I am restoring a 75 Commando 850 Electric Start. It is sitting at my friends house, and we started breaking the bike down. We hit a snag trying to get the rear wheel off. It has rear disc brakes, but there is a hub assembly that is on the drive side of the wheel that will not seem to come loose. My buddy looked in the manual, it says there is a special tool you have to buy, but that seems almost impossible, and almost not worth going through the trouble. I did a search on the forum, and couldn't find a tutorial on the subject. Can anyone offer some advice?
rear wheel removal
- Thread starter flcmbt
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flcmbt said:
No special tool should be needed to remove the rear wheel from a Mk3?
The Mk3 sprocket assembly is fixed to the swingarm by the short "dummy" axle, the rear wheel can be removed without unhooking the drive chain or disturbing the rear sprocket assembly once the main axle and brake caliper carrier plate are removed (the caliper and plate can be swung out of the way and tied or hooked up-see Mk3 manual illustration Section H1 Fig H1), as it is usually easier if the wheel assembly is removed first (Mk3 manual section H1,a) and then the dummy axle and sprocket asssembly can be removed afterwards, if necessary.
There are no special tools needed to remove the rear wheel on a Mk111 although the factory did provide a hook to hang the brake caliper on.
Once the wheel is out, you should have a peg spanner to unscrew the the bearing / cush drive retaining ring but careful use of a punch should be adequate.
You need to unscrew the spindle from the right, lift out spacer, caliper and chain adjuster and then lift the wheel off the cush drive paddles. You're then left with a sprocket to remove. This simply needs the nut unscrewing.
Once the wheel is out, you should have a peg spanner to unscrew the the bearing / cush drive retaining ring but careful use of a punch should be adequate.
You need to unscrew the spindle from the right, lift out spacer, caliper and chain adjuster and then lift the wheel off the cush drive paddles. You're then left with a sprocket to remove. This simply needs the nut unscrewing.
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One word of caution, the parts book exploded drawing of the Mk3 rear wheel and sprocket assembly does not show all parts in their correct order of assembly-however the drawing in the workshop manual does (allowing for the fact that the swingarm and chain adjusters are not shown).
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FastFred said:
His point is that before you restore a bike you should probably get a manual.
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Try a rubber mallot ,I use it for lots of things that get stuck ,perhaps the drive rubbers have swelled/distorted after all those years ? Or try spraying the stuck area with WD 40 ,wait a bit then use mallot (the persuader).
You take it which way you like Fred but as you well know, to "restore" a bike requires some amount of mechanical aptitude and not being able to work out to remove a rear wheel indicates that something's lacking in that respect!
Had the original question been something like, "how do I remove my rear wheel " it would have prompted a completely diffferent reply from me,
Dave.
Had the original question been something like, "how do I remove my rear wheel " it would have prompted a completely diffferent reply from me,
Dave.
I have been on enough forums to be used to guys flaming for questions that are probably rudimentary to someone familiar with older bikes. Let me clarify. My friend is doing MOST of the work, because I don't have the time to handle the whole restoration. He called me explaining the issue he was having, which is the question I posed to you guys. I read a few posts that mentioned a special tool for something in the rear end, very vague. I don't want anyone thinking I was lazy and didn't bother doing a search.
That is also why I asked, because a rear wheel shouldn't need a special tool because replacing tires is too routine a job. Next time I am at his house, I plan to do the suggested steps provided by the group. I have a manual, I glanced at it, and he read it. I assume he was probably looking at the wrong idea. I appreciate the help, this is the biggest issue I have had in tear down. My mechanical experience up till now has been with cars. I have a 94 suzuki I am customizing to learn bikes with, and we are also doing the Norton. Thanks for those who helped.
That is also why I asked, because a rear wheel shouldn't need a special tool because replacing tires is too routine a job. Next time I am at his house, I plan to do the suggested steps provided by the group. I have a manual, I glanced at it, and he read it. I assume he was probably looking at the wrong idea. I appreciate the help, this is the biggest issue I have had in tear down. My mechanical experience up till now has been with cars. I have a 94 suzuki I am customizing to learn bikes with, and we are also doing the Norton. Thanks for those who helped.
