So, I have an 03 HD with sidecar that I picked up in the fall, just before old man winter set in here. I needed a new tire for the sidecar and am trying to remove the wheel. I have a service manual and have followed the instructions. I am at the point where the wheel should be coming off and it will not budge. It rotates freely, but wont pull off the axle.? Any suggestions, am I missing something here? Guessing the wheel has not been off in the 10K miles that are on it presently. Thanks for any advice on this.
If you did everything the manual says to do only thing I can think of is some one did not put anti seize on the axle and is stuck to the axle. See this many times on motorcycles. Many years ago I had to take a swing arm off to get the axle out.
use a bigga hamma
PB Blaster or Kroil Oil penetrant to loosen the grip might help.
A little heat - use a propane powered torch, like the kind plumbers used to use (it's all plastic nowadays) and apply a bit of heat to it and I'll bet you it pops right off.
Or safer yet, a tea kettle of boiling water poured on hub will heat it up for removal, after a penetrating oil soak.
You do this with it over a washtub to catch the tea so you can have it to drink later.
Be careful of the sealed bearings. The bearings are not easy to replace unless you have the tool.
ORRRRRRRR - Dyn-o-mite -
Thanks for all the tips. I have had no success in removing the wheel and I dont have a bearing puller. I have put it all back together and decided to take it to my local shop and have them tackle it once the snow here in Pa stops...another 4-8" for today after the 4" dump this past Sat.! Where's Spring?
freaky - 3/18/2013 7:22 AM
Thanks for all the tips. I have had no success in removing the wheel and I dont have a bearing puller. I have put it all back together and decided to take it to my local shop and have them tackle it once the snow here in Pa stops...another 4-8" for today after the 4" dump this past Sat.! Where's Spring?
What is snow? LOL We see it here in middle Georgia about once every 3 to 5 years other then the big snow of 73. But I would sure love to see some here in the summers as they are brutal!!!!!!!!!! HOT and HUMID!
I had the same problem on my '04, you can take the nut loose on the back end of the axle at the frame, loosen the nut a couple of turns then use a hammer (hefty) and a protective piece of wood to loosen the axle in the frame (taper fit). Your shop can then press the axle out, be sure to use some emery cloth/tape to clean the corrosion from the axle and assemble with anti-seize.
