Removed Wheels for First Time... Successful, but Questions...

[corey]

So i got my wheels off for my tire change... This is on an S2R800 with a SSSA
This was my first attempt at this, and it went relatively smoothly..
I did discover a few things...

1) Do the back wheel first, because the bike is more stable with the front wheel still on the ground for putting that large amount of torque on that rear nut...
2) That rear wheel nut is REALLY on there... Had to use my 18" breaker bar, and a 4 foot 2x4 with a handy-dandy whole punched in it...

I guess my only real question is this...
While trying to get that rear wheel nut off, i'm pretty sure the rear wheel, chain, and drive (in first gear, as manual states to do) all turned backwards...
I'm assuming that this also turned the engine backwards, unless the slipper clutch would prevent that, but I'm not sure...
Does this sound normal?
Is this a horribly bad situation? Did i really screw something up?
I'm a little nervous about this one, as I have read that I should not crank the engine backwards...

Eventually, i got some help and called my brother over to hold the rear brake pedal, while i steadied the bike (because i was nervous it would topple off the stands) while my dad torqued off the nut... it worked...

Thoughts, anyone?
Tires are going on tomorrow.

[Spidey]

Is this a horribly bad situation? Did i really screw something up?

Don't worry about it.

[Mash]

Thanks for the report.  I've never taken the wheels off my bike, and I needed the inspiration.  I'm getting ready to do the same thing on my s2r1000. 

I have a question for those that have done this.  I have an electric impact wrench I got secondhand from a tire shop.  They used it for lugnuts.  The thing is massive and powerful, with a 1/2 inch drive.  Could I use it to loosen the rear axle nut?  You don't think it could have too much torque, do you?

[rockaduc]

When I replaced my chain and sprockets, I used a pneumatic impact gun.  It makes the whole job amazingly easy...none of this breaker bar and 3 people stuff.  You'll be fine.

[Howie]

You can use it for loosy, but not for tighty.

[DucHead]

Go to Harbor Freight and get an electric impact wrench for less than $20. 

I've had one for 3 years now, and it makes rear wheel/sprocket removal a snap -- no more breaker bars and 2"x4" boards and no more worries about upsetting the bike while loosening the axle nut(s).

[corey]

yea.. while i was doing it i said to myself... man, my impact gun would make this a snap...
no compressor where I'm at though, and my impact gun is in my other garage with a pile of pieces from my '65 mustang :/
i need to find a small compressor...

[Speeddog]

When putting the rear wheel on, make *absolutely* sure that the drive pins go in the holes on the wheel, *not* in the slots.

[corey]

When putting the rear wheel on, make *absolutely* sure that the drive pins go in the holes on the wheel, *not* in the slots.

will do speed, thanks for the note.
got the wheels back a bit ago, these tires look SICK.

[corey]

Got everything back on last night... All looks well!
Thanks to Spidey's guide to removing/refitting the front wheel, everything up there went smooth as butter!
No axle bind, no fork stiction, nothing to worry about at all. Made sure to double check all the important bolts, used the right grease in the right places... i think i pulled this off.
Rear wheel, of course, was hard as hell to torque down, but i got the wrench to click... and i did it again just to make sure... 130 ft lbs (176nM) is A LOT of torque.... I'm glad it has a snap ring on it too...

The Pilot Road 2's have totally changed the bike... It just FALLS into turns now..
Makes me feel like Rossi, and I'm still just scrubbing them in....

Thanks for all the help everyone.

[Popeye the Sailor]

Got everything back on last night... All looks well!
Thanks to Spidey's guide to removing/refitting the front wheel, everything up there went smooth as butter!
No axle bind, no fork stiction, nothing to worry about at all. Made sure to double check all the important bolts, used the right grease in the right places... i think i pulled this off.
Rear wheel, of course, was hard as hell to torque down, but i got the wrench to click... and i did it again just to make sure... 130 ft lbs (176nM) is A LOT of torque.... I'm glad it has a snap ring on it too...

The Pilot Road 2's have totally changed the bike... It just FALLS into turns now..
Makes me feel like Rossi, and I'm still just scrubbing them in....

Thanks for all the help everyone.

FYI, do not torque further after the initial click. It is a recipe for overtorque 

[dlearl476]

You can use it for loosy, but not for tighty.

If you need a breaker bar and a 2X4 to torque your SSA wheel nut, I think you need to recalibrate your torque wrench. 

i do the same thing on my SSA Triumph.  Impact off, 4th gear, 2.5 lb sandbag hanging on rear brake lever, and torque wrench on.  No Problem.