rear axle stiff

[britishgas]

on my 2012 300 the rear axle is vey stiff to remove from the bike is this common ? is there a cure ? ,it seems fine once the its in place

[Jakobi]

I'm very stiff at times too.. Lube is what you need! Hahah!

Seriously though, is it an alignment issue that its just hard to get in and out (hate that!), or just a bit rough after its been in there a while. I tend to use a molygrease on the axles, but I have them out often! Leave it too long and it gums up and I need to give it a few taps with a mallet to help it along.

Another thing that works really well, and doesn't dry out is old oil (sump/trans/suspension). Just a light coating then it should slide in and out nice and easy!

[AZRickD]

Jakobi has the key. Removing them often.

I find that the longer I go between services, the more draggy it is.

That being said, I put on a coating of water-proof grease (I use Bel Ray), and I take off all but a thin coating with a paper towel. Also, when removing the axle, I use an appropriately-sized drift punch and mallet. Wiggling the bike by the seat helps to reduce binding, then I pull it out with channel lock pliers.

[Biff]

Blimey

Must be getting anal in old age , but if the ride is wet / muddy
I'll pull it out and lube it

Biff

[gasmonkey]

Crickey

Sounds like you bat for the other team.

[britishgas]

Originally Posted by gasmonkey

Crickey

Sounds like you bat for the other team.

no fcuk ktm

[bergerhag]

The 2012 had an aluminium spacer between the bearings and it mushrooms and deforms when beeing torqued too tight. Get a new one, they are now back to steel spacers.

[britishgas]

will the newer steel one fit ?

[wence]

Dunno guys but I had a similar problem and the spacer between each sides bearings in the middle of the hub was actually too small and the axle would not push through it even outside the bike .
I looked around and found an old sidchrome ratchet with a the dimpled handled and worked that around and in and out
This enlarged the inner of the spacer and I continued this until the axle moved in and out freely.
Cheers Mark

[Jakobi]

Brute force Mark! Rheem it out!