SuzukiSavage.com - Rear axle direction

ArkansasBrian

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Rear axle direction
08/26/19 at 20:11:35

So, I pulled my rear wheel off to change the tire this evening and the axle pulled out on the right side and ran into the muffler. I had to loosen the header to shift the muffler to get the axle all the way out. Anyway, my question is this:

Is there any reason not to reinsert the axle from the left side to avoid future unnecessary header loosening?

It's only a couple of bolts, but less work is less work, and the fewer times I reset my header the longer my header gasket ought to last. I'm just wondering if there's something I'm missing that would make that change a horrible idea.

Many thanks for any input!

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Armen

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Re: Rear axle direction
Reply #1 - 08/26/19 at 20:44:08

Hey hey,
For what its worth, I always mount an axle left to right when possible.
Def on chain drive bikes, which seem to be trickier to tension.
When you are using a torque wrench to tighten the rear axle nut, the wrench will probably be pointed north.
On the left side of the bike, this translates to pulling the axle away from the motor, resulting in a tighter chain (or belt). If the nut is on the right side of the bike, with the torque wrench pointed north, you will be pushing the wheel forward, against the chain adjuster stop. And the chain/belt tension won't change.
Not sure if that is clear :-0

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verslagen1 YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline Where there's a will, I want to be in it. Posts: 28890 L.A. California Gender:	Re: Rear axle direction Reply #2 - 08/26/19 at 21:03:26 Have somebody sit on it, or take a shock off. I still have to lean on the pillion to get a little clearance for the torque wrench.
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stewmills

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Re: Rear axle direction
Reply #3 - 08/27/19 at 09:51:50

I swapped my axle direction for that reason...so I could get it in and out easily and not have to worry with the muffler. No problems. Just make sure you leave the different size axle spacers where they are and don't accidentally swap their positions.

It took about 50 miles for my bike to stop trying to go backwards on me once I swapped the axle direction, but after I retrained the axle it was smooth sailing from then on Grin

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Hiko Senior Member Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 250 Tauranga New Zealand Gender:	Re: Rear axle direction Reply #4 - 08/27/19 at 16:46:26 Thats another problem the dyna muffler cures !
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ArkansasBrian Junior Member Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 52 Little Rock, AR Gender:	Re: Rear axle direction Reply #5 - 08/27/19 at 19:53:05 Hey y'all! Thanks for the replies! I didn't think it would cause a problem, but I'm a big fan of learning from the experience of others whenever possible. The wife is pretty good about lending a hand (or butt) when necessary for the realigning. The keg of homebrew on tap seems to aid in finding helpers as well
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ohiomoto Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 2778	Re: Rear axle direction Reply #6 - 08/28/19 at 05:52:17 Wait, you mean I can get my wife to plop her ass on my bike if I tell her I need help??? Genius, pure genius!!!
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Gary_in_NJ Serious Thumper Offline LS650 Cafe Racer Posts: 2633 Amongst the Twisty Roads	Re: Rear axle direction Reply #7 - 08/28/19 at 06:50:05 Go with a short megaphone muffler - problem with the axle, and the future problem with your wife (I need someone heavy to plop-down on my seat) - solved. Oh, and your bike will sound great too.
Back to top	A life-time student of motorcycling. LS650 Cafe, DRZ400SM, FZ6N, SV650S, CB900C, Ducati ST2, CB550F-SS My LS650=> http://suzukisavage.com/yabb2.2/Attachments/Left.JPG IP Logged

justin_o_guy2 Serious Thumper Offline What happened? Posts: 55279 East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.	Re: Rear axle direction Reply #8 - 08/28/19 at 16:34:53 ohiomoto wrote on 08/28/19 at 05:52:17: Wait, you mean I can get my wife to plop her ass on my bike if I tell her I need help??? Genius, pure genius!!! Now THINK about it.. IF You tell her you need help And She goes with you And She Does wind up actually helping you She's Always gonna wanna go..
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Ruttly Serious Thumper Offline Thumpers Rule Posts: 5112 Manteca , CA Gender:	Re: Rear axle direction Reply #9 - 08/29/19 at 21:05:25 Yup , like feeding a cat , she will never go AWAY !!!
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GOF

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Re: Rear axle direction
Reply #10 - 08/30/19 at 05:40:00

ArkansasBrian wrote on 08/27/19 at 19:53:05:

Hey y'all!

Thanks for the replies! I didn't think it would cause a problem, but I'm a big fan of learning from the experience of others whenever possible.

The wife is pretty good about lending a hand (or butt) when necessary for the realigning. The keg of homebrew on tap seems to aid in finding helpers as well Wink

I bottle mine. Easier to take along.
Um...The beer, not my wife.

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ohiomoto Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 2778	Re: Rear axle direction Reply #11 - 08/30/19 at 05:51:37 Didn't say I was trying to get my wife on the bike for a ride. I just want to see her ass! LOL
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justin_o_guy2 Serious Thumper Offline What happened? Posts: 55279 East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.	Re: Rear axle direction Reply #12 - 08/30/19 at 15:44:29 Me too Take pictures
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