Wheel Removal/Installation
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 162
Likes: 52
Wheel Removal/Installation
In the next day or two, I'll be removing my front and rear wheels on my '03 Heritage Classic in order to replace both tires. I save a ton of $$ bybringing to the shop just the wheels as opposed to the whole bike. Anything I need to be aware of during the process? What's the best way to align the rear wheel?
Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 603
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Wheel Removal/Installation
my dealer only charges $40 a tire for balancing and mounting on the bike. Hardly worth the headaches of trying to get the bike balanced well enough to be able to remove both tires. Additionally, the rear tire must be up pretty high to be able to drop it under the fender to remove. Pretty risky if you don't have the right equipment. Otherwise do one tire at a time.
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,048
Likes: 1
From: Canada
RE: Wheel Removal/Installation
Get a Bike hoist.
The back alignment capscrews? I use a sharpie marker to mark the top(from the center of the capscrew up). I turn them both out 12 revolutions. When I put the rear tire back on, I alternate 2 revs on each untill I'm backto thenumber I backed them out at. This will put your rear tire back where it was.
Put the axle back in the way it came out. I thought I'd save some labor by shoving it in from the left to the right. (Save me from taking my rear staggered pipe off to get the axle out) DO NOT DO THIS. If you ever lose the cotter key that goes through the nut, the way the wheel rotates could loosen the axle nut and cause your axle to come out.
The back alignment capscrews? I use a sharpie marker to mark the top(from the center of the capscrew up). I turn them both out 12 revolutions. When I put the rear tire back on, I alternate 2 revs on each untill I'm backto thenumber I backed them out at. This will put your rear tire back where it was.
Put the axle back in the way it came out. I thought I'd save some labor by shoving it in from the left to the right. (Save me from taking my rear staggered pipe off to get the axle out) DO NOT DO THIS. If you ever lose the cotter key that goes through the nut, the way the wheel rotates could loosen the axle nut and cause your axle to come out.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,967
Likes: 94
RE: Wheel Removal/Installation
no rocket science. I did it on mine, no big deal. get it up on a lift, or just do one at a time. read the manual. for alignment, just go off the center of the swingarm pivot bolt on each side and make sure it matches the distance to the center of the rear axle. You can also count threads and see that they match up how many turns you got it back.
the front is easier, take off the fender and have at it.
the front is easier, take off the fender and have at it.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,049
Likes: 6
From: Oregon City, OR
RE: Wheel Removal/Installation
Don't forget to throw some anti-seize on the axles when you re-install 'em. They will go in without it, but you don't want to be the person pulling them back out in 10k miles or so...
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 162
Likes: 52
RE: Wheel Removal/Installation
Removal went well, now to the assembling. Do the index marks on the front wheel axle spacer go to the inside or out? I didn't pay attention to that during removal.
Trending Topics
6th Gear
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
RE: Wheel Removal/Installation
I ALWAYA JUST MEASURE HOW MUCH IS THERE AND MAKE IT THE SAME AS IT WAS. AND LIKE THE OTHER GUY SAID EITHER PUT SOME ANTI-SEEZE OR SOME WHEEL BEARING GREASE ON THOSE AXELS EVERYTIME YOU INSTALL THEM, YOU WILL SAVE YOUR SELF A HEADACHE NEXT TIME AROUND. IF YOU HAVE NEVER HAD YOUR AXELS OUT BEFORE PREPARE TO BEAT THEM OUT CAUSE HARLEY FROM THE FACTORY DOESNT PUT ANY LUBE ON THEM.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
