Wheel Spacer Question
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,578
Likes: 463
From: On a Lake, not far from the Gulf
Wheel Spacer Question
Yesterday I found a screw in the front tire. Removed the wheel took it to the local indy, and had the tube replaced. When I remounted it It looks like there is too much space on the right side of the axel. The wheel tracks true, but there is this gap between the right spacer and the right fork. I know that the spacer is in the correct location. Does this look normal? If not what may have gone wrong.
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,578
Likes: 463
From: On a Lake, not far from the Gulf
Thanks THC. Neither the spacer nor the wheel move laterally. It spins freely, and test rides good. I just don't remember it looking like that when I took it off.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 4,325
Likes: 3,596
From: Picayune, Ms.
It probably wasn't like that. First you need to place a 7/16in drill bit in the hole in the front axle before tightening the pinch bolts on the right fork leg.
Then tighten the axle nut on the left side until secure, then the pinch bolt on the left side.
If you did this I couldn't tell from the picture but it looks like the axle is not installed correctly.
Remember if there are tapers on the spacers, they go against the bearing.
Then tighten the axle nut on the left side until secure, then the pinch bolt on the left side.
If you did this I couldn't tell from the picture but it looks like the axle is not installed correctly.
Remember if there are tapers on the spacers, they go against the bearing.
Dirt don't hurt
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 21,065
Likes: 4,561
From: Haslet Texas
It probably wasn't like that. First you need to place a 7/16in drill bit in the hole in the front axle before tightening the pinch bolts on the right fork leg.
Then tighten the axle nut on the left side until secure, then the pinch bolt on the left side.
If you did this I couldn't tell from the picture but it looks like the axle is not installed correctly.
Remember if there are tapers on the spacers, they go against the bearing.
Then tighten the axle nut on the left side until secure, then the pinch bolt on the left side.
If you did this I couldn't tell from the picture but it looks like the axle is not installed correctly.
Remember if there are tapers on the spacers, they go against the bearing.
What does yours look like?
There are 2 ways to do it.
1) Tighten pinch bolts, tighten axle nut, loosen pinch bolts then re-tighten them when the forks decide where they want to be.
2) Insert a screwdriver into hole on right side of axle (or anything else that will fit into the hole that you can hold onto to keep the axle from turning), tighten axle nut, tighten pinch bolts.
I don't know why you use a drill bit as it seems to be a very poor tool for this application.
By the way the spacers are more accurately describes as having a chamfer not a taper.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 15,705
Likes: 22,718
From: Farmington ,MS
Because that's what is says to do in the factory service manual?
Dirt don't hurt
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 21,065
Likes: 4,561
From: Haslet Texas
I'm gonna have to check mine as I find it hard to believe that they would tell me to do something that silly.
Grabbing a drill bit by the sharp parts and using it to hold the axle in place seems incredibly silly to me.
Grabbing a drill bit by the sharp parts and using it to hold the axle in place seems incredibly silly to me.
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Dirt don't hurt
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 21,065
Likes: 4,561
From: Haslet Texas
FWIW i just checked my service manual and it said nothing about a drill bit.
It told me to use the first procedure I described in post #5.
I wonder when they changed their procedure.
It told me to use the first procedure I described in post #5.
I wonder when they changed their procedure.
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