Engaging rear wheel hub with final drive

[2007LE]

I've changed my tires and removed the rear wheel at least four or five times since I've owned the bike. Every time I try to re-engage the rear wheel hub with the final drive, I have to play with it for at least 20 minutes. I insert the axle all the way across to keep the tire level. It's nothing but dumb luck when it finally engages. Does anyone know the secret to getting these gear teeth to align and slide together? Are there matching points on both sides to line up or what? Appreciate any pointers.

Bumfoozled

[antmor69]

Do you have the bike in gear when you're doing it?

[2007LE]

Do you have the bike in gear when you're doing it?

No. It's usually in neutral so that I can spin the wheel.

[2007LE]

No. It's usually in neutral so that I can spin the wheel.

Wait a minute. After saying that, I just realized that the wheel is able to spin because the wheel isn't engaged to the final drive yet. It's just spinning on the axle.

[antmor69]

Wait a minute. After saying that, I just realized that the wheel is able to spin because the wheel isn't engaged to the final drive yet. It's just spinning on the axle.

Right. Put it in gear before you try to mate the splines together. It will hold the hub splines still and you can just rotate the wheel and voila it will go on.

[Big-B]

Yep, it's the luck of the draw. I stabbed it on the first try when I did my 280. However, I did look in the housing to see where the spline was. I slid the shaft in and when it hit the spline I just wiggled it around and it slid into place.

[lincoln1003]

one of the members on here recommended using a floor jack to get the tire high enuf then slide the axle thru dont worry about the spacer yet then spin the tire untill it locks into place then pull the axel a little bit and add the spacer ... worked perfect !!

[2007LE]

Right. Put it in gear before you try to mate the splines together. It will hold the hub splines still and you can just rotate the wheel and voila it will go on.

Big-B

Yep, it's the luck of the draw. I stabbed it on the first try when I did my 280. However, I did look in the housing to see where the spline was. I slid the shaft in and when it hit the spline I just wiggled it around and it slid into place.

Thanks to both of you!! That should make it a lot easier next time. That was the only part of removing the rear tire that I really dreaded - aligning the hub again.

P.S. I haven't learned how to put two "quotes" in a response yet, so I just used the copy/paste for Big B's response.

[rynosback]

Do you have the bike in gear when you're doing it?

put it in gear.

[Big-B]

Big-B

Yep, it's the luck of the draw. I stabbed it on the first try when I did my 280. However, I did look in the housing to see where the spline was. I slid the shaft in and when it hit the spline I just wiggled it around and it slid into place.

Thanks to both of you!! That should make it a lot easier next time. That was the only part of removing the rear tire that I really dreaded - aligning the hub again.

P.S. I haven't learned how to put two "quotes" in a response yet, so I just used the copy/paste for Big B's response.

The small icon next to the reply tab, you click that for as many posts as you want to quote, then on the last one click the reply w/ quote tab.

[snoobzilla]

My chromed rim was VERY difficult to get on so I made a custom spacer (about 2") with pvc to squeeze wheel on. Put between the head of the axle and the drive hub it is just long enough to allow me on the brake side to put the axle nut and normal spacer inside of the right side of the swing arm. With bike in gear, tighten a little, rotate wheel until splines align, then tighten until there is enough space to fit brake bracket in (approx 1/8" between wheel and hub on drive side). Then remove axle and custom spacer, replace axle.

[2007LE]

The small icon next to the reply tab, you click that for as many posts as you want to quote, then on the last one click the reply w/ quote tab.

Thanks!

[Big-B]

Thanks!

welcome

[BigpapaM109]

one of the members on here recommended using a floor jack to get the tire high enuf then slide the axle thru dont worry about the spacer yet then spin the tire untill it locks into place then pull the axel a little bit and add the spacer ... worked perfect !!

Exactly how I do it but yes, it must be in gear.