30 second fix probly saved my bacon today

While checking tire pressure before a long ride today (I always check it before every ride) I noticed the washer under the castle nut on the front axle was kinda sideways,not seated under the nut.Sure enough,when I touched it,it had a pretty good amount of play due to the nut being quite loose 8O

I had the front wheel off several weeks ago to have a tube installed.Since I don't have a manual (I know,I know ) I figured I could just snug the nut a bit,and the cotter pin will keep it from backing off.My thinking was that if it's tightened very much,it'll be hard for the wheel to turn,and hard on the bearings.While picking up the wheel from the shop,I asked him if there was a specific torque setting or anything,and he told me to do it exactly as I had planned,making me feel maybe not so dumb after all :wink:

Obviously the mechanic and I were both wrong.Just thought I should share my stupidity so others will check their axle nuts if you've removed your wheel recently

BTW,IS there a torque spec or procedure for that?

 

Maxim 550 manual says 77.5 lbs/ft.

 

650/750 haynes manual says 77 lbs/ft or 10.7 kgs/m

 

There'a procedure as well. Tightening the axle nut to the proper torque (77 ft/lbs) should NOT put any sort of bind or stress on the bearings, that's not how it's designed. If it DOES, you have something out of place.

Snug, but don't fully tighten, the axle pinch bolts; torque the axle nut to spec. "Bounce" the front end a couple of times, then torque the pinch bolts to their proper torque as well. (14.5 ft/lb.) It's important that the pinch bolts NOT be tight before you torque the axle nut.

 

77 8O ,wow,that seems like a lot,but if that's what it's supposed to be,I guess I'll be cranking it on down again.It was real tight when I was taking it off,but I just figured it was stuck on there due to corrosion

Thanks a bunch for the info folks.

Oh,1 other thing,anybody know off hand the exact size of the castle nut? I don't have any metrics quite big enough,so I just used an adjustable wrench.But of course I'll need to buy a socket in order to use the torque wench (incorrect spelling of "wrench" intentional )

 

22mm. Be sure to get a 6-point socket; and use a new cotter pin.

 

Torque wench.....hmmm.

Dave

 

Thanks again Fitz,you da man!

Yeah,I call it a torque wench,and I meant to say adjustable wench as well :lol: I like to change the names of everyone and everything,and in some cases I make up words entirely,just something I've always done.I think it has something to do with my non-functional pea brain.Keeps me entertained anyway

 

Wow. My bike just came back from a local mechanic who rides a lot. He did my tires for me. I just checked mine now, it must've been 30 or 40 pounds. I snugged it until I couldn't move it any more with a crescent wrench. I supposed I got it to about 50 pounds or so. I don't have a torque wench or wrench, nor do I have a wench on the front of my truck.

I wonder just how many people ride around with a loose nut?

 

I am the loose nut riding around. harharhar

 

Most problems are caused by the "loose nut" holding the handlebars. LOL

 

I never knew about loose pinch bolts but I did know about the torque setting.