Tight rear wheel

[nrninja]

I just replaced the chain and sprockets. Now the rear wheel seems to be extremely tight. It's hard to walk the bike around or even spin the wheel by hand. Any ideas?

[flynjay]

Originally Posted by nrninja

I just replaced the chain and sprockets. Now the rear wheel seems to be extremely tight. It's hard to walk the bike around or even spin the wheel by hand. Any ideas?

Are you positive you got the bearings and spacers installed correctly?

It could be:
dragging rear brake
Chain too tight
bearings installed incorrectly
wheel rubbing on swingarm
chain rubbing on chain cover
front sprocket rubbing on engine case (only if you installed an aftermarket spacer).

If you have checked all that completly, a quick ride down the street and back should show the culprit. Just look for hot parts when you get back.

[alex.s]

broken torque wrench that made you crank your axle to 9000 ft/lbs?

[nrninja]

Originally Posted by flynjay

Are you positive you got the bearings and spacers installed correctly?

It could be:
dragging rear brake
Chain too tight
bearings installed incorrectly
wheel rubbing on swingarm
chain rubbing on chain cover
front sprocket rubbing on engine case (only if you installed an aftermarket spacer).

If you have checked all that completly, a quick ride down the street and back should show the culprit. Just look for hot parts when you get back.

The bearing spacers are good. It's something to do with the rear brake. I'm trying to adjust the torque link/brake using this article http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/What_is...torque_link%3F but it's not terribly helpful.

[alex.s]

how old is the oil in your rear brake

[flynjay]

If the brake pads are seated correctly on the rotor, take it for a quick ride while being sure to use the rear brakes at least once. They will more than likely loosen up. If not then remove and reinstall the rear brake assembly and repeat.

[alex.s]

sticky brakes are usually a sign that the fluid needs to be changed. in extreme cases (racing) a stuck rear brake can actually melt the caliper. theres a thread with photos somewhere on this forum

[nrninja]

Originally Posted by alex.s

how old is the oil in your rear brake

I'll try the brake fluid next.

[nrninja]

Originally Posted by flynjay

If the brake pads are seated correctly on the rotor, take it for a quick ride while being sure to use the rear brakes at least once. They will more than likely loosen up. If not then remove and reinstall the rear brake assembly and repeat.

The inner pads are making it so the wheel won't spin. But this is only when I tighten the bolts which hold the caliper to the carrier.

[flynjay]

Originally Posted by nrninja

The inner pads are making it so the wheel won't spin. But this is only when I tighten the bolts which hold the caliper to the carrier.

You could try to compress the caliper and reinstall. Once you use the brake it should reseat to where it's supposed to be.

Did you put on new brake pads as well?

[alex.s]

it sounds like you are missing a spacer or something

[Lychee]

Originally Posted by nrninja

I just replaced the chain and sprockets. Now the rear wheel seems to be extremely tight. It's hard to walk the bike around or even spin the wheel by hand. Any ideas?

I don't see how the brake could be causing the problem. If you did not change the brake pads or the rotor, then the problem is with reassembly of rear wheel, or your bike is in gear.

What setting did you torque the axle nut to?

Is there a gap between the far left spacer and the wheel race?
There are 3 spacers, one being between the sprocket and the wheel. The one that looks like a top hat goes on the right side of the bike. The one that has a beveled edge and looks sort of like an ice cream cone goes between the sprocket and the wheel. The remaining spacer that looks like a cylinder goes on the outside of the sprocket.


If you have mixed up the two spacers on either side of the sprocket you will have this exact problem. 3 guesses how I know!

[nrninja]

Originally Posted by Lychee

I don't see how the brake could be causing the problem. If you did not change the brake pads or the rotor, then the problem is with reassembly of rear wheel, or your bike is in gear.

What setting did you torque the axle nut to?

Is there a gap between the far left spacer and the wheel race?
There are 3 spacers, one being between the sprocket and the wheel. The one that looks like a top hat goes on the right side of the bike. The one that has a beveled edge and looks sort of like an ice cream cone goes between the sprocket and the wheel. The remaining spacer that looks like a cylinder goes on the outside of the sprocket.


If you have mixed up the two spacers on either side of the sprocket you will have this exact problem. 3 guesses how I know!

Rear axle is torqued to 81.1 ft/lbs. There's no gap I can see on the far left spacer. I'm going to remove the wheel and try again.

[nrninja]

I tried removing the wheel following the procedure here: http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/Removin...the_rear_wheel. The spacers are in correctly. I've tried compressing the caliper and went for a short ride (maybe 1/4 mile) and the rotor was too hot to touch. I've honestly no clue as to what's going on.

