Topic: CB550K rear wheel removal

[novaember]

Hi guys

I have been reading the forums / manuals and looking up online videos about rear wheel removal.

There have been a couple of posts here that mention this can be done without removing the left and right mufflers (or at least one) - because these appear to be blocking the extraction of the axle (which I assume is holding the wheel to the frame?).

I am a bit confused as to how this would work - the service manual is more detailed and is telling me to remove the mufflers, but the owners manual doesn't mention this. Is the service manual generally taken as the source of truth here?


Anyways here are the steps that I have in my mind:

1. Remove connections to the rear brake arm (rear brake adjusting nut) and brake stopper arm

2. Loosen the drive chain adjusting bolt on both sides to provide more slack in the drive chain (what does it mean when it says turn the chain adjusters downwards?)

3. Remove the cotter pin and loosen the axle nut

4. Remove rear fork cap fixing bolts (lock bolts) and end caps (chain adjusting stoppers?)

5. Push the wheel forward and lift the chain off the sprocket...

Now at what point do you remove the actual axle? I thought this was needed to be done before you could move the wheel at all (i.e. before step 5)


Is my understanding of how the rear wheel connects to the frame completely off here... I thought it would be best to fully understand what is going on before I do anything and clearly I understand nothing lol.

Do you guys reckon its worthwhile getting a clymers or haynes manual - or would that be too complex for a mechanical simpleton like myself..

Thanks again for any clarification offered on this.

[dave500]

gday nova,the earlier 500/550s had an open ended swing arm axle slot with which you didnt need to pull the axle through to remove the wheel,the closed end types need the mufflers(if you still have the 4-4 pipes)removed for the axle to pull through,over the years the axle gets put back the opposite way which doesent matter but then you must remove the opposite set of pipes to what any instructions might say?

[jdubyaj]

Check here for manual downloads.

http://forums.sohc4.net/?topic=17788.0

The wheel comes off with the axle still on it.

[dave500]

not on the k models,they have a closed end axle slot not those removable lugs the adjusters sit into on the earlier models.
this has the closed axle slots,you have to pull the axle to remove the rear wheel,this swing arm doesent belong on this frame.

over the years swing arms may have been mixed and matched,the open end type have a grease zerk each end of the swing arm bolt,the closed type have one underneath in about the middle of the swing arm main pivot tube and none in the swing arm bolt,they each swap over and fit any 500/550 frame.
heres an open ended early one,they have a little bolted in end cap the adjuster bears against,they have different spacers aswell as the thickness through the axle slot area is different so use the spacers from the swing arm to suit.

[jdubyaj]

not on the k models,they have a closed end axle slot not those removable lugs the adjusters sit into on the earlier models.
this has the closed axle slots,you have to pull the axle to remove the rear wheel.

over the years swing arms may have been mixed and matched,the open end type have a grease zerk each end of the swing arm bolt,the closed type have one underneath in about the middle of the swing arm main pivot tube,they each swap over and fit any 500/550 frame.

 My apologies. Both of my U.S. spec 75 k's have open end axle slots. 

[dave500]

no worries,youll find the closed ones in US models,done ill bet to save on production costs?why the #$%* would you want to remove mufflers to pull the rear wheel?not a problem if you have a 4-1 exhaust which is most often the case now?

[jdubyaj]

why the #$%* would you want to remove mufflers to pull the rear wheel?

That's exactly what I thought. It didn't seem logical with the k models 4-4 setup.

[mickwinf]

As I understand it all 500 models have the open end type so the wheel can be removed with exhausts fitted, the 550 k models were the same but the f model 550 had the closed type as the 4/1 exhaust allowed wheel spindle removal. I had a 500 and a 550k3 both had the open ended swingarm.

[dave500]

it figures only the f models would use the closed ended swingarm?

[Stev-o]

My '76 K has an open ended swingarm.

Nova - does yours?

[novaember]

My sanity thanks you dave! Great explanation and pics

I will check mine (74' cb550) when I get back home to see if it does have an open ended swing arm... Which I think it would given how the mufflers are set up (4-4).

[Duanob]

Both my 76 550 F and K have open ended swing arm.

That would suck to get a rear flat out in the middle of no where and have to pull the 4X4 exhaust off just to change a tube. Not good engineering.

[SohRon]

The "K" bikes didn't get the "closed" swingarm until the '77 and '78 models. All the earlier "K" bikes have the open swingarm...

[Airbusboy]

My '74 CB550 has the open-ended swing arm.