Rear wheel binding up ... ?

1975 MkIII .... I was changing rear brake pads, and while I was there I took out the back wheel to see how the quick-release wheel worked, and how the cush-drive looked.

All was OK, so I just put it all back together, I THOUGHT just the way it came apart.

However, as I tighten up the removable "stub" axle from the right side, the wheel gets harder to turn. It's spinning fine with the brake caliper on, and the rear brake engages and releases properly, but as soon as I start putting a few ft-lbs of torque on the axle, the wheel starts binding up so that when it's properly torqued, it's very hard to turn.

It wasn't like that before. What did I do wrong? Is there a spacer I left out? I perused the manual, but it doesn't show any spacer between the swingarm and the wheel hub except the brake carrier ....

Thanks for any help!!

Lannis

Did you bleed the brakes, clean around the calipers and pump the brake pedal after everything.

If the caliper pistons can't retract enough to accommodate the new thicker brake pads, could they be the culprit ?

Retrace our steps :mrgreen:
http://www.oldbritts.com/1975_g23.html

Sorted!

Checked the gap per L.A.B. between the sprocket assembly and wheel, and there was much more than 1/8", so pulled the wheel just to see what was up.

Glad I did, because the near-side wheel bearing retainer was finger-loose; took a full turn to seat it back. Not sure that was causing a problem but couldn't help.

Put it back together, and same thing was happening. Checked the gap mentioned, and it was 5/8". I'd have sworn (by feel) that it had seated, but it hadn't. A bunch more wiggling and thumping, and it eventually went all the way on. Tightened everything up in the right order and she's turning fine now with the axle nipped all the way up.

I would have thought that tightening the axle would have pushed it all into place, but it doesn't. Has to be seated first.

I guess I'm used to my BSA QD wheel. You slide that wheel onto the splines and it's ON there, mon, with a nice metallic snick. Best QD design in the history of motorcycles. This one is rubber and just sort of mushes on, tho' it works well once together.

Glad it's been sorted now rather than on the side of the road. I know where to look now!

Thanks for the help!

Lannis

Which spacer are you referring to? I have some gap between my sprocket face (with the toggles for the cush) and the wheel/cush face. Its nominal at around 1-1.5mm maybe. I have been told this is the norm but I wish those toggles had full contact into the cush.

Recently I had the sprocket axle get loose enough to permit the wheel to slide forward and loosen the chain, enough that it came off the sprocket and bound up while riding. :shock: :shock: :shock: I've never had this happen and I tell you it caused great pucker. I have a 530 chain to replace it and the damage was limited to the chain guard that I'll be pitching in the bin.

Problem found: http://www.britbike.com/forums/ubbthrea ... Post638333

Rusty bucket said:

Which spacer are you referring to? I have some gap between my sprocket face (with the toggles for the cush) and the wheel/cush face. Its nominal at around 1-1.5mm maybe. I have been told this is the norm but I wish those toggles had full contact into the cush.

Recently I had the sprocket axle get loose enough to permit the wheel to slide forward and loosen the chain, enough that it came off the sprocket and bound up while riding. :shock: :shock: :shock: I've never had this happen and I tell you it caused great pucker. I have a 530 chain to replace it and the damage was limited to the chain guard that I'll be pitching in the bin.

Click to expand...

Looks like the only "spacers" that are used to transmit the clamping force across the inner bearing races are the "sleeve" spacer that you can pull out of the right side of the wheel, and the brake caliper carrier itself. Everything else stays put when you remove the wheel.

It all works well IFF you make sure that the wheel is well seated down into the sprocket "splines" before you clamp everything up. As mentioned, I also found the bearing dust cover (I thought it was a bearing retainer but there's a C-clip for that I think, according to the parts book) loose and had to tighten it back into place.

Definitely don't want the sprocket-side OR the brake side axle to get loose! Bad moon on the rise ....

Lannis