A little easier way to remove and replace rear wheel

fredz43

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My son David (DaveZ12 on the forum) got a 14 ES this summer. Last month, while visiting him, I thought I would show him a few tricks that we "experts" have learned, starting with how to remove and replace the rear wheel. Many of us struggled with removing that wheel the first time we did it, sometimes getting the rubber dampers jammed as they came out of the hub. We also struggled to line up the wheel and splined hub when replacing the wheel, at the same time lifting the wheel and tire as we tried to get it back in place. We later discovered a "trick" to reinstall the axle in the reverse direction after removing the brake caliper assembly and ABS sensor plate when removing and replacing the wheel as a bit of an aid during these operations. I explained to Dave that it still could be a bit difficult, as when the axle is reversed the end that is now in the right side when looking at it from the rear is smaller than the hole it is in and therefore, it is not perfectly lined up. I know that many times when I had the axle in reverse, I still had a hard time getting the splines lined up to go back. I said that if I had a bushing or something to put into the right side temporarily, the axle would be perfectly lined up and it would be much easier to remove or replace the wheel.

That is when David said "why don't you just put the axle back in the correct way?" Huh, I said. "Well, the axle already has a bushing on that end, so just put it back the normal way." D'oh! why didn't I think of that.

So, I tried it that way last week when I changed tires, I removed the axle, removed the caliper assembly and ABS plate and reinstalled the axle in the normal direction. Then after inserting a screwdriver between the rear drive hub and rubber damper assembly and giving it a bit of a pry, it slid off smoothly with no hassle, no rubbers coming out. Then I just slid the axle out and the wheel rolled right out. In going back, I reversed the procedure and although I still had to turn the wheel a few times before the teeth engaged, I did this with all the weight on the now perfectly aligned axle. Once engaged, I just removed the axle temporarily, installed the caliper assembly and ABS plate, then put the axle back in. Too easy! Here are a few pics that might help explain.

With the caliper assembly and ABS plate removed and the axle back in place for removal or replacement of the wheel:


Hub assembly in wheel, sliding back in. Comes out the same way:


After caliper is removed, reinstall axle and stick a screwdriver here and pry and hub will come out with wheel (always use a brand new screwdriver :D)

BTW, I took this pic for illustration after the operation was complete and the wheel was back on and the axle nut was installed.

So, I hope that helps you all as much as it helped me. Proves to me that sometimes you just need to look at something with another pair of eyes. Thanks, DaveZ12!
 

spam16v

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Re: A little easier way to remove and repalce rear wheel

Soooo.... Yank the axle, get the brake crap out and then shove the axle back in to remove the wheel from the splines easier. Install the wheel and axle alone to slide the spline drive in, remove the axle and fit the brakes, then shove the axle in last. Am I understanding you correctly?
 

fredz43

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Re: A little easier way to remove and repalce rear wheel

spam16v said:
Soooo.... Yank the axle, get the brake crap out and then shove the axle back in to remove the wheel from the splines easier. Install the wheel and axle alone to slide the spline drive in, remove the axle and fit the brakes, then shove the axle in last. Am I understanding you correctly?
You are correct, sir!

The method I was using before was the almost same, but I was putting the axle back in the reverse direction, as others on the forum have done. When in reverse, the splines are not lined up perfectly, which adds a degree of difficulty, both during removal and re-installation.
 

OldRider

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Re: A little easier way to remove and repalce rear wheel

Make sure the bike is in gear so the hub can't turn, then slide the wheel splines into the hub splines and just jiggle it around a little.
 

RED CAT

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Re: A little easier way to remove and repalce rear wheel

fredz43. Very good. I've probably changed 8 rear tires and never thought of your method but will be using it from now on for sure. I also duct tape the hub in place on the rim while changing the tire so that it doesn't fall out dumping the rubbers. ::012::
 

fredz43

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Re: A little easier way to remove and repalce rear wheel

RED CAT said:
fredz43. Very good. I've probably changed 8 rear tires and never thought of your method but will be using it from now on for sure. I also duct tape the hub in place on the rim while changing the tire so that it doesn't fall out dumping the rubbers. ::012::
Yes, I also have changed many and didn't think of that. It only took one time showing my son how to remove and replace the wheel on his new ES, when he asked me why I didn't just put the axle in the normal way instead of the reverse direction. It was one of those "why didn't I think of that" moments.
 

Bigbore4

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Re: A little easier way to remove and repalce rear wheel

Out of the mouths of babe's!

