Might try a deepwell socket that is near the size of the axle. The socket must be small enough to go through the forks but almost as big as the axle, then tap on the socket with a hammer/mallet. I am sure some other ideas will be mentioned before long but, I did it this way last weekend and all worked well for me. Good luck.

 

I'll try that right now. Man, this thing is stubburn as HELL! I can twist it from side to side with a long round screwdriver through the hole of the axle on the left side, but I cannot get it to budge as far as coming out. I don't understand this at all. It came out so easy when I installed the baby moon. I'll let you know how you idea worked.

 

Still won't budge. :evil: :!:

This thing is ticking me OFF!!!!

 

Something you can do is get some dry ice and hold it on the axle with some plyers, this will actually shrink the axle if left on it long enough (about 20 min). Although only a tiny fraction the dry ice will indeed shrink the axle, it may be worth your time to get some and try this out first before something gets destroyed. Once the dry ice has been on the axle (see if there is a way to get both sides of the axle with the dry ice) is when I would use a hammer and some soft metal punch(like a big thick piece of lead) and a hammer to break it loose. Use a real hammer and put the softer metal object against the axle and hit it, don't hit it so hard as to knock it into next week, but small solid hits. Your rubber hammer is getting too much bounce and not enough solid hit.

This should break the axle loose. Because you are hitting it with a hammer I would suggest replacing the wheel bearings and seals at this time. It sounds like there is rust that has built up between the bearings and the axle, so when you re-assemble the axles I would also use some anti seize on them.

I know it takes time to find and go get the dry ice, and it's time away from riding. If you think about it this way, damaged caused by trying to hurry and get it done usually cost a lot more missed riding time than just getting everything you need to get the job done, and then doing it.

I would just button up the front wheel and ride until I got all of what I needed to complete the job, this way there will be minimal down time. The big thing is don't get frustrated, if you find yourself getting upset by it, walk away and think about something else for a few min.

Good Luck, Old Dog

 

It's hard to beleive that with everything loose that it won't move, once it's all loose all that could hold it would be the bearings, now that's a pleasant thought, normally you can push/pull it out, get a piece of wood and give it a really good whack, if that don't move it you got some other problems.

 

Like what other problems???? The bike has been running well. In fact, I just rode the Tail Of The Dragon three times and the Cherohala Skyway once the first week of July. No problems at all other than a slick rear tire.

 

Wheel bearings, that's what other problems, you have everything else loose and the Axel won't move, the only 2 things left is the wheel bearings, you've made no mention that you checked them, grasp the top and bottom of the tire and wiggle it , or try to, if it feels loose the races could have swaged them selves to the Axel, you say it run fine, well bad front wheel bearings don't always give a indication that there bad while being ridden, BTDT,,,check them out, that's ALL that's left that could stop the Axel from coming out.

 

Try some PB-Blaster on the axle - let it soak in for awhile then use a block of wood and BF-Hammer - might even have someone push back against the opposite side with a big socket over the end of the axle (to allow it to slide out) and hold a heavy weight (small anvil, piece of railroad track whatever you have laying around) on the back of the socket to offer some force to pound against.

 

Well, finally got the axle out this afternoon (Tuesday). I guess the WD-40 I sprayed in there yesterday as well as using a real hammer as opposed to a rubber mallet helped do the trick. I do know I need some grease on it before re-installing the wheel.

 

Stagmie,

What kind of bike are you working on? On mine ('01 Spirit 1100), once everything is loosened up I have to unscrew the axle, cuz the end is threaded into the fork tube.

We should get together and ride one day, as we're just down the road from you.

CB

 

My '84 VT700C has a threaded front axle as well.

But with four bolts for pinch points sounds like this one is not threaded at all.

 

Correct, it is not threaded. The Axle Bolt on the right side screws out after the pinch bolts are loosend and the the axle slides out from the left side. Again I got it out yesterday, tires came in today, will hopefully get them mounted on Friday and be riding Saturday. That's my plan anyway. Btw, CB, It's a '97 Shadow ACE 1100. And yes, you are only 45 to 60 minuets away from me. Contact me off list if you'd like and we'll see if we can set something up.