Rear Axle Removal

[icemanisintexas]

Well yesterday on my day off I decided to follow the procedures documented on this forum to remove my rear wheel on my '97 standard Valkyrie. Everything was going fine until I tried to loosen the rear axle nut on the left side. The 27MM one. I was using a long breaker bar and I thought I broke the nut loose but soon realized that the axle was actually turning all the way through to the right side of axle housing. I then saw that the center of the axle nut on the right side uses a hex socket. Well according to the procedures in this forum and others it indicates that a 8mm hex socket would fit into the right side of the axle nut. Well I found out that 8mm is slightly too large and 7mm is too small. So I have two questions:

1) What size is the hex socket on the right side of the axle? 7.5mm maybe?
2) any suggestions on how to loosen the 27mm nut on the left side of the axle?

This is ticking me off. I just want to remove the wheel to get a new tire mounted.

Anyone's help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Gerry

[RP#62]

Nope, its 8mm.  It seems like 8mm is too large but thats from years of driving the axle home by striking it with a blunt object and slightly closing the hole.  If need be, grind a slight bevel on your 8 mm allen and drive it into the hole to clean it up.

I know this not because I am smart, but because I went through the same thing.

-RP

[SCain]

Mine is the same way, 8 is too big and 7 is too small, I just grab it with some channel locks, seems to work for me.

[icemanisintexas]

Nope, its 8mm.  It seems like 8mm is too large but thats from years of driving the axle home by striking it with a blunt object and slightly closing the hole.  If need be, grind a slight bevel on your 8 mm allen and drive it into the hole to clean it up.

I know this not because I am smart, but because I went through the same thing.

-RP

RP any suggestion on loosing the axle nut on the left side of the bike? That's my #1 issue right now.

Thanks Gerry

[icemanisintexas]

Mine is the same way, 8 is too big and 7 is too small, I just grab it with some channel locks, seems to work for me.

Steve I can't grab mine with channel locks or anything because I can't loosen the axle nut of the left side of the axle. I've tried to soak it with some penetrating lube but it wont' break loose and now the entire axle is turning, hence my question for the size of the socket on the right side of the axle so that I can try and hold it on the right  while turning the axle nut on the left.

Gerry

[sandy]

Nope, its 8mm.  It seems like 8mm is too large but thats from years of driving the axle home by striking it with a blunt object and slightly closing the hole.  If need be, grind a slight bevel on your 8 mm allen and drive it into the hole to clean it up.

I know this not because I am smart, but because I went through the same thing.

-RP

RP any suggestion on loosing the axle nut on the left side of the bike? That's my #1 issue right now.

Thanks Gerry

Gerry: As was said, the 8MM hex socket has closed up a bit by being hit with a metal hammer to drive it in. Take a small file and clean out the hex socket or file down the allen wrench and drive it in. Then you can remove the axle nut. When reinstalling the axle, put a small amount of waterproof grease on the axle to prevent corrosion from pitting the axle and freezing up inside the rear drive unit.

[RP#62]

Nope, its 8mm.  It seems like 8mm is too large but thats from years of driving the axle home by striking it with a blunt object and slightly closing the hole.  If need be, grind a slight bevel on your 8 mm allen and drive it into the hole to clean it up.

I know this not because I am smart, but because I went through the same thing.

-RP

RP any suggestion on loosing the axle nut on the left side of the bike? That's my #1 issue right now.

Thanks Gerry

Once you get the 8mm allen firmly in place you should be able to hold the axle from moving so you can get the nut off. 
-RP

[John Schmidt]

The one I ran into with that problem on the right side was really bad, so I got out my Dremel and used a pointed tip to redress the inside of the hex back to normal. Do just a bit at a time so you don't over-file it.

[Ricky-D]

Driving the rear axle home with a hammer is poor mechanics.  The proper tool would be a rubber mallet.

The axle turning while trying to loosen the axle nut indicates to me that the axle was not tightened enough initially.

Failure to use antiseize on the axle nut can cause all kinds of problems especially so if the nut is undisturbed for years!

This is not personal criticism of anything posted on this thread, simply pointing out that responsibility for taking care of this or that item has to be performed in a proper manner to avoid larger problems "down the road" caused by improper and imprudent mechanical practice now!

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