I have always used a long tapered alignment bar as I have several. Never even occurred to me to reinstall the axle temporarily. I just hope by the time I run the K60's off I remember to do this. Them DAMper rubbers set me to swearing every tire change!
 

fredz43

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Re: A little easier way to remove and repalce rear wheel

Brick said:
Just put on a new set of TKC70's (and really like them after 500 miles or so).

I used David's method only added one step... I pushed the axle out with my 3/4" breaker bar until I could remove the rear brake then put the axle back in! Worked like a Champ!! Excellent. There was a lot less cursing during this tire change!

Thank You DavidZ12! ::003::
That's what I found also, Brick. Before using this method I even invented a few new curse words, as I ran out of the normal ones. >:D You are right in that you don't necessarily have to remove the axle completely, just enough to remove the brake assembly, in which case it is almost out. Since greasing my axle properly, I can normally just push it a bit from the left side with my hand and then pull it out from the right side with my other hand.
 

RIDEMYST

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Re: A little easier way to remove and repalce rear wheel

Do you guys lube the splines? -JEP-


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Checkswrecks

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Re: A little easier way to remove and repalce rear wheel

First - Thanks to Fred again. GREAT idea!


Yes, most here lube the splines and put something on the drive shaft to prevent rust at each tire change. Very quick and easy.
Honda's Molylube is one of the highest percentage in moly and easy to find.
 

RaginTxn

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Re: A little easier way to remove and repalce rear wheel

OldRider said:
Make sure the bike is in gear so the hub can't turn, then slide the wheel splines into the hub splines and just jiggle it around a little.
LIFE SAVER!! I couldn't figure out why I couldn't get it back on - duuuh ::010::
 

RCinNC

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I've changed 10 rear tires on my Super Tenere, and this idea never occurred to me. When I think of the times I fought with that wheel as the hub came loose and the cush bumpers got jammed (in spite of my gorilla tape attaching the hub to the wheel), or how I would fight to get the splines lined up....Jeez. I'm almost looking forward to the next tire change, just to try this out.

Thanks Fred!
 

fredz43

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RCinNC said:
I've changed 10 rear tires on my Super Tenere, and this idea never occurred to me. When I think of the times I fought with that wheel as the hub came loose and the cush bumpers got jammed (in spite of my gorilla tape attaching the hub to the wheel), or how I would fight to get the splines lined up....Jeez. I'm almost looking forward to the next tire change, just to try this out.

Thanks Fred!
Thanks to my son, who showed me this method when I first was showing how to do it on his S10 when he first got it. My reply was Duh, why didn't I think of that. ;D

Only problem is I don't get to practice using my swearing vocabulary as much as I used to.
 

RCinNC

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Convey my thanks to him then, Fred. He's probably prevented more rage than a suitcase full of Xanax.

I would add that you should probably pad your screwdriver with electrical tape, or wrap it with a piece of cardboard or something, before using it to pry off the hub so it doesn't gouge the hub face (if that;s the sort of thing that would bug you).
 

WJBertrand

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Well I had part of it figured out. I always put the bike in gear and then rotated in one direction only until the splines drop in. There’s enough free lash in the driveline to drive yourself nuts if try to engage the splines with a back and forth movement. Never thought to put the axle back in temporarily. Thanks F-Fred!


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Cycledude

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I’ve never had any trouble getting the splines into place without the axel installed, as long as the bike is in gear it’s always been very easy for me, after the splines are in place instal the speed sensor and the brake caliper and washer then just slip the axel in.
 

regder

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Had a bear of a time trying to split the splines. Of course Yamaha made the clearance just tight enough that you can't get the wheel off with the cush drive plate still on the final drive.

Didn't want to pry too hard with a screwdriver. Ended up using a scrap block of wood as a punch. A couple taps with a hammer and popped right off.
 

TenereGUY

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I just removed the rear tire for the first time and didn't expect cush pads on the drive link to fall out. So I eventually got it off. Was trying to align it without axle and not in gear for 5 minutes... then Doh! Put axle in and in gear. Done. Then pulled axle and put in brake and other stuff. Could have used this thread then!
Instead of a screw driver I use a one piece oil filter wrench or a wide flat cold chisel wrapped in electrical tape.

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whisperquiet

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And the even easier way to use Fredz43’s wheel removal and installation procedure is to use an air wedge under the rear tire to lift the wheel into perfect alignment with the swing arm for axle insertion.
 
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