Brent Herridge
Active Member
I made every mistake possible the last 2 days, so hopefully this helps someone.
To remove the rear wheel, remove the axle covers, unscrew the bolt on left side, and use hammer & screwdriver to push out the axle.
Get your tire mounted, and put the wheel inside the fender. Then push the wheel all the way forward and get the belt on the pulley.
I found it easiest to lower the bike/jack to align the bike and wheel. You can lift the wheel by hand, but you'll need a helper to push in the axle.
Line up wheel and bike, then do the following in this order, avoiding these pitfalls, which I'll discuss how to discover.
4. Adjustment Screws - if your tire is adjusted OK, don't mess with these. But you have to pry the axle backwards with a screwdriver to fit behind the adjuster screws that go back from the front of the opening.
a. PROBLEM - if you don't pry the axle behind the adjuster, you could tighten it on top of the adjuster. You'll know this happened because 1) belt is crazy loose and 2) axle is too far to the right since the adjuster is preventing it from going all the way in. Do the right one first to set the belt, then push (hammer) axle all the way through, then pry the left side after you start the bolt into the axle. The big washer is what holds it against the adjuster.
5. If you are forced to move the adjusters - there are 2 screws. Outermost screw locks the actual adjuster. But to prevent the lock from moving the adjuster, do it in this order:
To remove the rear wheel, remove the axle covers, unscrew the bolt on left side, and use hammer & screwdriver to push out the axle.
Get your tire mounted, and put the wheel inside the fender. Then push the wheel all the way forward and get the belt on the pulley.
I found it easiest to lower the bike/jack to align the bike and wheel. You can lift the wheel by hand, but you'll need a helper to push in the axle.
Line up wheel and bike, then do the following in this order, avoiding these pitfalls, which I'll discuss how to discover.
- Push axle in from RIGHT side. You know this is correct because you pushed it out that side. Just remember.........(my 1st mistake). You can tell if this is your problem because the right end of the axle is solid and is too big to fit thru the left edge of the swingarm.
- Spacers:
- Larger spacer goes on right side between pulley and swing arm. Lip goes in toward bearings.
- Two smaller spacers go on either side of the caliper bracket. One of them also has a lip, and again, it goes in toward the bearing. Flat spacer is on outside edge between swingarm and caliper bracket.
- PROBLEM - if you don't have the lips facing the bearings, when you tighten the axle bolt, the wheel is too tight and won't move freely.
- PROBLEM - if you have omitted a spacer, you'll see gaps, and if bike is lifted, the wheel will move right to left.
4. Adjustment Screws - if your tire is adjusted OK, don't mess with these. But you have to pry the axle backwards with a screwdriver to fit behind the adjuster screws that go back from the front of the opening.
a. PROBLEM - if you don't pry the axle behind the adjuster, you could tighten it on top of the adjuster. You'll know this happened because 1) belt is crazy loose and 2) axle is too far to the right since the adjuster is preventing it from going all the way in. Do the right one first to set the belt, then push (hammer) axle all the way through, then pry the left side after you start the bolt into the axle. The big washer is what holds it against the adjuster.
5. If you are forced to move the adjusters - there are 2 screws. Outermost screw locks the actual adjuster. But to prevent the lock from moving the adjuster, do it in this order:
- Loosen the axle bolt.
- Remove the adjuster lock screws
- Adjust the adjustment screws to get the wheel where you want it.
- Tighten the axle
- Put lock screw in, and put your finger on the adjustment screw.
- Tighten the lock screw until you feel the adjuster begin to move.
- Stop. If you're not holding the adjuster with your finger, it will move A LOT as you tighten the adjuster screw.
- Put axle covers back on. (Don't do it before step 5)
