting on a solid piece of wood on the solid floor. the wood should be right next to the axle pin-like only millimetres away!

a good heavy hammer-i use a 'dead hit' snap-on and also snap-on pin removal kit that has a shoulder when the middle of the pin goes down the middle of the axle pin so that it cannot waver.

you want all the energy to be transferred from the hammer through the pin and for none of the energy to go anywhere else.

while i'm here i'll mention that i now remove the dust seals regularly both front and rear and then pack with grease and then put the seals back in. it squirts everywhere but has stopped me getting through wheel bearings.

i've also been flicking one of the rubber seals out and re-packing the bearing and so far that works too!

i have a confession to make and that is that i ran with no dust seals for a month and both sets of wheel bearings were shot! not my best move ever!

this new method is working at present.

regards

Taffy

wildbill · Nov 30, 2004

Taffy are you talking about something like a dent puller hammer?I got the spacers off.I cleaned and greased everything good.The wheel bearings needed grease and otherwise were in good shape.Everything that looked like it needed grease got grease(a lot).I have not got it back together yet,had to haul rock before it rained,but it is ready.Thanks everybody and take care.

Taffy · Dec 1, 2004

bill

i know what you're on about regards a dent puller.

no.

definately pushing here! all i'm on about is say a 3/4" bar with a 1/4" centre boss that slips down the middle of the axle pin. it means you can belt the crap out of the bar and know it won't slip off the axle pin.

hope this helps!

regards

Taffy

wildbill · Dec 2, 2004

Taffy I got everything back together and well greased to boot.Pardon if I sound a little dim

but what you described sounds like a slide hammer.The weight that acts like a hammer slides just so much on a shaft.The other end goes through whatever you are wanting to pull out.By sliding the hammer toward you the shaft pulls whatever it is out toward you.They use them in body shops or something like them.Thanks for the help,ready to go now- just preventive maintence. :wink: Take care.

husabutt · Jan 2, 2005

Hey Bill:

What method did you finally use to get the axle spacers out? Did you pull, push or just grab and wiggle them out. Mine are stuck good and are presently soaking in WD 40.

wildbill · Jan 3, 2005

husabutt said:
Hey Bill:

What method did you finally use to get the axle spacers out? Did you pull, push or just grab and wiggle them out. Mine are stuck good and are presently soaking in WD 40.

Sounds like this is catching :lol: .I used a large adjustable wrench on one side after I pried up on the spacer all the way around.Then I tried using more leverage with the wrench.That worked to a point then I used a rubber hammer on the wrench handle.Now that worked the spacer went about 10ft in the air 8O .The other spacer I used a long handle screwdriver to fit in between the bearing and spacer and tapped it out.I had to smooth the one out I tapped out (got excited with a hammer) but other wise no damage done.Yes one you might be able to wiggle out if you are lucky but the other you will have to tap it out.Hope this helps and good luck.

Re:stuck spacer

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