Front Axle Adjustment

here's some pics of how i received the front axle on my kz650. looks like maybe somebody swapped some bushings/collars when they had the wheel off? I'm thinking it could be even simpler than that, just loosening the nuts and sliding the axle over. That 2-3 thread grab really scares me.

The axle is only shifted inside the collar nuts. The threads go all the way the width of the fork tube. There is about 2" of thread there. It only looks sloppy but is completely safe.

sm0kinace wrote:

I'm thinking it could be even simpler than that, just loosening the nuts and sliding the axle over.

Exactly.

Also, the gap between the fork leg and the axle clamp should be to the rear of the fork - after you fix the axle side shift, tighten the front axle clamp nut to spec (no gap at the front) then tighten the rear clamp nut (gap behind the axle).

It night have been tightened this way because the thread is seized in one of the nuts.

OnkelB wrote:

sm0kinace wrote:

I'm thinking it could be even simpler than that, just loosening the nuts and sliding the axle over.

Exactly.

Also, the gap between the fork leg and the axle clamp should be to the rear of the fork - after you fix the axle side shift, tighten the front axle clamp nut to spec (no gap at the front) then tighten the rear clamp nut (gap behind the axle).

Exactly; and use a torque wrench (11.5 - 16 ft. lb. for the clamp nuts). You don't want to be weakening the studs by overtightening. The axle nuts (collars) call for 51 - 65 ft. lbs. They are tightened before the axle clamp nuts. Ed

If you don't like the way the axle is all you need to do is loosen the big end nuts by holding one and turning the other then thread the axle more onto the one then retighten after it's centered. You can do this easily by leaving the nuts tightened on one of the forks while you loosen the big nut on the other after loosening the clamp nuts only on that fork. Also look for the arrows on the bottom of the 2 lower brackets and make sure arrow is pointed forward, then tighten the front nut to spec first, then the rear on both forks.

terrific thanks for the info, i'll get to that this weekend, especially since i need to adjust the clamps now. Nice to know that it's not going to fly off though...

it seems that the wheel is slightly off center, just to the right. seems perpendicular to the road but just off-center...haven't gotten the front wheel up to see how it spins though. The rear wheel looks very straight except for a small (barely noticable) bend on the right side of the rim. Is truing rims with spokes much like truing a bicycle rim? I've got a bit of experience with those.

I'm trying to track down a wobble...i mostly notice it when i'm riding alone and not around any traffic, it doesn't feel like there's any pattern to it.

If the wheels turn out not to be the wobble cause the next best bet is tires; swingarm bushings, and steering stem bearings (in that order). All these can be done using the factory manual, torque wrenches, and (thankfully) not too much $$ (except maybe the tires). Ed

steering stem bearings sounds possible...i need to get to those anyway, there is a slight catch at center...it seemed like it was supposed to be there to hold the wheel straight ahead when cruising or something but i was told that it's not normal

tires are fairly new, good tread, soft, no cracks, no worries.

swingarm bushings, where they connect to the lower frame has a little play that couldn't be eliminated by tightening the bolt so that's a definite task.