Rear axle
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 406
Likes: 13
From: Langley, BC. Canada
Rear axle
Can anyone give me a logical reason why the rear axle should go in from right to left? You have to take off the muffler to get the axle out and if it was put in from the left to the right, you wouldn't have to do that.
Any comments would be appreciated.
Cheers,
Don
Any comments would be appreciated.
Cheers,
Don
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 5,105
Likes: 16
From: Blaine, WA
You CAN turn it around, makes no difference whatsoever as far as the wheel mounting is concerned BUT............depending on what pipes you got on there you will still likely have to at least loosen the pipes to get a socket on the nut - there just isn't that much room. I changed mine but if the wheel ever comes off again I will be switching it back so I dont have to loosen the pipes to do a belt adjustment.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,276
Likes: 8
From: Minneapolis Area, MN
Been running mine flipped around for 6 or 7 years now with no problems. I use an open end wrench on the axle nut. On the other end of the wrench (box end) I put a bolt with a couple nuts and washers to give me something to put a torque wrench on if I wish to use. Just gotta adjust the required torque value by the length of the wrench.
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 406
Likes: 13
From: Langley, BC. Canada
Thanks for the quick responses guys. I couldn't come up with any logical reason not to, but sometimes it's what you don't think of that bites you. I will turn mine around now and use a big wrench to tighten the nut.
Thanks again for all the help.
Cheers,
Don
Thanks again for all the help.
Cheers,
Don
Elite HDF Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,927
Likes: 5
From: Midwest
It's an IQ test. Congratulations, you pass.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,739
Likes: 10
From: Suffolk, England
If the axle is inserted from the right then the wheel is trying to turn the axle clockwise when viewed from the right. This screws the axle into the nut and keeps it tight.
If its the other way around then the axle when viewed from the left is being turned counter-clockwise and so tending to screw it out from the nut.
It tends to be a good idea not to have your axle nut fall off
.
If its the other way around then the axle when viewed from the left is being turned counter-clockwise and so tending to screw it out from the nut.
It tends to be a good idea not to have your axle nut fall off
.
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Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 122
Likes: 0
From: Northern Nevada
Someone should make replacement axles with reverse threads and matching nut. Granted the lock pin should prevent the nut from loosening, but say your bearings seize, I'm pretty sure the torque would be more than enough to shear that thing in half. To work on the rear axle, I remove the bottom bolts from my shocks while the bike is jacked up, and the wheel falls down far enough for access or removal, but it's kind of a pain.
