No fun taking my wheel off

[Tfrank59]

Well here's an experience that was not a lot of fun for me. I got 18K out of my front tire, whoo hoo, but I finally had to pull it so I could put a new one on. Man getting that axle out was a total bummer. I didn't put enough antiseize or grease on it to prevent corrosion, so I had to beat it out. It took so much pounding it was actually removing the bearing from the hub on the opposite side. So I'm gonna make sure that thing will never corrode this time up on reassembly! anyway just saying

[The emperor has no clothes]

Do you live and ride near the sea ? Also you did loosen the Allen bolts ?

[Tfrank59]

No and yes. It's funny my rear axle has had zero corrosion on it – course I had it out twice since the front one. But yeah I had the 4 allens loose ha ha– I wish it was something that simple keeping the axle from coming out. But it was actually just corrosion, between the bearings inside the inner spacer, which of course is carbon steel.  I know I wasn't doing my left fork tube any good beating that thing out, but what choice did I have?  Anyways it's out now, and I have since checked it for straightness and polished all the rust off, and inspected all the other parts – including my fork tubes.  I think I'm OK but it really did suck having to beat on my bike

[Steve K (IA)]

Whenever I pull my axles, I smear a thin coat of BelRay grease on them before re-assembly.  They just slide right out when the time comes.

Matter-of-fact, I put grease, oil or anti-seize on any bolt/screw I take out.

[Dusty]

Hammering  on an axle and having the bearings moving is not good for the bearings. I would do a real good inspection of the bearings  by pushing on the inner race and rotating then pulling on the inner race and rotating to feel for any thing other than smooth. I've  taken lots of things apart that were corroded together  and usually the bearings are toast. My $.02

Dusty

[Gryphon Rider]

Whenever I pull my axles, I smear a thin coat of BelRay grease on them before re-assembly.  They just slide right out when the time comes.

Matter-of-fact, I put grease, oil or anti-seize on any bolt/screw I take out.

I don't coat every fastener, but I always put a thin coat of wheel bearing grease on the axles before reinstalling them, to act as an anti-seize and corrosion inhibitor.

[Tfrank59]

Hammering  on an axle and having the bearings moving is not good for the bearings. I would do a real good inspection of the bearings  by pushing on the inner race and rotating then pulling on the inner race and rotating to feel for any thing other than smooth. I've  taken lots of things apart that were corroded together  and usually the bearings are toast. My $.02

Dusty

Yeah, I did a thorough inspection especially of that one bearing that was taking the beating, and it seems OK. Anyways the bike is back together now it all seems well.  Lots of antiseize and waterproof grease in there. Thanks a lot

OK just took her for a test ride of about 20 miles – handles perfectly at any speed. such a sweet bike, man!  Changing the tire took care of this little bit of wobble she began developing recently at about 35 mph with the old tire

[Tfrank59]

Whenever I pull my axles, I smear a thin coat of BelRay grease on them before re-assembly.  They just slide right out when the time comes.

Matter-of-fact, I put grease, oil or anti-seize on any bolt/screw I take out.

Yeah I am resolved to do the same thing myself, especially on axles. Here's something odd, I was changing the rear tire on my other bike, which is an 06, and this is the first tire change for it (only 10 K miles),and much to my surprise I pulled the axle and it is absolutely clean and lube free! It slid out of there like butter after being in there for 10 years – and I'm pretty sure it's been 10 years as this is the first time that wheels been pulled--but she came out of there like nothing and there was no corrosion whatsoever on it. Now that axle is cad plated, so are Valkyrie axles, but this one was so well plated she wasn't at all corroded, sitting in there dry, and that's after a decade!  Well needless to say I'm going to put grease on that axle when I reinstall it with the new tire but I'm just saying.  Kind of a head scratcher for me.