Reinstalling the Rear Wheel

[SoCalRaider]

Well I got my wheel off OK had it straightened & new 240 Avon put on.
NOW, how in the H do you get it back on I've tried squeezing the bake bracket back onto the frame with the wheel in place, I've tried squeezing the wheel up into place with the brake bracket in place, I've tried taking the brake disc off & squeezing it back on & nothing is working
Any other techniques that I should try??

[chillyraider]

I'm sure everyone will have an idea. Here's what we do.

We remove the rear fender so we can roll the wheel into place, getting the swingarm as close to the bolt hole as possible.

You need to remove the rear caliper and only work with the bracket.
Slide the bracket into place and hold it in on the swing arm with a buddy or a little tape(not so much that you cant move it freely) cause you'll need to align it with the rear wheel.

It makes it easier to work with when the wheel and swingarm holes are on the same plane.

The point is that you dont have to wrestle with the wheel if the fender is off(four bolts and the brake harness plug) and it is on the ground.
Good luck.
~chilly

[Beethoven]

I took mine off last fall for chroming and have not put it back yet, so I'm guessing here. I looked at the manual and after you put the wheel and axle back in the next step is to re-install the brake caliper assembly, so I am guessing that the whole caliper assembly should be off already (I mean if they say put it back, like, it must mean they think it's already off eh? - does that make sense?). Let us know what you find out. When the weather warms up I am going to be next! Good luck!

[chillyraider]

I looked at the manual and after you put the wheel and axle back in the next step is to re-install the brake caliper assembly, so I am guessing that the whole caliper assembly should be off already (I mean if they say put it back, like, it must mean they think it's already off eh? - does that make sense?).

You're mostly right. The thing is that the axle bolt must go thru the rear wheel and the brake caliper bracket. What makes it tough is the bracket has to be in a slotted grove on the swing arm. so it's easier to tape it up there and then when the wheel starts to go into place slide the bracket back and shove the bolt thru.

ADDENDUM
You have to put the wheel in first, slide the belt over the pulley to the inside of the pulley between the pulley and the wheel (not on the pulley). Then place the bracket inside the wheel and on the swingarm groove (You cant get the wheel in with the pulley in place on the swingarm until after the wheel is in the general area it is supposed to be. Then slide both the wheel and the bracket back into place, and push the bolt thru. Once the bolt is in, the wheel will push forward enough to get the belt back on.

Trust me on this, it is alot easier when the fender is out of the way and the tire is on the ground where the holes line up. (I do it by myself in about 10 minutes.)

it's like spinning plates.
~chilly

[Rajder]

I would take Chilly's advice about taking the rear fender off unless you don't mind dropping the brake caliper bracket several times and scratching the hell out of your wheel.

I've done mine a few times and I have gotten decent at it but it is definitely a difficult balance of lifting the wheel into place, making sure the spacers stay in place, holding the brake caliper in the slot on the swingarm, and then aligning everything up so that you can get the axle through everything without it falling apart. You can do it but I usually have to be on the ground using my legs, hands, and shoulders to get everything lined up just right.

The next time I do it I may try taking the fender off like Chilly said. I can see how it would be a huge benefit if all of the axle holes were on the same plane and you could just roll the wheel into place.

[dreadly]

How difficult is it to take the rear wheel off?

[chillyraider]

How difficult is it to take the rear wheel off?

Depends if you must drop the exhaust to access the nut or not.
I cut down a 27mm socket to fit between the VH2-1 and the swingarm, so it only takes me about 5, 10 minutes to pop a wheel out.
Longer if I had to remove the exhaust.
~chilly

[Beethoven]

OK, gotcha Chilly! I will definitely take off the fender and tape the bracket. Thank you for the solid instructions. I am going to get my daughter to help me print this page for reference because we have 15 cm of snow tonight so it's going to be a while. Thanks, again.

[Rajder]

How difficult is it to take the rear wheel off?

Yeah, taking the wheel off is the easy part. Getting it back on is the difficult part. I think your exhaust may be cut down enough that you may not have to remove the exhaust to get enough access to your rear axle. Just jack up the rear tire, remove the brake caliper and pads, loosen the axle adjusters and axle nut, slide the wheel forward so that you can remove the belt, remove the axle nut, pull the axle out and the whole wheel should just slide right out. It's that easy! Putting it back on is a little more involved.

[dreadly]

thanks Gents. I was going to pay a shop to do it to have my wheels powdercoated - but this seems like something I would be able to tackle.

[chillyraider]

Yeah, wheel removal is simple.
On the rear be sure to remove the caliper before hand, so it doesnt drop out on the wheel. The bracket will still drop out but it's easier to catch and manipulate if you follow my info below, especially with the fender out of the way, and the wheel as close to the ground as possible, so it can roll in and out.

BTW< same deal on the belt. you must pop it off to the inside between the pulley and wheel first. Then move it to the outside after the bracket is out and the bolt.
~chilly

[SoCalRaider]

Well I got my wheel off OK had it straightened & new 240 Avon put on.
NOW, how in the H do you get it back on I've tried squeezing the bake bracket back onto the frame with the wheel in place, I've tried squeezing the wheel up into place with the brake bracket in place, I've tried taking the brake disc off & squeezing it back on & nothing is working
Any other techniques that I should try??

Thx ChillyMan, after reading your note & meditating on it, I finally got it.
I was trying to bring the wheel up into the fender, putting the belt on then trying to get the brake bracket back into place. Way to much interferance. rolling the wheel in from the rear, brake bracket in place, & level with the swing arm, then putting the belt on works

[chillyraider]

Thx ChillyMan, after reading your note & meditating on it, I finally got it.
I was trying to bring the wheel up into the fender, putting the belt on then trying to get the brake bracket back into place. Way to much interferance. rolling the wheel in from the rear, brake bracket in place, & level with the swing arm, then putting the belt on works

No problem. Glad to help.
~chilly

[LostDog]

thanks Gents. I was going to pay a shop to do it to have my wheels powdercoated - but this seems like something I would be able to tackle.

As long as you get it back on in time for our Eureka Springs ride. No excuses, you'e committed!

[Thom_Raider]

The exhaust comes off in about 2-3 minutes. I suggest you take it off and get it out of the way. It goes back on almost as quickly.
I wrestled with lifting the wheel back in place. My 2x10 "jack" only has one height position.
I finally used 2 tie-down straps slung over the seat, to suspend the wheel inside the fender. I was able to lift it slowly as I placed the brake support bracket into it's position.
Good luck.