My appologies flcmbt, it does sound a bit different now you've explained things a little more. I am usually a fairly helpful bloke and having owned my 850 since 1974 there's not much that I haven't had apart on it during all that time. It just sounded a bit odd that you were contemplating a resoration but couldn't work out how to remove the wheel.
Anyway good luck with the restoration and welcome to the forum,
regards,
Dave.
Anyway good luck with the restoration and welcome to the forum,
regards,
Dave.
once u remove the axle, lift the caliper/bracket up and out of the way (u will also have to loosen the lower shock bolt on the caliper side), once the bracket is out of the way u'll have a big space, if the wheel doesn't just fall off I'd be surprised, if it's stuck from grime or whatever it still shouldn't take more than a little tug
Please ask questions, I do. NO question is stupid. I am working on # 137 in a continuing series.
First thing I did was to go through the tech section and download, copy, and print a lot. People on this forum will go out of their way to help, but they need direction as to the nature of your problem and your knowledge, and ability to work on it. Pictures help. With this forum, you can literally focus a world of knowledge on a problem.
First thing I did was to go through the tech section and download, copy, and print a lot. People on this forum will go out of their way to help, but they need direction as to the nature of your problem and your knowledge, and ability to work on it. Pictures help. With this forum, you can literally focus a world of knowledge on a problem.
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My doctor says no question is too stoopid , also my banker said it.
I got my bike back from the guy I handed it to. Rear wheel came off in less than 20 minutes. The guy jerked me off about doing any work.
This is definately one of the better forums I have been on so far, less smartasses, and jerks insulting people for asking questions about simple procedures. So thanks for tolerating my questions so far. There will be more
This is definately one of the better forums I have been on so far, less smartasses, and jerks insulting people for asking questions about simple procedures. So thanks for tolerating my questions so far. There will be more
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flcmbt said:
You obviously didn't read the second post to this topic. :mrgreen:
Hello, Dave!
The only bike I have owned and operated is a 69 norton commando 750 roadster bought in 1978. I have a marine engineer certificate. I have a good working knowledge of mechanical,electrical,welding, milling and machining, etc etc etc. It would be very foolish of me to claim I know everything there is to know about my bike. There are many things I read guys have had troubles with that I have yet to experience. Such as rewiring headlight shell, replacing wheel bearings, removing tire from rim myself, machine cam, balance crank, rebuilding tach and speedo, up until 2007 I had drum brakes no disc so really I am a nooby with no experience here. I may need help to rebuild hope my questions won't bore those with the knowledge. I have found even after a life time of mechanical work that u can run into a snag just removing a retaining clip or spark plug. I have mechanical assistants that work for me. I always encourage "when in doubt ask" there is no such a thing as a stupid question. So Mr Dave u should lighten up.... either help someone out here or keep it to yourself. With an attitude like yours I would be afraid of bad karma. Your bike still running ok? U do drive a Norton right? Well.. good luck.
Dox, Norton owner,operator, and mechanic for 34 years.
The only bike I have owned and operated is a 69 norton commando 750 roadster bought in 1978. I have a marine engineer certificate. I have a good working knowledge of mechanical,electrical,welding, milling and machining, etc etc etc. It would be very foolish of me to claim I know everything there is to know about my bike. There are many things I read guys have had troubles with that I have yet to experience. Such as rewiring headlight shell, replacing wheel bearings, removing tire from rim myself, machine cam, balance crank, rebuilding tach and speedo, up until 2007 I had drum brakes no disc so really I am a nooby with no experience here. I may need help to rebuild hope my questions won't bore those with the knowledge. I have found even after a life time of mechanical work that u can run into a snag just removing a retaining clip or spark plug. I have mechanical assistants that work for me. I always encourage "when in doubt ask" there is no such a thing as a stupid question. So Mr Dave u should lighten up.... either help someone out here or keep it to yourself. With an attitude like yours I would be afraid of bad karma. Your bike still running ok? U do drive a Norton right? Well.. good luck.
Dox, Norton owner,operator, and mechanic for 34 years.
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