I'm about to take off my rear wheel for new tire install. Seems relatively simple. I did it on my Vulcan several years ago without any help. Looks like all I do is index chain to sprocket, pull the cotter pin from the axle on the brake side, remove axle nut and washer right under axle nut, now everything is loose. lift bike on rear stand, place something under tire to support it, tap axle from brake side so that it exits frame on sprocket side. Chain adjuster block on brake side and spacer on brake side will come off after axle passes through each of them. Continue to work axle through wheel hub. Spacer on sprocket side will come off after axle passes through it. Tire is now free and should be pulled out while carefully lifting rotor out of rear brake calipers. Axle may remain sticking out of sprocket side ready for reinstall but okay to pull it all the way out along with adjuster block on sprocket side if I want.

I should not mess with chain adjuster screws at all.

Can anyone confirm that this procedure looks good and I am not overlooking anything.

My pdf SM cannot be opened because I am unable to locate the appropriate reader software.

* Last updated by: Rook on 7/1/2009 @ 5:28 PM *

Rook:

The PDF reader is here. -bg

Here's a link to a gen 1 pdf, Rook. Wheel removal I'm sure hasn't changed.
http://www.box.net/shared/ohyn64vgow

What you wrote sounds right to me. One note, you may wanna flip your axle around so that the nut is on the sprocket side. Makes it easier the get back together.

* Last updated by: DogoZX on 7/1/2009 @ 2:36 PM *

Thanks guys. I'm at it. Downloaded SM and Adobe Reader 9.1 but my computer still won't open file. Says it needs to go on line to find the appropriate reader software. I've already been down that road and tried several readers. Maybe the virus my computer had fried something. Or maybe I need to try to download from Explorer rather than Firefox.

Wheels first, SM later. I'll post if I need help.

Thank you both very much.

Rook

* Last updated by: Rook on 7/1/2009 @ 5:28 PM *

Rook, What you wrote looks good except I'd first mark where your chain adjusters lines are with a sharpie. It will be very hard to reinstall without moving the adjuster bolts in. Then go ahead and pull your brake caliper off. Hang it off a wire so it doesn't pull on the brake line just like you did with the front two. Now pull your axle.

I cut a 2 X 4, angled from the top edge to the bottom edge and screwed the two pieces together. I use it as a 2 inch tall ramp. You can roll the rear tire up, "and/or" wedge your 2" ramp under the tire, to just the right height. Sure makes the rear axle easier to reinstall by yourself.

* Last updated by: Philhnnss on 7/1/2009 @ 11:02 PM *

^^Thanks for another couple great suggestions, Phil. Looks like this will be a little more complicated than I thought but the quicker I learn it, the faster I can burn through tires.

For me, the hardest part of doing anything like this is getting the nerve to just do it. I always try to over-think it. Then I realize the tech most shops use to do tire installations are the brand new kids just learning to wrench. If they can do it so can I. So just do it Rook. You'll see it's pretty simple. You running around on bald tires scare me!!!

^^The rear was easy. Just run a wire through the swingarm and the axle hole (<te-he-he, "axlehole")in the brake ASAP and the tire will roll out without much fuss. The mudflap that I still have on there gets in the way a little but no biggy.

The front is turning out to be another story. See other thread.

Rook

Thought of another tip for anyone looking to this thread for help when removing the rear wheel. Careful to not push forward on the chain when it is off the rear sprocket. Pull it toward the back and then wire it to the swingarm. If it comes off, you have quite a bit of work to do just to get at the front sprocket.