[big_t]

While cleaning my chain, I noticed that my rear wheel is not spinning as freely as I think it should be - at least compared to my other bike. With a gentle spin, it barely wants to rotate a full turn, whereas my other bike's wheel would rotate nice and free, nearly as well as the front wheel would.

Did I over-tighten the rear axle bolt when adjusting my chain, or is this right?

 

[NewRedRider]

Welcome big_t!

Check your chain slack tension. Has the chain been oiled lately? If you haven't greased the rear axle I'd say now's a good time. You could have rust on the axle. Check your bearings while you have the axle out and give them a slab of grease also. Are the rear brake pads scrubbing? Make sure the rear wheel is aligned and square. Did you torque the axle nut to 83ft/lbs?

 

[big_t]

Well, I oil my chain religously, and the bike has only about 4.5k on it, less than 2 months old - I wouldn't think the axle would need greasing already?

I do hear a bit of 'swish-swish' from my pads, but I've been told that this is normal, to an extent.

As best as I can tell (which should tell me something...) I did torque to 83 ft/lbs... to be honest, though, my current torque wrench is one of those handle-spin types, and the marks on it max out at 75 - I simply twisted a bit more, and was afraid that I wan't getting a good value out of it at that points.

Sounds like I need a new wrench - my fiancee's going to kill me

 

[envirocbr]

Yes Brake rub is Perfectly normal! Please also make sure that your tire is aligned PERFECTLY!

 

[EsotericRR]

Like New said, its probably rust build up on the axel. If you actually wash your bike with soap and water rust will show up on the axel, even more if you use a leaf blower to dry the bike off which forces water into areas it may not reach regularly. Take you rear wheel off and clean up that axel really good, then grease it with something like a lithium grease, something that's water proof.

 

[NewRedRider]

You can get a new torque wrench for under $50 so hopefully your girl won't be too mad. But rust doesn't take long at all especially since they don't grease them from the factory. Mine was dry as a bone when I pulled it the first time and already had rust. Just take some light grit sandpaper and knock the rust off before you grease it.

 

[James06CBR]

Like New said, its probably rust build up on the axel. If you actually wash your bike with soap and water rust will show up on the axel, even more if you use a leaf blower to dry the bike off which forces water into areas it may not reach regularly. Take you rear wheel off and clean up that axel really good, then grease it with something like a lithium grease, something that's water proof.

Wouldn't Mobil 1 high temp synthetic grease be better than regular lithium grease that has a lower heat rating? This is a serious question, as I have both and I want to know which is best.

 

[EsotericRR]

Wouldn't Mobil 1 high temp synthetic grease be better than regular lithium grease that has a lower heat rating? This is a serious question, as I have both and I want to know which is best.

Dont know, ive never used that stuff. I just had some white lithium grease on hand and it works great. I did this quite a while ago and it still spins better now, after track days and about 2 months of riding, than it did before. But i dont wash my bike anymore either, just honda polish these days. If you want to use a mobil product than go right ahead.

 

[Guest]

Welcome to the site big_t!

 

[big_t]

Thanks everyone... good advice!

 

[Mister Dirt]

Sounds like I need a new wrench - my fiancee's going to kill me

lol u shouldve seen my wifes face when i said, i think i wanna get full ohlins supsenion.. lol man i learned how to stfu. imp:

 

[Guest]

use a bearing grease on the axle.