So as I put my bike back together I found myself wondering something about the axles. I don't want to take them off again so I figured I'd just suck up my pride and ask here. I don't remember there being a lip on the rear axle towards the belt side that would serve the purpose of squeezing the swing arm towards the wheel. I'm not sure I'm explaining this clearly, but if I remember correctly the part of the axle that is on the belt side in the swing arm does not pinch the swing arm towards the wheel, it's just a straight shaft through the sing arm. This makes me wonder how the swing arm stays tight to the wheel. Is this correct?
Very dumb axle question
- Thread starter snrusnak
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konarider94
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the axle squeezes the wheel to one side. the pinch bolt locks the pulley side of the swingarm to the axle
I'm just surprised the pinch bolt is what is relied on to hold it all together. Plus the swing arm isn't pulled tight while the pinch bolt is tightened. Does that make sense?
Just seems odd to me.
So basically what happens is the wheel gets pushed/squeezed to the brake side of the swingarm. And the belt side of the swing arm is "loose" for lack of a better term.
Just seems odd to me.
So basically what happens is the wheel gets pushed/squeezed to the brake side of the swingarm. And the belt side of the swing arm is "loose" for lack of a better term.
konarider94
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There is no need to have any lateral preload on the swingarm. if you look at the pulley side the axle pushes all the way through the swingarm and presses on the race of the wheel bearing. There is a decent amount of friction between the axle and swingarm from the belt tension so im sure it pulls the swingarm in a little bit. The pinch bolt isnt holding it all together, it has the threads on the other side. It is a unique design but its pretty simple, the pinch bolt is definitely important to torque to the recommended setting. That would be a bad fastener to leave out. The amount of clamping force you get from a pinch bolt is suprisingly high.
Technically you could say the pulley side is free to move laterally without the pinch bolt. There would have to be some deformation though as the hole in the swingarm is pretty deep and it will stay perfectly concentric with the axle.
Technically you could say the pulley side is free to move laterally without the pinch bolt. There would have to be some deformation though as the hole in the swingarm is pretty deep and it will stay perfectly concentric with the axle.
konarider94
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There is a big difference from a single sided swing arm. The axle has to cantilever off a single sided swingarm which is why they typically use an offset wheel and try to get the swingarm as centrally as possible. They also place the drive outside the swingarm to try and balance the forces better.
The pulley side on the buell still prevents the axle from bending which is the most important constraint. It is still supported on both ends. Axially the axle is very strong, it needs support to keep from bending. There isnt much lateral force on the axle anyway. Most of the force is transferred up/down or back/forth.
Many cars and trucks that have straight axles use whats called a c clip. The only thing holding the wheel and axle in the tube is the little clip that fits in the groove on the axle. If the axle breaks the whole wheel and axle slide right out. But the wheel bearing still carries most of the load.
The pulley side on the buell still prevents the axle from bending which is the most important constraint. It is still supported on both ends. Axially the axle is very strong, it needs support to keep from bending. There isnt much lateral force on the axle anyway. Most of the force is transferred up/down or back/forth.
Many cars and trucks that have straight axles use whats called a c clip. The only thing holding the wheel and axle in the tube is the little clip that fits in the groove on the axle. If the axle breaks the whole wheel and axle slide right out. But the wheel bearing still carries most of the load.
konarider94
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I have a kona hoss and thats what really got me into the singletrack riding. But I ride a trek fuel EX8 now, ive had it for 2 seasons. I am thinking of selling the kona. There are pictures of all of my bikes in the thread linked below. pg 9 has all my bikes in my living room 
I wish i got the trek remedy but I cant never find them in MI
http://www.buellxb.com/Buell-XB-Forum/General-Motorcycle-Chat/Bicycles........-leg-power-type
I wish i got the trek remedy but I cant never find them in MIhttp://www.buellxb.com/Buell-XB-Forum/General-Motorcycle-Chat/Bicycles........-leg-power-type
user_deleted
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great question and great posting Kona. by the way...i always though a front and/or rear XB axle was really a thing of design and engineering beauty.
