2008 FXDWG Rear Axle & Spacer Questions?
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2008 FXDWG Rear Axle & Spacer Questions?
First time removing and replacing the rear wheel on my, new to me, 2008 Wide Glide. It was quite the hassle having to remove the rear exhaust pipe/muffler to remove the axle.
First Question: I know the manual says to insert the axle from the right side but wonder if anyone reverses the axle to avoid having to remove the exhaust next time around? Or if there is any good reason not to reverse the axle?
Next question: The FSM says the "largest chamfered end" of the spacers should be installed away from the hub... presumably to facilitate inserting the axle. But both ends of my spacers are slightly chamfered and I'm having a hard time deciding which chamfer is the larger. But the spacers also have 2 (or 3) grooves on one end. When the spacers are installed correctly should these grooves go into the hub or away from the hub?
Thanks for your help on this! Tom
First Question: I know the manual says to insert the axle from the right side but wonder if anyone reverses the axle to avoid having to remove the exhaust next time around? Or if there is any good reason not to reverse the axle?
Next question: The FSM says the "largest chamfered end" of the spacers should be installed away from the hub... presumably to facilitate inserting the axle. But both ends of my spacers are slightly chamfered and I'm having a hard time deciding which chamfer is the larger. But the spacers also have 2 (or 3) grooves on one end. When the spacers are installed correctly should these grooves go into the hub or away from the hub?
Thanks for your help on this! Tom
On some bikes flipping the axle will cause the axle to hit the muffler. No other reason not to, other than I suppose in theory the axle could rotate and loosen. I've had the spacers on and off my bike many times, and I don't think it makes any difference which way they go as long as they're in the right space.
But I've been wrong before.
But I've been wrong before.
Last edited by Reindeer; Yesterday at 02:17 PM.
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On some bikes flipping the axle will cause the axle to hit the muffler. No other reason not to, other than I suppose in theory the axle could rotate and loosen. I've had the spacers on and off my bike many times, and I don't think it makes any difference which way they go as long as they're in the right space.
But I've been wrong before.
But I've been wrong before.
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Thanks again for your replies.
Tom.
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From: Unreconstructed
On some bikes flipping the axle will cause the axle to hit the muffler. No other reason not to, other than I suppose in theory the axle could rotate and loosen. I've had the spacers on and off my bike many times, and I don't think it makes any difference which way they go as long as they're in the right space.
But I've been wrong before.
But I've been wrong before.
Interesting point that @Reindeer makes about the spacers. The first time I had them off I looked and looked and could find no difference between either opening, they appear identical. I gather that the 3 rings are there for a reason (my wife's '22 FXBBS still has rings on the spacers), though I don't know what it is. I tried to put them back the way they came off since I know I was the first person to remove mine, but TBH, over the years I know I've forgotten the orientation and they're on the bike in different directions now.
Last edited by snake_eyes; Today at 01:59 PM.
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