Walker1 Posted July 17, 2021 Posted July 17, 2021 Ok guys.. the chin adjuster seized so I decided to take I apart.. Took off the exhaust, broke the axle nut (with some great force and effort), removed the brake caliper and then I was stuck... The sprocket would not come off.. Using a piece of wood and a lump hammer (and a few days soak with penetrating wd40) and a few wacks eventually the sprocket came off.. wahoo! The unfortunate part is I am now stuck here.. I got a bigger wood and a bigger hammer and have given the axle a few more belts but nothing.. not a budge. Iam stumped.. any suggestions? Quote
Member Contributer Skids Posted July 17, 2021 Member Contributer Posted July 17, 2021 Are you following the Service Manual (downloadable from this site)? I haven't taken the rear hub off a VFR for a few years and I can't remember any differences from the 5th Gen, but I thought you needed to remove the brake disc assembly? I'm sure someone more knowledgeable will be along soon. Quote
Walker1 Posted July 17, 2021 Author Posted July 17, 2021 3 hours ago, Skids said: Are you following the Service Manual (downloadable from this site)? I haven't taken the rear hub off a VFR for a few years and I can't remember any differences from the 5th Gen, but I thought you needed to remove the brake disc assembly? I'm sure someone more knowledgeable will be along soon. Yes sir.. I have it done along with the manual.. I believe that it has corroded on as the full sprocket should slide off and the axle should slide out! Quote
Member Contributer BusyLittleShop Posted July 17, 2021 Member Contributer Posted July 17, 2021 What you are dealing with are the negative effects of of corrosion... mainly due to riding in the rain or hitting your prize with a garden hose... both acts promotes corrosion in all the little nooks and crannies hidden from view... The pitfull is that metal is etched for life... Your axle is probably frozen at the wheel bearings due to corrosion from either rain riding or washing your bike with a garden hose... if the rubber hammer fails then you need more force like a large steel hammer... to protect the axle and threads source a hard wood block or plastic... installed the nut backwards so the flange faces you... strike the wood / plastic against the nut... the force to budge the axle maybe extreme so be prepared for the bike to move about... also be prepared for the axle to propel free in a shot... having a second body helps to control the reaction to the hammer force... after the axle is out check to make sure the wheel bearings are still seated in their place... a little grease will prevent this from happening again... Heat helps... always tackle disassembly after a ride when all the parts are up to temp... working with room temp parts is more resistance... 1 Quote
Walker1 Posted July 17, 2021 Author Posted July 17, 2021 2 hours ago, BusyLittleShop said: you are dealing with are the negative effects of of corrosion... BusyLittleShop you legend. Got the bugger off. Put the nut on, gave it a belt and bing bang boosh! Lots and lots of corrosion.. the inside of the sprocket looking not so good nor the axle itself.. any tips to clean these bad boys? Also you nailed it on the head.. I use this bike year around and also washed it down a couple times with the hose Next part is to remove the caliper mounting plate.. also wont budge!! Wahoo Quote
Member Contributer Skids Posted July 17, 2021 Member Contributer Posted July 17, 2021 Glad you got it (at least partly) sorted! Quote
Careca Posted July 20, 2021 Posted July 20, 2021 I know it was a pig to get out but that doesn't look anywhere near as bad as I thought it would look like. Should clean up a treat. Quote
daved Posted July 20, 2021 Posted July 20, 2021 How are your cush drive rubbers looking? mine (@ 80k miles) needed replacing, made gear changes much smoother. Quote
Member Contributer DannoXYZ Posted July 21, 2021 Member Contributer Posted July 21, 2021 Seems kinda barbaric to whack it with hammer. Is there way to use some kind of press or gear-puller to extract? Quote
Member Contributer BusyLittleShop Posted July 21, 2021 Member Contributer Posted July 21, 2021 On 7/17/2021 at 11:58 AM, Walker1 said: BusyLittleShop you legend. Got the bugger off. Put the nut on, gave it a belt and bing bang boosh! Lots and lots of corrosion.. the inside of the sprocket looking not so good nor the axle itself.. any tips to clean these bad boys? Here are my axle care notes that I send out to RC30/ RC45 owners... you'll have to download the photos for the lesson to make sense... Because the RC30 and RC45 employ the same caged needle bearing the rides directly on on the rear axle I offer my method to clean both the axle and bearing... Once you have the bearing removed you employ a two jewelers screw drivers and carefully lift each roller from the cage... Give the rollers and cage a bath in gasoline... you be surprised at all the dirty deposits hidden in the old grease and every nook and cranny... you're looking at the deposits after only 10K miles of normal operation... Once the bearing are really clean lay them out and inspect each roller for scoring... Dirt mixed with the old grease will leave a trail of deposits on the axle at point B... Spun in a Lathe... it's easy to remove the deposits employing a gray micro fine 3M pad... it's soft enough that it does *not* remove any precious metal... employ a soft wire wheel to bring the other parts of the axle back to a luster... What you'll end up with is an axle with the deposits remove plus giving the metal a nice luster... 1 Quote
