Removing and reinstalling rear wheel

[rboe]

Oh man, I've been spoiled rotten with shaft drive motorcycles. Removing and reinstalling have been a breeze.

I took the rear wheel off this afternoon to put on that fancy red tape. It didn't come off as nicely as I'd like but putting it back on was a bear. Son of a gun, I could install the chain then the brake caliper didn't want to get on. Put on the caliper and no room to install the chain.

What is the trick this?

[Deanohh_imp]

I hang the chain on the swing arm over a rag when I take it off. I put the chain on with tire on the ground then lift wheel to get the caliper started then insert greased axle.

[rboe]

That is pretty much how I did it but I didn't have enough width to insert the caliper. I figure there is way to do that is easier than the way I'm trying to do it. Right now I'd call AAA instead of trying to change a tire in the field.

[Deanohh_imp]

Do you mean the caliper carrier where the axle goes through seems too thick for the space between the bearing bushing and the swing arm?

if that's it, make sure the driven flange is all the way into the wwheel hub. Also the swing arms can flex a little so you might push with your hand or foot and widen the gap enough to slip the pieces in.

[meowguy_imp]

Do you have the Shop Manual and did you follow the instructions in it for the removal (p13-7) and installation (p13-14)? I am just curious if there was anything incorrect in those instructions.

Basically it states; on the center stand...

13-7 Completely loosen the drive chain adjusters, then remove the axle nut and washer. Remove the rear axle while holding the rear wheel. Derail the chain and remove wheel.

13-14 Install the wheel into the swing arm, install the drive chain on the sprocket, and set the brake disk between the pads. Apply grease and install the axle. Install the washer and nut, adjust the chain, and torque the nut to 83 ft lbs.

This is all theoretical for me, I have not attempted it yet.

[jchoby_imp]

The shop manual is pretty vague on the subject...

[meowguy_imp]

The shop manual is pretty vague on the subject...

Other than showing a video, I don't know what more the Shop Manual could state. That is why I asked the OP if it had been used and is so, was it lacking in detail in one place or another.

[rboe]

Shop manual is VERY vague. Not unlike step 4 in another shop manual stated: Remove the transmission.

Kinda like: remove the sparkplugs and the back three are tucked under the firewall.

The main difficulty was in getting the swing arm torque block into the slot of the caliper. It has to come back a far amount. Easy to do with no wheel in place since you can simply drop it on the block. If I attempt to put the Caliper on the block and slide the wheel in place there is no room to either drop the chain up or down. If I had three or four hands I might be able to hold the chain open (so it was around the sprocket but not yet installed).

It's a very crowded place back there (and the spacers would get kitty wampus at times making everything harder but that is one aspect of the job I expect to happen.

If you guys knew how easy it was to drop and reinstall the rear wheel on a Moto Guzzi Quota. As easy as falling down.

The whole affair reminded me of trying to reinstall the rear tire on a buddies CR450. We had similar problems and there were two of us. At some point magic happened and it kinda fell into place but I don't recall exactly what we did.

[the Ferret]

I find wheel removals on double sided swingarm bikes to generally be a one person job, but wheel installations on same work better with 2 people. Besides being heavy for one hand everything is so tight and needs to be held so vertically in alignment its a challenge for a single person.

[meowguy_imp]

Quote:At some point magic happened and it kinda fell into place but I don't recall exactly what we did.
Don't you just hate that.

I find just going away and leaving it sit for awhile helps too.