Rear wheel spacers

[lee]

just like the prize prick learner mechanic that I am I took my wheels off for a good clean the other day without paying too much, or should I, enough, attention to the spacers. Please help. 3 spacers all different sizes. The largest I know goes between the swing arm and the hub of the wheel on the right side. That leaves 2 - one slightly smaller than the other and the smaller one has a bevelled / tapered edge. I think the smaller one with the bevelled edge goes between the brake caliper and the hub and the other between the swing arm and the brake caliper. Is this right? Also, does the bevelled edge go against the hub or the caliper? It looks to me as though the bevelled edge should slot into something, only it doesn't slot into either the hub or the caliper as it is still larger than either hole. After trying both ways the caliper does not seem centred on the brake disc, hence the wheel does not run freely. The inside pad seems a lot closer to the disc than the outside pad. I guess the pads will always rub a little but I don't know if what I now have is excessive, as again I did not see how much it dragged before I took the wheel off. I also now do not have any shims on the caliper bolts as putting them back makes the problem worse. They were on there somewhere before I took the wheel off. Any advice you can give would be very much appreciated as always.
Thanks
Lee

 

[Sparks]

Sorry I can't be of any help but I have an 03 chopper with the rolling thunder frame so I'm sure my configuration won't be the same. Just try every combination till it looks the best, this will give you practice until someone posts the proper sequence from the book or memory and the irratation level will teach you what it taught me years ago. I will open several projects at one time and forget what I've done, I must lay parts aside in the order taken apart, reassemble to the side in order, lable everything with masking tape or an auto electricians numbered pad or depending how much I was partying at the time all of the above! I have gone as far as to put numbers on zip lok baggies for the push rod/lifter/rocker arms to keep them togther yet seperate and in sequence for reassembley.

 

[lee]

all good advice there and its a mistake i won't be making again - unfortunately there is nothing in the manual on this - not in mine anyhow
Thanks Sparks

 

[txchopperguy]

Damn Lee, that sucks dude. Hopefully someone else on here has an 05 Bulldog, and can help ya figure that out. If not, maybe Tonya (Draggin H) from Big Dog of Tampa could be of assistance. I do hope you get a handle on it. Best of luck
Todd

 

[Gas Man]

Man I have a pic of mine and I labeled them before I took it all apart. But being my is a BDM frame and RSD I'm not sure it helps.

 

[lee]

thanks tx I'll get there - GM, you are a legend - that pic is perfect and solves my problem - its how I have done it so maybe my caliper was no better lined up before and it will be ok - it has to be because there is no other way it can go on
thanks again boys

 

[Gas Man]

Hey sometimes picture boy has just the right pic. But I'm not sure about that legend crap... maybe notorious for pics. :2thumbs:

It just goes to show that proper labeling and organization when taking anything apart helps. I also use a muffin pan for one day project. You can easily put notes in the seperate sections as to what is what... or in this case number them kinda like I did. But I'll have to take my numbers off before I assemble. Further, when I took mine apart, I put it back together before putting it aside. To further help keep things in order.

I know now that I'm sliding things back together I'm glad I took the extra time to label and such.

 

[WB Cycles]

I also use a muffin pan for one day project. You can easily put notes in the seperate sections as to what is what... or in this case number them kinda like I did.

Second guy I've heard of that does this Gas and its a GREAT idea. Heard it from a buddy back when we were working on cars (as in completely modifying them) and it works. I add the extra step of putting saran wrap over it after I fill them up to help avoid that "oops... I just knocked the damned thing over" issue. :up:

 

[lee]

all back together and running smoothly - thanks boys

 

[Gas Man]

Yep saran wrap it... that's a good idea I never thought of...

Glad to hear its all back and good lee!!!

 

[IrishGuy]

As always, great pics gas. :up:

While we're on tires. For the mechanically challenged (like myself)-

What are the steps you take to remove the rear tire?
1. remove break caliper
2. unbolt axle bolt
3. loosen alignment adjusters
4. ??? -- Slide the axle out? If so, which way does it slide out?

 

[Gas Man]

Thanks... pics is one thing I do, do good.

That's pretty much how its done. Real simple.

The axle slides out the right side. As you can see in my pic. Remove the bolt on the left side.. but leave it in a bit... use it to push the axle out the right side a bit, then remove it the rest of the way by pulling. might help to have somebody else lift up on the rear wheel. I have pulled so many rear wheels I can usually do it myself.

I also suggest labeling the spacers before you pull anything apart. a simple 1,2,3 does wonders as my pics have shown.

 

[IrishGuy]

Remove the bolt on the left side.. but leave it in a bit... use it to push the axle out the right side a bit, then remove it the rest of the way by pulling.

Great tip! Thanks! :2thumbs:

 

[lee]

you don't need to mess with the axle adjuster screws - or at least I didn't - once you have the bronze coloured spacer out of the way on the left side and the big lump of steel at the other end of the axle out of the way of the adjuster screws you should have enough to play with to move the wheel forward to get the belt off.

 

[Rick]

Thanks... pics is one thing I do, do good.

That's pretty much how its done. Real simple.

The axle slides out the right side. As you can see in my pic. Remove the bolt on the left side.. but leave it in a bit... use it to push the axle out the right side a bit, then remove it the rest of the way by pulling. might help to have somebody else lift up on the rear wheel. I have pulled so many rear wheels I can usually do it myself.

I also suggest labeling the spacers before you pull anything apart. a simple 1,2,3 does wonders as my pics have shown.

Gas when you reassemble your rear wheel, please do a how to on alignment using a laser. That would be a big help to all! Besides numbering your parts during disassembly realignment of that fat ass rear wheel is the hardest part.

 

[IrishGuy]

you don't need to mess with the axle adjuster screws..

I had figured I'd have to turn them out the same amount, and back when done. Thanks for the heads up man :up:

Gas when you reassemble your rear wheel, please do a how to on alignment using a laser. That would be a big help to all!

I'd really like to see this too

 

[Gas Man]

Gas when you reassemble your rear wheel, please do a how to on alignment using a laser. That would be a big help to all! Besides numbering your parts during disassembly realignment of that fat ass rear wheel is the hardest part.

I don't have no laser dilly. But I will try to remember to write something.

 

[lee]

you could always take a measurement on each side before you remove the wheel - for example, from the centre of each end of the axle to the swing arm pivot - I did this and there was a 6mm difference! I guess though if it was 6mm out of line I would feel something - I'm glad I measured it before because if I found that after I would definitely have started messing with it - then all hell could have broken loose!