Member Contributer BusyLittleShop Posted July 21, 2021 Member Contributer Posted July 21, 2021 1 hour ago, DannoXYZ said: Seems kinda barbaric to whack it with hammer. Is there way to use some kind of press or gear-puller to extract? Barbaric hammer blows would not be needed if owners would stop hitting their prize with a garden hose... it's tantamount to bike abuse... Quote
Member Contributer Mohawk Posted July 21, 2021 Member Contributer Posted July 21, 2021 Or if they followed the service schedule & removed cleaned & repacked the rear axle. Normal rear ends get stripped every time you change a tyre., just like your front wheel. But SSSA don't, they should get stripped & cleaned every 2-3 years & then they wouldn't need a hammer ! Quote
Member Contributer scottbott Posted July 22, 2021 Member Contributer Posted July 22, 2021 interesting thread which I have bookmarked for future use, I have had my 4th gen nearly 5 years now and the previous owner "recommissioned" the bike after a long layoff and everything that I have had to do has been great as he did what he actually said he did, mine is a nice dry only bike unless I get caught out in rain so hopefully I will not have this trouble but I have not done this job yet, when I adjusted the chain it was as smooth a silk to do, again thanks to the previous owner, maybe a job for the winter, thanks to LittleBusyShop for the photo description Quote
Member Contributer BusyLittleShop Posted July 22, 2021 Member Contributer Posted July 22, 2021 3 hours ago, scottbott said: interesting thread which I have bookmarked for future use, I have had my 4th gen nearly 5 years now and the previous owner "recommissioned" the bike after a long layoff and everything that I have had to do has been great as he did what he actually said he did, mine is a nice dry only bike unless I get caught out in rain so hopefully I will not have this trouble but I have not done this job yet, when I adjusted the chain it was as smooth a silk to do, again thanks to the previous owner, maybe a job for the winter, thanks to LittleBusyShop for the photo description You're welcome... Quote
Walker1 Posted July 27, 2021 Author Posted July 27, 2021 On 7/20/2021 at 5:59 PM, daved said: How are your cush drive rubbers looking? mine (@ 80k miles) needed replacing, made gear changes much smoother. The cush drive rubbers look ok; they are not longer attached together but gave the general area a good clean up and put them back in! Wandered what they affected! On 7/21/2021 at 6:35 PM, BusyLittleShop said: are my axle care notes Much appreciated! On 7/21/2021 at 6:51 PM, BusyLittleShop said: tantamount to bike abuse... Guilty as charged! I suspect a sponge and bucket may be a better option.. On 7/21/2021 at 9:27 PM, Mohawk said: then they wouldn't need a hammer ! Learning more and more! This is an adventure.. one that may not need a hammer again 😝 Quote
Member Contributer BusyLittleShop Posted July 27, 2021 Member Contributer Posted July 27, 2021 12 hours ago, Walker1 said: Much appreciated! Guilty as charged! I suspect a sponge and bucket may be a better option.. You're welcome... Looking for options??? try Busy Little Shop's 3 step method of bike cleaning: 1) At the end of day soak a soft wash cloth in HOT water and remove bugs and road grime... repeat as necessary and keep the rag HOT... 2) Apply Meguiars detailer mist to a soft rag and then to fairings and gas tank and buff to a shine... 3) Apply a little gasoline to a soft rag and degrease chain and magnesium wheels... Meguiars wheels to a nice luster... After 20 years and 62,000 miles of perverted highway I've never once hit Mr.RC45 with a garden hose... to me it's bike abuse because it promotes corrosion in all the little nooks and crannies... Quote
Member Contributer DannoXYZ Posted July 28, 2021 Member Contributer Posted July 28, 2021 On 7/21/2021 at 1:27 PM, Mohawk said: Or if they followed the service schedule & removed cleaned & repacked the rear axle. Normal rear ends get stripped every time you change a tyre., just like your front wheel. But SSSA don't, they should get stripped & cleaned every 2-3 years & then they wouldn't need a hammer ! On 7/21/2021 at 10:51 AM, BusyLittleShop said: Barbaric hammer blows would not be needed if owners would stop hitting their prize with a garden hose... it's tantamount to bike abuse... Seems like design oversight on Honda's part. A little groove for O-ring or labyrinth seal would really go long way to preventing this issue. Quote
Member Contributer Cogswell Posted July 28, 2021 Member Contributer Posted July 28, 2021 I'd guess that the design reviews never considered that these bikes would still be going down the road nearly a quarter century later. A unique lot us VFR owners are. Quote
Member Contributer VFRMAN Posted August 16, 2021 Member Contributer Posted August 16, 2021 On 7/21/2021 at 9:27 PM, Mohawk said: Or if they followed the service schedule & removed cleaned & repacked the rear axle. Normal rear ends get stripped every time you change a tyre., just like your front wheel. But SSSA don't, they should get stripped & cleaned every 2-3 years & then they wouldn't need a hammer ! Rear end has never been touched on my bike, 23 years!! it's only had 3 tyre changes in all that time. Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.