[Lychee]

Originally Posted by nrninja

I tried removing the wheel following the procedure here: http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/Removin...the_rear_wheel. The spacers are in correctly. I've tried compressing the caliper and went for a short ride (maybe 1/4 mile) and the rotor was too hot to touch. I've honestly no clue as to what's going on.

A stumper.... Appears the brake really is the problem.

Are you sure you didn't do anything to the rear brake? Top off fluid, etc?

Wheel is mounted straight?

[nrninja]

Originally Posted by Lychee

A stumper.... Appears the brake really is the problem.

Are you sure you didn't do anything to the rear brake? Top off fluid, etc?

Wheel is mounted straight?

I just bled the brakes using a hand pump. The pedal feel is the same as before the wheel was originally removed. I don't think it's the fluid. The issue is the non-piston side of the caliper is too far toward the brake pedal side of the swing arm. It's rubbing against the rotor. I suppose a thin washer or gasket could solve it, but I'd rather know exactly what's causing it. As far as I can tell, the wheel is straight.

[alex.s]

are you sure the wheel spacer isnt backwards? its worth flipping it just for sanity sake

[nrninja]

Originally Posted by alex.s

are you sure the wheel spacer isnt backwards? its worth flipping it just for sanity sake

100% sure. Checked it three times by taking the wheel off so far.

Is there a specific way to putting on the chain tensioners? Does the raised edge go to the inside or outside of the swingarm?

[Lychee]

Originally Posted by nrninja

I just bled the brakes using a hand pump. The pedal feel is the same as before the wheel was originally removed. I don't think it's the fluid. The issue is the non-piston side of the caliper is too far toward the brake pedal side of the swing arm. It's rubbing against the rotor. I suppose a thin washer or gasket could solve it, but I'd rather know exactly what's causing it. As far as I can tell, the wheel is straight.

I just looked at my bike to confirm. The pad is not supposed to retract away from the rotor. There should be some contact on both sides, but no pressure. The rotor should also be in the middle of the caliper. In your pictures it is offset to the right. It still appears something is assembled incorrectly. Can you zoom out?

[Lychee]

Originally Posted by nrninja

100% sure. Checked it three times by taking the wheel off so far.

Is there a specific way to putting on the chain tensioners? Does the raised edge go to the inside or outside of the swingarm?

Raised edge on the outside.

[nrninja]

Originally Posted by Lychee

I just looked at my bike to confirm. The pad is not supposed to retract away from the rotor. There should be some contact on both sides, but no pressure. The rotor should also be in the middle of the caliper. In your pictures it is offset to the right. It still appears something is assembled incorrectly. Can you zoom out?

I've taken the wheel off again and these are the spacers I have (the photo with the laptop). The other photo is the one I've been following to put the spacers, wheel, and axle back on. It doesn't look like I'm missing anything. Can you see anything I may be doing wrong?

[Asspire]

Had a similar issue when I replaced my tires, turned out the be the pads were stuck on the retaining pin on top the caliper, took it out cleaned it and found flat spots where the pad rubbed on it. sanded it, lubed it, and put it back with no issues after.

have you tried putting it all together except the caliper and chain and see if its still tight?

[nrninja]

Originally Posted by Asspire

Had a similar issue when I replaced my tires, turned out the be the pads were stuck on the retaining pin on top the caliper, took it out cleaned it and found flat spots where the pad rubbed on it. sanded it, lubed it, and put it back with no issues after.

have you tried putting it all together except the caliper and chain and see if its still tight?

Everything fits perfectly until I tighten the bolts on the caliper. Once those are torqued down the rear wheel doesn't want to move. I'll check the caliper to see if the pads are stuck on the retaining pin.

Update: The pads aren't stuck on the retaining pin. Still no clue what's going on.

[nrninja]

So I took the bike to a friend's today. He said everything looked okay, but he wanted to try putting everything back on one more time. I'm not sure what he did differently. Everything works now. It appears the answer to this problem is sheer motorcycle wizardy.

[alex.s]

did he flip the wheel spacer around

[nrninja]

Originally Posted by alex.s

did he flip the wheel spacer around

No he didn't. There was literally nothing changed except he put the caliper on instead of me.

[alex.s]

Originally Posted by nrninja

literally nothing changed

something tells me thats not true.

[flynjay]

I'm going to guess that the outside brake pad (the one against the caliper) was hung up on the mounting bracket.

[Lychee]

Originally Posted by alex.s

did he flip the wheel spacer around

Aye keptin, it surely was the spacer....

[tooblekain]

I had this problem one time with my 2007 Triumph Bonneville...turns out I put the spacers on the wrong side.