Topic: Front Axle Play?

[screwtheman]

Well, I'm FINALLY getting to the point of assembly on my 1973 CB750K2 cafe-ish project. Like a good little builder, I removed the parts and placed them in baggies and labeled (most) of them. So I was mocking the front wheel together to make sure I have all the parts and I swear I don't remember the axle having this much "play". The speedo gearbox is on, the disc is on, the dust boot and axle collar is on. The axle slides ~10-11mm. Is this right? Sound familiar to anyone? Seems like the disc would hit the calipers when turning the bars with that much play. 

I have both the Clymers and the Shop Manual from Helm (well worth the money, BTW) and I'm pretty sure I've got everything on there. Thanks in advance!

[heffay]

I'm wondering if your forks are tweeked and upon reassembly they are positioned to curve outwardly as opposed to what they were before disassembly... 

[CHUNG]

Put the axle in the forks and then rotate the forks. This will show if theyare indeed tweaked

[screwtheman]

The axle is sliding that much in the hub. I haven't yet put the forks on the bike. Everything was in good shape before disassembly (it was my daily rider). I'll put them all together tomorrow and see what it does. I also have some spare front wheel parts (including a 2nd axle) that I can try out too. It just seems like I'm missing a spacer or something. But I have that collar on the rotor side of the hub. I'll keep tinkinering. Thanks again, guys.

[bryanj]

7 from 10 you have the axle nut on the wrong way round, used to have great fun not telling the aprentices about that one

[Kimze]

Bet your are right Bryanj
The measured play on 10 - 11 mm. is exactly the play wich occoures if you turn the front axel nut the wrong way.

Rgds Kimze

[screwtheman]

Sorry to disappoint. But both my shop manual and clymers show the axle nut and collar going on the rotor side, which is where I have it. 

I've disassembled the assembly again to double check that I have all the components on and it looks right according to both diagrams. For some reason, I remember this coming up on the old Greenspun boards (I've already searched the new archives with no luck). I'm just hand tightening the axle nut, but I don't recall having to impact this thing down. So according to you guys, should there be zero axle slide when the wheel is removed from the bike?

[screwtheman]

This is partially to bump the post back to the top and provide and update. After much frustration and gnashing of teeth, I'm still no further along. It looks like the bearing dust seal may be allowing the axle collar to slip. So I started to remove the bearing retainer and just got frustrated.  I've wrestled with those retainers before without much luck. So if I can build my patience back up, I'm going to try and get the retainer out without damaging the hub threads and see what Mr. Honda wants for a new dust seal (I already have a brand new replacement retainer from the last time I fought these things). I guess I may as well replace the bearings while I'm at it.

So the saga continues...

[Mark M]

Brian said the nut was the wrong way round not the whole axle. 

[screwtheman]

Ahh. The nut itself.  I bet you're 100% right.  I've got the reatiner off, new bearings on hand, and the dust seal looked to be pretty shot anyway. Maybe my stupidity is for the best. 

BTW, I was doing Googles on the old Greenspun site and found a tip for those retainers. The guy said to use two appropriate sized allen keys in the retainer notches and then use an old screwdriver to twist the retainer around. Unfortunately, I found this info after I used my brute force retainer removal method. But I'll try it out for putting the retainer back on.

[Hop on a Honda]

Re Post Number #9
Instead of allen keys use the appropiate drill bit what ever MM size. Much more safer &  neater.
Dave

[bryanj]

Did you sort this? I must try to remember to go back and re-read the posts I have answered

[screwtheman]

Yes. The axle nut was turned around the wrong way. 

[bryanj]

Ah the brain isnt as defunct as i thought it was. Bugger means i still have to go on working