Stuck front axle
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Tourer
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 430
Likes: 1
From: Hampton, VA
Stuck front axle
I tried the search function without any luck. Kinda surprised I didn't find an answer. I'm trying to do Special Ed's How to for epoxying the lowers and I can't get the axle out. Seems like when I got new tires the dealership didn't put any anti seize on the axle and now it won't come out. I used some seafoam deep creep and let it sit, I've knocked on it with a hammer with and without a wooden block and I'm getting nothing. This is my first time messing with an axle and I don't know what I can and can't do to try and loosen it. Any tips?
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 682
Likes: 0
From: fallbrook, socal
you loosened the allen bolts on the bottom of the right side fork leg, right? Sounds like no grease on the axle, a deadblow hammer should free it - my rear axle was like this after a dealer experience.
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 223
Likes: 0
From:
whatever you do you've probably already killed your wheel bearings so it really doesnt matter what you do....just try not to beat your axle to death. no use buying one of them too. i have found that using a flat punch, in the indentation, hit briskly but not really hard will get things moving. make sure that you dont mess up the nut threads. a real big hit just seems to flatten and break things. get the axle cleaned up with some fine grit paper and antiseeze it well, you wont have the problem again. thats why i like to do things myself. about 2 cents of antiseeze has caused you all hese problems. you wont forget to put it on. sometimes the professional seem to forget. good luck
one thing i highly recomend either get a small punch so you do not flatten out the threads in the axel or put the nut back on a bit to give you a solid surface, do not hit the threaded area alone or that will pancake it and need to be rethreaded.... i sugest a rubber mallet and pound that sucker, if that does not work, put a punch on in the middle of the axel and pop it with a mini sledge... that is from people putting your wheels together and not using anti seaze... so use it when you put them back on
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 327
Likes: 1
From: new bedford, ma
again, did you take off the allen bolt on the bottom of the right fork. axle will not come out without that.
I just did the epoxy today. thanks for reposting that Joe. unfortunately the 3rd time was a charm on the paint. 1st time went too thick and got drips. 2nd paint wasn't sticking. 3rd try after rereading the tips came out awesome, now can't wait for them to dry. only thing i did differently was wipe them with a tack cloth
I just did the epoxy today. thanks for reposting that Joe. unfortunately the 3rd time was a charm on the paint. 1st time went too thick and got drips. 2nd paint wasn't sticking. 3rd try after rereading the tips came out awesome, now can't wait for them to dry. only thing i did differently was wipe them with a tack cloth
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Tourer
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 430
Likes: 1
From: Hampton, VA
I have the older style lowers. I don't have an allen bolt. I eventually got it out with repeated deep creep soakings and my buddy's 3 lb hammer and a block of wood. Wheel still spins just fine too so that's a relief. Thanks for the tips everyone.
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be sure you acitone the hell out of those lowers if you used creep!!!! it has a a silicone base that will ruin the paint! you have to really clean them like crazy with acitione i would also prob take a tourch to it as well to ensure you burned it all off.
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 430
Likes: 1
From: Hampton, VA
Crap, wish I had seen this before I started painting.