Stuck Rear Wheel

[DPeakMD]

I'm trying to remove the rear wheel for a tire change on my '04 R1150RT.

I've followed the instructions in the manual, but after removal of the four wheel bolts and cone spacers the wheel will not budge! I've pulled. I've given it a few 'love taps' and nothing is moving. The manual says to lift it off, but it just won't move!

Each of the bolts were VERY tight and made nasty noises breaking free. They have rust on the threaded ends. The threads look OK. Unless all four of them broke at exactly the same spot(!) then they came out intact.

And, yes, the rear brake caliper is OFF!

Any ideas???

[deilenberger]

The wheel has probably corroded to the hub of the rear drive.

What I'd suggest

- Put all the bolts back in, tighten them to they just seat on the wheel, then back each one out 1 turn

- Bounce the bike off the centerstand (assuming it's on it now) - if you hear a "CLICK" - the wheel has broken free and re-centerstand it and remove the wheel..

- If not - then roll the bike foward/backward - and vigorously apply the rear brake (I know - it's not easy to do..) - until you do hear the "CLICK"

With the bolts in place, but very slightly loose - the wheel should come free of the hub. If this doesn't work - penetrating oil in each of the bolt holes and in the center hole of the wheel, overnight - then try it.

A tiny bit of regular grease on the center-hub where it mounts to the rear-drive is a good thing to prevent this happening in the future. DO NOT grease the bolt threads or the flat surface of the rear drive.

And you might consider replacing the bolts if you believe they were overtorqued at some time (sounds like someone used an air-impact wrench..)

[DPeakMD]

Thanks for the advice!

It's freed up now. Wow, can you say "dissimilar metal corrosion"??? That thing was stuck!!!

I'm definitely taking your advice on a little grease inside the hub area. But not on the bolts.

The entire inside of the drive unit (or whatever it's called) was corroded, too. It extended out onto the bolt ends and the outer threads as well as onto the mounting surface and the small hub ring where it contacts the wheel. Is this common? :scratch

Whew! About 30 minutes with some Mirlon and it's much better.

Does it help to get one of those little BMW logo'd caps to go inside the hole?

[mrich12000]

Don, I use anti seze sparingly on my bike good idea:thumb :thumb

[BubbaZanetti]

Does it help to get one of those little BMW logo'd caps to go inside the hole?

i bought one after a similar problem as the one you described above. i doubt it forms a water tight seal, but it probably helps keep some of the water out of the crown gear.

[bikerfish1100]

i find that anti-seize and proper torquing helps the next time around.