Topic: 77 Honda 550K rear axle jams when part way out

[d9canada]

Hi, I'm stripping a 77 Honda 550K down.  I recently tore down a 500 Four and the same thing happened, got the rear axle out about 2 inches and it stuck.  A bit of work with a brass drift finally got it moving and out it came. 

Today, on the 550, the axle stuck at about the same point.  I can move it in and out, pumped lots of WD40 on it, but it gets 2 inches out and jams.  I realized when trying to turn it, that it's jammed in the brake backing plate.     When it jams so it won't drive out any further, I can't turn the thing but I can see the backing plate is torquing up against the steady arm.  I disconnected the steady arm and the axle still won't drive out.   

I can't understand what about the brake backing plate would cause this hang-up.  Please don't guess at the solution, but if anyone has real experience with this, please let me know.

[pjlogue]

Could the threads on the axle be catching on the inner spacer between the bearings?  2" seems about right for that.  Also, check to be sure the axle isn't slightly bent.

-P.

[d9canada]

Thanks pjlogue..  The axle is straight.  This is the second bike I've encountered with this problem in just days.  It may be as you say that the thread is hanging on the internal spacer but how to free it?  When I tried to just tap it in until there's resistance, turning the axle doesn't help.  When I tap after turning it, the thing just jams tight.  And it jams tight on the brake backing plate, so I dunno.

[754]

Corrosion probably.
 Some brake plates may have had a groove in them if it does, spray some lube in there.
 Oil it up  in the area of the chain adjuster,  it sort of in the open and maybe corroded.

 The less you take theses apart, the stickier they get.

[d9canada]

I got it apart OK.  I've been wrenching for over 50 years and I learned early on "don't force machinery" but the solution this time was a bigger hammer.  I inspected the 500 Four's rear wheel/brake/axle that had previously hung up and found that the center spacer was the culprit.  So I used that axle as a drift on the 550 - and a heavy hammer. 

I'll be stripping the wheels to do the wheel bearings so at that time I can clean up whatever's required, and lube things properly.

Thanks to everyone for your responses!