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I replaced my rear tire last Sundy afternoon. It is no big deal to take the mufflers off. I've removed the mufflers probably 20 times in the last 2 years to either clean the bike , replace tire twice, or change mufflers. I still have the same clamps and bolts. I just use rustbuster on the muffler clamps and mufflers. I've heard a lot of complaints about the clamps, but for me, no problems and no leaks.
If you swing the rear forks down to far you start damaging the belt drive if it isn't taken off the rear pulley. As said earlier, the wheel and fork assembly become quite awkward to lift back up and you will end up trying to lower the bike to the wheel assembly which can get you into some serious trouble.
I usually put a 2X4 under the tire lengthwise to the bike and leverage it up to put the axel back in. Have some extra blocks handy to put under the 2X4 when you get it to the right height. Fine adjustments can be made by moving the supporting blocks under the 2X4.
Just take the time to remove the muffler and it will make things easier.
88b - Can I get a little clarification on this picture? It looks like you're using a small jack to get the wheel that was mounted onto the swing arm back up. Are you demonstrating how to avoid dropping your exhaust?
When I changed rubber on my Honda I dropped the swing arm to remove the wheel and would gently lower the bike for reassembly. Are you just jacking everything back up?
I just R&R the rear wheel Sunday to install IDS...40 minutes start to finish. I would think it is harder to drop the swingarm then to remove the axle..
ORIGINAL: MyFirstHD
88b - Can I get a little clarification on this picture? It looks like you're using a small jack to get the wheel that was mounted onto the swing arm back up. Are you demonstrating how to avoid dropping your exhaust?
When I changed rubber on my Honda I dropped the swing arm to remove the wheel and would gently lower the bike for reassembly. Are you just jacking everything back up?
I'm confused because you still have your bags on.
Guessing he is showing the orientation of the floor jack under the tire, you would have to remove mufflers, bags, belt and axle then the wheel can be let down and removed.
OK, not to beat a dead horse, but do I need to drop BOTH mufflers because I need to get to one side to pull the shaft out and I need to get to the other side to get the torque wrench on the cone nut.
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