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Rear Hub/Axle Maintenance
Posted: 12:41 pm Jan 03 2019
by brademan76
Hi all, time for new tires. The bike is relatively new to me and has the tires on that came with it. I went to pull the rear wheel, not positive I followed the correct procedure as I tried to pull the axle out, but that thing was damn near stuck in there! I had to put a punch in the end and persuade it out with a heavy sledge.
I'll clean the axle as much as I can, but should it be that difficult to pull?
How can I tell if the bearings in the hub need replaced? They do turn (not seized) but they aren't butter smooth either...
Thanks!
Re: Rear Hub/Axle Maintenance
Posted: 01:19 pm Jan 03 2019
by JL4049
If the bearings are not butter smooth then they are usually stuffed. The rear axle is a neat fit through the bearings so any dirt build up or surface corrosion will make it bloody tight to remove.
Re: Rear Hub/Axle Maintenance
Posted: 02:43 pm Jan 03 2019
by brademan76
JL4049 wrote: 01:19 pm Jan 03 2019
If the bearings are not butter smooth then they are usually stuffed. The rear axle is a neat fit through the bearings so any dirt build up or surface corrosion will make it bloody tight to remove.
Thanks for the input, but what do you mean by "stuffed"?
Re: Rear Hub/Axle Maintenance
Posted: 05:48 pm Jan 03 2019
by bufftester
If it's a new to you bike just replace the wheel bearings (front and rear). It's cheap, fairly quick and they need to be done routinely anyways. Judging by the difficulty you had removing the axle they are probably the OEM ones, so change them. Take a scotchbrite pad to the axle to clean it up and coat it generously with some mollyB or waterproof grease when reinstalling.
Then check your linkage and swingarm bearings, these are the most neglected bearings on these bikes.
Re: Rear Hub/Axle Maintenance
Posted: 06:06 pm Jan 03 2019
by brademan76
Thanks, bufftester!
Re: Rear Hub/Axle Maintenance
Posted: 01:37 pm Jan 07 2019
by JL4049
Stuffed = Buggered, tired, worn out, No longer fit for service
Re: Rear Hub/Axle Maintenance
Posted: 12:57 pm Jan 21 2019
by brademan76
Thanks guys, it was an easy day replacing those bearings. They weren't the OEM bearings, so that was good to know. Need to do the fronts and the linkage/swingarm bearings too.
Re: Rear Hub/Axle Maintenance
Posted: 02:25 pm Jan 21 2019
by KDXGarage
You should definitely check the swingarm and linkage bearings. People are notorious for not maintaining them properly.
Re: Rear Hub/Axle Maintenance
Posted: 01:27 pm Jan 23 2019
by Tyl3r
KDXGarage wrote: 02:25 pm Jan 21 2019
You should definitely check the swingarm and linkage bearings. People are notorious for not maintaining them properly.
I wanted to say the same haha the swingarm pivot sucks worse than the axle to be stuck imo. The bolt on the frame for the linkage rocker...now thats a fun one to get out when its seized in there! Between the bikes I've bought and the ones my friends buy, I lost track of how many we've gave up on and cut out
Re: Rear Hub/Axle Maintenance
Posted: 03:06 pm Jan 23 2019
by KDXGarage
brademan76 wrote: 12:41 pm Jan 03 2019
Hi all, time for new tires. The bike is relatively new to me and has the tires on that came with it. I went to pull the rear wheel, not positive I followed the correct procedure as I tried to pull the axle out, but that thing was damn near stuck in there! I had to put a punch in the end and persuade it out with a heavy sledge.
I'll clean the axle as much as I can, but should it be that difficult to pull?
How can I tell if the bearings in the hub need replaced? They do turn (not seized) but they aren't butter smooth either...
Thanks!
I am of the opinion that if a roller bearing suffers a massive side load such as from "a heavy sledge", then the bearing is compromised and should be replaced.
A touch of anti-seize on the outside top of the bearings before insertion may help when it comes to remove them in a few years.
