I just replaced the tire on my 86 softail. When I put tht rear wheel back on, and tighten the axle to specified torque, the wheel wont move. I loosened the bolt and noticed that even if I barely even hand tighten the axle, it still wont move very easy. Anyone have any suggestions or solutions?

 

Did you get the wheel shims all back in, and do you have the shim that has the shoulder on it turned the right way. It sounds to me like you don't have the proper end play in the axle. To get proper end play you need a dial indicator with a magnetic base.

As tight as your bearings seem to be, I am guessing that you do not have the shouldered spacer facing the right way. It should have the shoulder facing toward the bearing.

Do you have a manual? If not, you need to get one and insure that you are putting all the shims and spacers back in correctly.

Regards,

Bill

 

Somehow I am in the same boat. All I removed was the left said bolt and the axel adjuster spacer. I installed a side mount license plate braket which replaced the axel adjuster. I made sure the wheel alignment was correct and reintalled the axel nut and torqued to 60-65ft/lb per service manual. Now the rear tire will not turn. So I know it is not the spacers between the swingarm and the wheel, any ideas.

 

Chuck,

I don't know about your bike, because the spacer, shims and bearings are all sealed with your year model, and the axle end play is set at the factory. If you just pulled the axle and then reinstalled it, you should not be having a problem.

With Joe's bike (1986 model), the bearings are not sealed, and there is a spacer and shims inside the wheel hub that have to be set. This spacer and shims insure that the bearings on each side of the wheel remain a precise distance from each other when the wheel is torqued. If he took the bearings out and greased them as he should have with a tire change, some of the shims might be installed wrong.

Regards,

Bill

 

Got mine taken care of,, Thanks Bill.

Chuck

 

Regards,

Bill