Axle-grease question

[slamtry]

I just removed my front wheel and took it to have the tire replaced. I am now trying to put it back together again. Never done this before. Do I need to put some sort of grease on the axle before I put it back into the bike? I do have some synthetic caliper grease that might be okay if I do need to grease it. And is there anywhere else that needs grease while I am reinstalling the wheel? Sorry if my questions are dumb. I'm very much a novice at all this.

[JB in NC]

If this is your '96 and it has the original wheels, the bearings are Timken tapered bearings. These need to be disassembled, cleaned, inspected, replaced if needed, packed with new grease, end play set, and new seals installed. Any other course of action is akin to a suicide attempt, especially on a bike that old. Consult your service manual. A water resistant grease, like that used for boat trailer bearings, is the best choice.

Jim

[IXL2Relax]

The actual axle does not require grease, although it's a good idea to put never seize on it to make it easier to take apart later.

The axle is used to clamp the Wheel Bearings & spacers to the forks. The axle does not actually turn, nor does the bearing inner race turn on the axle. ONLY the bearings between the two races move relative to those races.

http://sportsterpedia.com/doku.php/t...k:evo:wheels01

ETA: To be clear, Timken Bearings do need to be inspected for wear, then packed with grease. The axle itself is different from the bearings.

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[slamtry]

Interesting. So a thin wipe of some sort of grease would at least keep it clean for next time. Will do.

[koolbreeze]

Originally Posted by JB in NC

If this is your '96 and it has the original wheels, the bearings are Timken tapered bearings. These need to be disassembled, cleaned, inspected, replaced if needed, packed with new grease, end play set, and new seals installed. Any other course of action is akin to a suicide attempt, especially on a bike that old. Consult your service manual. A water resistant grease, like that used for boat trailer bearings, is the best choice.

Jim

Originally Posted by slamtry

Interesting. So a thin wipe of some sort of grease would at least keep it clean for next time. Will do.

As JB stated if you have tapered timken bearings, a simple thin wipe of grease will not be your friend. Timken bearings if not set correctly can seize and weld themselves to the axle. Additionally if you use high pressure spray to clean your bike water can get in through the seals. Clean, inspect and properly lube the bearings if you have timken and they will last a long time.

[bustert]

better to be safe than sorry.
on my 01 sport, the rear axle froze in the bearing race and had to destroy the axle to remove it and it was lubed when the new tire was installed. apparently since i ride less the axle does not get pulled much, went through tires like pop corn at the movies.
problem solved, machined a new one out of stainless for about 30 bucks, wayyyyy cheaper than a new one from hd.

[rejeanprimeau]

You can put some grease on the shaft of the axel but in the front just wipe the part that will be pinched. You don't want it walking out on you.

[Edster]

I always put never seize on the axle shaft anytime I remove it. It may be a bit overkill, but 20 years in the navy dealing with salt water environments made me this way. If it's exposed to the weather, never seize it.

Sent from my SM-A546U using Tapatalk

[Tomcatt]

I just wipe mine with CorrosionX before reassembling.