Front Axle Stuck

[Guest]

On my 450E I am tring to pull my front wheel off. I have the cap off the one fork (there is no removable cap on the left side - non disc - as you are standing in front of the bike).

It seems to be stuck to the speedo adapter. I have the speedo cable off the adapter. When I turn the axle the adapter turns until it hits the fork tube. I tried rotating the axle as I pulled, hitting it with a hammer, yelling at it, pleading with it, reasoning with it...... I am at a loss. Have I forgotten to remove something? Is it possible its frozen (it IS 33F)?

Unfortunately my manual is buried in all these boxes from my move to CT.

Any ideas?

[sharpy]

axle

Replace the cap as this only holds a spacer. Put the axle nut back on the wrong way around and wind it on so the nut and axle sit flush as not to damage the thread. Next using a brass mallet hit the axle after soaking around the spacer with RP7/WD40. This not working remove the nut and bash away checking that the forks dont spread too far apart. Doing this will sometimes reguire a replacement axle from the wreckers Good luck!

[Anonymous]

I never would have thought about bending the fork tubes...anyway, to prevent this you can put a set of straps around the fork tubes to hold them together. I would buy a slide hammer to pull the bolt out (you can borrow them from Canadian Tire...) and replace the bearings as you'll have pounded them good. The bolt is supposed to be a slip fit so it needs to be cleaned off on a wire wheel and greased before re-installing.

Have fun, Steve

[bgmart450]

OK so this IS an ape/BFH/wildman approach. Wanted to be sure before I went nuts on it. Would hate to break something that should have been removed 1st.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

yes just whichever method you use double check your forks for straightness afterwards. even if you use straps you could still bend both fork tubes. be careful and best luck in your success.