Topic: front axle binding

[gloken]

While I had the front wheel off of my 550 I loosened the axle nut, and pulled the axle and speedometer gearbox. I wanted to see how it looked in there, and check for unpleasant surprises.

Everything looked good, but when I replaced the axle and gearbox, and tightened the nut, it would not rotate freely.  I've looked through the manual and studied the parts diagram, but I don't see what I could be doing wrong. If I loosen off the axle nut the axle will rotate freely, but if I tighten it at all it binds.

Is there something obvious I could be missing?

[gloken]

Worth a check! I'll take a look when I get home.

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

Brake adjustment/sticky caliper?

[jonda500]

the wheel used to turn freely, now after reassembling the axle/speedodrive assembly it wont - well I would pull it apart again and check the parts are correctly assembled? John
p.s. it's all a bit of a guessing game unless you post some pictures

[Deltarider]

I remember I once used my torque wrench there and the wheel wouldn't spin freely. I loosened somewhat and all was fine.

[Bodi]

Not unusual if you change bearings but weird if it was free at normal torque before you took it apart.
Not much actually touches both the axle and the hub and could thus cause drag. The two wheel bearings and the seal in the bearing retainer, maybe a seal in the speedo drive?
All the parts the axle goes through just stack up to make a solid "tube", they're all solid steel, and none should be bothered by the nut torque.
Check the spacers are in correctly. The disc side spacer goes through the seal and one end may be contoured to only touch the bearing's inner race (important).
Otherwise make sure the hub spacer is good.
Note - when it's the "right way around", the axle goes in from opposite the disc. If the axle was seized/corroded to the hub spacer (not unusual), hammering on the axle end to drive it out could push the bearing outward. That would explain any binding on reassembly as the bearing races will be misaligned until enough use makes the free bearing slide back to position.

[gloken]

Well I think I got this right.  I tore it apart and put it back together again, and it feels a little bit stiff, but once mounted it seems to spin well enough.

I think the speedo mount wasn't clicking in quite right.  How easily should the wheel spin on the axle? It's got a little bit of stiffness, but turns relatively well.

[Bodi]

I hesitate to guess if it's OK with such a subjective measure as "a little bit of stiffness, but turns relatively well".

There is a some unavoidable drag in the hub: two bearings, a dust seal, and the speedo drive gearing. These shouldn't cause much drag, though.
The wheel won't spin as freely as a bicycle wheel and take such a long time to stop - but it should turn for a while if given a good spin.
I don't have any actual "drag" specifications. You could measure it with a spring scale but I have never tried that.
Honda used single sealed bearings, maybe to save a few rin on each bike or maybe to reduce drag. Normal practice now is to use replacement bearings with two lip seals, the extra drag is considered trivial vs the added seal keeping grease in the bearing.

Since you just removed the axle for a quick look at the doin's, drag should not have been changed. The question is "does it have more drag now than before you played with it?". You must have given the axle a spin while fiddling with the wheel before removing the nut... is it stiffer now? It shouldn't be.

[gloken]

That helps actually, thanks.
 
I think I've just demonstrated why doctors won't diagnose symptoms over the phone.

[Powderman]

Bodi has you covered. I was going to say how torque on the nut should have no bearing on binding if it's all installed correctly. Bodi explained it correctly. I would not want to back off on the torque of the axle nut holding everything together.

[MCRider]

Bodi has you covered. I was going to say how torque on the nut should have no bearing on binding if it's all installed correctly. Bodi explained it correctly. I would not want to back off on the torque of the axle nut holding everything together.

Right. There should be no compromise esp on axle nut tightness. If you tighten it fully and there is still more than minimal drag something is wrong. The fix is not less torque on the axle.

My vote is for the speedo drive not being set correctly. As I have done that before. On a 750 that is. Don't know if its the same per 550. But there  are two dogs in the drive which engage in 2 notches. If they aren't engaged you can still assemble everything, but the drive will give a lot of resistance. The dogs will smash into the plate with the notches and make their own notches. If this has happened you will need to disassemble and file the new notches away and engage into the proper notches.

[Redline it]

the wheel used to turn freely, now after reassembling the axle/speedodrive assembly it wont - well I would pull it apart again and check the parts are correctly assembled? John
p.s. it's all a bit of a guessing game unless you post some pictures

same thing happened to a 400f front wheel few weeks ago, I took it apart and put it back together and luck ran my way, the 80% chance I'm gonna luck out and do it wrong the first time worked the 20% chance of it not...worked, walla, I don't know what I did, but something to do with spacer and speedo gear not being in the right position? Who knows. It's like when ever you loose something, and you don't find it until you quit looking? Basically take it "back" apart,(nows the time, you know that thing that doesn't  let you find something when you're looking for it, it maybe sleeping or out doing something else,)  so,  put it back together, before "IT" finds out. Chances are you do it right.

[MCRider]

I double checked a fish for a CB550K1 and the front hub assy is samo to CB750. Part #40 has 2 dogs, look inside, which must engage part #80, which has 2 notches.

My best guess as to your problem. Good luck.

http://www.motogrid.com/OEMpartfinder.htm?aribrand=HOM#/Honda/CB550K1_A__MOTORCYCLE,_JPN,_VIN%23_CB550K-1200001/FRONT_WHEEL_+_REAR_WHEEL/CB550K1-JPN-A/2Y133740AF13374004A