Rear wheel installation help
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Joined: Jun 2010
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Rear wheel installation help
I need some tips on installing the rear wheel on a 2009 Softail. I'm having problems with the brake bracket and the spacers staying in place. There must be a correct way to do this install that I'm not doing.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,891
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From: Mansfield, MA
Work the jack.... use some blocks of wood under the tire so that you can line it up with the axle. Slide the axle in a little way. The caliper should rest on the swingarm.... put the spacer in place... slide the axle more.... keep working it.
Don't try to hold the tire up in the air.
Don't try to hold the tire up in the air.
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 525
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From: Utah
I jacked up the bike, just enough to get the rear wheel to clear. I then positioned the wheel between my legs (sitting from the rear of the bike) and cradled it and lifted the wheel (all with legs) - I then had my hands free to slide in the axle and insert the spacers as I pushed the axle through the frame and wheel. Also, remember to put anti-seize on the axle. Good Luck.
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 726
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From: Pacific Northwest
An extra set of hands always helps. I struggled alone, basically following what was said above. Block that tire up so it all lines up. Even if you got the muscle to hold that wheel up, you still need a hand to shove in the axle and one to hold the spacers in place. Good luck!
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Road Master
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 861
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From: trivoli illinois
i've had the rear off of my fatboy several times and here's what i've found works the best for me. i lower the bike down to the wheel abbembly. slide a 1/2" extention from the opposite side. most like the axle from pulley to brake. the extention will be a loose fit. allows slop in the parts to get all lined-up. when the extention is completely through, use the axle to push the extention out as you line-up/insert the axle in. this works real good on a 3/4" axle. you might need to use something a little larger on the 1"/25mm. axle set-up. i always put the extention in from the brake side, and the axle in from the pulley side, since the brake caliper is the hardest part to get lined up. i get the caliper and spacer on the extention before lowering the bike down on the wheel. GO VERY SLOW, as bikes get kinda tippy on the jack with one wheel off. steve
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Joined: Jun 2010
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Thanks to some good advice here, I got it back on this evening. I had to remove the rear caliper to be able to work with the bracket and used the floor jack under the rear wheel as suggested. After many tries with the spacers, got the axle bolt back in and it was of course down hill from there. That 200 tire leaves very little room to work in there.
Thanks again!
Thanks again!
4th Gear
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 8
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From: cincinnati
next time lower the bike down their is a point just before tire touches that you can slide spacers into place (not lined up yet) this is a small window where they will stay in place. then continue to lower bike so tire touches ground then play with jack and spacersto align then axle will push in most of way at that point square up tire in fender and maybe readj jack and caliper mount axle will push right in no need to muscle tire .
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