Should rear wheel spin freely?

OK I know this is kind of a dumb question, but I just took off the rear wheel to install new brake shoes. Everything went fine, re-installed wheel. So here is my question, when the bike is on the centerstand should the rear wheel spin freely when in neutral?? I forgot to check how freely it was spinning before I took it off, now I am concerned that there is too much resistance when I move the wheel by hand. It does not "free spin" at all......but I can turn it with I would say "medium effort" if that makes any sense.

Is this normal?? I'm concerned maybe something is not seated properly and the wheel has too much drag. I noticed it also makes a difference how much I tighten the spindle nut (I know I need a torque wrench)

 

Make sure all of your spacers and such are in there correctly. Also check and make sure you didnt install the wheel off center somehow and its rubbing on the shaft cover or the other side of the wingarm.

 

rear axle only takes 77 lb/ft check that the drive gears are seated correctly as well as the brake cover. make sure you check for brake drag as well.

 

OK thanks guys, it rides fine (great actually) just seems like the rear wheel should spin a little more free to me. Although I realize it's hooked up to the splines and drive shaft so maybe it's doing exactly what it is supposed to. Just wish I had another one to compare it to!

 

The resistance you should feel would be in the driveline; not "drag" that takes any serious force to overcome. I'm concerned that you have a spacer out of place or the brake shoes aren't seated correctly.

You're not the only XJ650 owner in the Chi-town area. Start a new thread to find someone close by to compare with.

 

I'd place my bets that the rear brake didn't get adjusted when he put he new shoes on.

Make sure you completely reset (back off) the rear adjuster, and bring it back up so it's JUST out of contacting the drum. If you ride with dragging rear shoes, you CAN kill yourself. Rear brake gets so hot it either:

1.) catches fire, or
2.) welds itself to the drum and your back wheel locks up all of a sudden.

So you'll either be a pastie on the road, or a fiery burning hunk running down it

 

I would say the exact same thing. I just replaced mine last week and the rear wheel wasn't spinning freely so we backed off the adjustment nut (I used my paint skills to point it out in the photo)...

 

Yes I double checked that, shoes are seated properly, started with plenty of travel in the brake lever arm to ensure no brake drag so I don't think that is it. I think what I have is probably normal.........let me ask you this, everyone knows how if you give the front wheel a good "spin" then you get maybe 8-12 revolutions of free spin. If you try this to the back wheel, do you get any free spin revolutions at all (I think it might be normal not to because of the splines turning the drive shaft. As I said it's not hard to turn, just no free spin at all. Since I didn't check this before I started (dumb mistake) I don't know what to expect on this.
Thanks for the responses guys.

 

maybe4, I have noticed that on my 750 (shaft drive) that when it is cool the back wheel wont spin as easy as you think it should. But immediately after a long ride WHEN HOT it will spin almost as easy as the front. I chalk it up to driveline drag and HEAVY gear oil...

 

My xj lost it's kickstand, so it was nothing for me to go check it out for you....

on a good hard spin, the rear tire spun on it's own about 1 or 1/4 turns.

Hardly "free spinning", but perfectly normal.

 

Thank you both SecaRob and day7a1a - that is exactly what I have found, right on the money with both or your comments. I loosened the spindle nut to the correct torque and my results are now exactly on par with what you guys are saying!!! Thanks Again, definately wanted to make sure something wasn't amiss with my new brake shoes and reinstall.