Stubborn Front Axle

[LongHaul]

Isn't the front axle supposed to come out fairly easily?

Once I remove the axle bolt and totally loosen the four pinch bolts I gotta work the axle twisting it back and forth and back and forth before it finally comes out.

On the reinstall same thing. Last time I actually used a dead blow hammer and tapped it in. Slightly more than tapped.

Before I reinstalled it, I tried the axle without the wheel and found the left fork axle bore was galled a bit. So was the axle at this place too. This seems to be the sticking point. I used crocus paper and polished things up some, but still I had to get out the dead blow.

Any suggestions or is this normal?

Thanks

[Northman]

Use a thin coating of wheel bearing grease on the axle. Once every two or three removals, I have to clean off the old grease, and install new. Otherwise it gets a little sticky on removal.

[LongHaul]

Thanks, Northman, I'll try that next time.

[X1rider]

Time to get the de burring tool! Or maybe the needle scaler from work to reduce clearance a bit........... :roll: