Help! Can't loosen rear axle

[phat ham]

My belt snapped and I'm trying to put the new one on but I can't loosen the rear axle. I loosened the pinch bolt but the axle just won't budge. I've even tried hitting it with an impact wrench. Am I missing something here? It's not reverse threaded is it?

 

[snrusnak]

IIRC it's NOT reverse threaded. I had the same problem. Took my wife holding the front of the bike down while I jumped on a breaker bar. Luckily the axle didn't break.

 

[phat ham]

Aren't these things only supposed to be torqued to around 50 ft lbs?

 

[EricZ]

The axle is so long that an impact is not a good tool to use to break it loose. Spray some PB blaster at both wheel bearings and on each end of the axle threads, then use a long breaker bar to try to unscrew the axle.

 

[mtnmason]

Mine was a real bitch as well. I went out and bought a 7/8 allen wrench ($35!!!) and put a 3 foot piece of pvc on it and essentially did what rusnak described. Be careful though b/c you can damage the axle. If you have access to a heat gun I would recommend warming it up. When you do get it off (and you will) make sure to coat that baby with a liberal application of anti-sieze before torquing it back down. Good luck.

 

[somecallmery]

Yeah, something like that. But they get pretty tough over time. I had to use the jump on the breaker bar method the first time to change my tire. Then 1000 miles or so later my rear brake seized up and trashed my rotor, the axle came right out to swap rotors. Make sure to use a decent amount of anti seize on the threads when you install it.

 

[snrusnak]

Yeah I sprayed penetrating oil as much as possible and let it soak in then applied a little bit of heat(used a hairdryer, not heat gun, just to be careful). I about broke my ankle when the thing let loose.

 

[iman501]

Anti-seize!!!!

 

[phat ham]

Hey guys finally got it off. One of the houses on my block is being renovated so I snooped around their junk pile and found a 4 ft section of PVC pipe to use as a cheater bar. I had to lean on it with all of my hulking 150 lb frame to get the axle loose. I thought I had actually broken the pipe it was bent so much.

I got a new rear tire back in the fall so its not like the axle had been sitting there for years. I'm guessing the tech used an impact wrench and just hammered away at it when he put it back on. I wonder how long my bearings will last now.

 

[squidbuellie]

More then likely they didn't put anti seize on the axle when they change the tire last.

 

[phat ham]

Crap forgot the anti seize. Gotta do that tomorrow

 

[msgvb]

My belt snapped

how did your belt snap? how many miles on it, do you know? did it go all at once while you were riding, or did you notice that it was tearing?

+1 on PB Blaster for stuck stuff. or Kroil if you can find it. I prefer Kroil, but I swear, these things work like magic.
+1 again on anti-seize.

 

[mtnmason]

I'm a bit leary of Pb blaster on the axle just because of is proxy to your bearings. That stuff doesn't mix well with grease. Granted your bearings are sealed - but ya never know.

OTOH what kind of dufus uses an air gun on something that requires a torque wrench?

 

[phat ham]

belt went with about 26k miles on the bike. I assume it was the original belt. no warning signs. it looked normal last time I looked at it though that was a couple months ago. when it went I was accelerating from a light and it felt like the transmission popped into neutral. complete and sudden loss of power. luckily I was only a few blocks from home so I called a friend and we pushed it to my place.

 

[user_deleted]

for what it's worth to anybody reading this....it takes firm steady pressure in many instances to break these axles loose. sometimes hundreds of pounds of torque generated by breaker bar extension of your choice. ALWAYS coat the entire length of the axle with very light coating of heavy grease, and the threads with a small dab of anti-seize when reinstalling. i've also found a trick tool for these that is superior to the factory axle nut tool supplied in the tool-kit and most everyone has lying about.....a 1/2 inch drive 13/16th hex end spark plug socket. they are deep-well and the closed end where the driver engages is precise fit for XB axles. remove the foam insert if socket has one and insert extension thru the open end that normally engages the plug. works like a champ.

 

[g3stripes]

awesome socket trick!! melt candle wax on threads for anti-seize in a pinch, also works as loosener- heat area affected touch candle to surface will melt and draw into crevices. old timer remedy

 

[g3stripes]

forgot one- teflon tape will do double duty as anti-seize and thread locker,while not as good as red locktite it does work. dont use too much tho and wrap tite

 

[DrogeN Omen]

did u guys check the lock grub screw under the swing arm???????

i always only do mine hand tight then tighten the grub screw a bit tighter than hand tight.