[mkane244]

How do you remove the rear wheel on the 2014 Ninja 1000. What size hex driver is needed?

 

[alang]

12mm

 

[russperry]

So I'm an idiot. What's the sequence to get the rear axle out? I'm used to old school bolts that are pretty easy to handle but this is the first time with this eccentric chain adjuster.

There's retaining clips on each side - that seems obvious enough

Then you've got pinch bolts. Do you loosen those next, or go to the axle nuts next?

And with those, it seems like you need a hex on each side then they unwind lefty loosey style. I've got the big allen keys in there and have given them a pretty big tug but they're not budging. Do you need to unlock those nuts or does the axle just come out once the retaining clips are out? Maybe I need some liquid wrench to loosen them up?

I'm presuming others out there have some experience with this.

Thanks

 

[Modestalbatross]

Any luck doing this. I'm about to!!

 

[rcannon409]

Hers whats cool about this system. It was developed, in a way, for racing because you can take the axle out and not goof up your chain adjustment.

So, you can just remove the two snap in clips, and remove the axle. And thats it.

Assembly is tough because even a loose chain still has tension on it, but in theory, you can do ti this way.

short version is there is no need to remove the pinch bolts.

 

[Ishikawa]

Rear wheel removal procedure

Sorry to revive an old thread, (and hello again after a long absence).

I need to remove the rear wheel from my 2015 N1K. As far as the procedure goes, ... here's what I have gleaned from this forum.

1. adust the chain to very loose.
2. remove the chain from the rear sprocket
3. remove retaining rings from both sides of the rear axle
4. remove rear axle nut from right side of rear axle
5. ... ok now I'm not sure ... do I need to remove the rear brake caliper ... or anything else? Or am I read to pull out the rear wheel?

Experienced responses appreciated.

Thanks

 

[FeralRdr]

I never tried removing the rear wheel without removing the caliper first, so I can't tell you that it absolutely has to be removed. Having said that, based on my experience I highly recommend that you do so. First off, you only have to remove two caliper bolts, and it slides down fairly easily.

Second, removing the caliper gives you more room to work with. If you don't remove the caliper first, although there may be room to remove the wheel, it is still a tight space. As such, you do run the risk of scratching up your rim at the least, and possibly damaging your rotor at the worst (though not likely, it is a possibility). Additionally, with the caliper removed, it makes installation so much easier as you don't have to try aligning the rotor with the opening in the brake pads, while at the same time trying to align the Wheel's center axis with the holes in the elliptical adjusters to insert the axle.


In regards to your other question, that is all that is necessary to remove the rear wheel. You don't have to remove the rear caliper bracket, nor anything else.

Here's the actual steps I typically follow when removing my rear wheel.

1. Remove the rear brake caliper, and tie it up out of the way.
2. Use a sharpie or alcohol pen to mark the current position of the swing arms index mark. This will facilitate resetting the chain's slack on installation.
3. Break the torque of the swing arm pinch bolts and rotate the adjusters to loosen the chain. You only need to rotate one side, as long as the axle nut is still torqued down.
4. Tighten the swing arm pinch bolts. They only need to be a good hand tight at this time. This will lock the adjusters in place and maintain wheel alignment when reinstalling the rear wheel.
5. Remove the two rear axle snap rings.
6. Remove the axle nut and slide the axle out (to the left side of the bike). You should be able to easily push the axle out. If not, it is likely that the weight of the wheel is causing the axle to bind. Simply apply a slight upwards pressure on the rear wheel and try to keep it level. This should relieve the weight from sitting on the axle and allow it to slide free. If it still doesn't move easy, or moves but stops, more than likely the rear axle is still binding due to the wheel being out of alignment with the adjusters. Simply check the right adjusters axle nut hole to see if the wheel is aligned with it and adjust the wheel as necessary.

For reinstalling the rear wheel, simply follow the above steps in reverse order with a few provisoes: First, once you reinstall your axle nut, make sure to torque it to spec before loosening the pinch bolts to tighten the chain. Second, once the axle nut is torqued, go ahead and loosen the pinch bolts and reset the chain slack by by aligning the index mark you made earlier with the index mark on the swing arm. Snug the pinch bolts back down but again only hand tight. Now reinstall the rear caliper, and torque it to spec. Put your bike on its side stand and double check the chain slack. Make any necessary adjustments and then torque the pinch bolts.

 

[TCN1k]

In addition to above, I remove the ABS sensor both front and rear. Saves it from getting hit removing/reinstalling the tires. 6mm hex like the caliper.

 

[rcannon409]

Id say removing the caliper is a must. Its pretty easy so no big deal but I think you have to do this.

 

[Ishikawa]

I never tried removing the rear wheel without removing the caliper first, so I can't tell you that it absolutely has to be removed. Having said that, based on my experience I highly recommend that you do so. First off, you only have to remove two caliper bolts, and it slides down fairly easily.

Second, removing the caliper gives you more room to work with. If you don't remove the caliper first, although there may be room to remove the wheel, it is still a tight space. As such, you do run the risk of scratching up your rim at the least, and possibly damaging your rotor at the worst (though not likely, it is a possibility). Additionally, with the caliper removed, it makes installation so much easier as you don't have to try aligning the rotor with the opening in the brake pads, while at the same time trying to align the Wheel's center axis with the holes in the elliptical adjusters to insert the axle.


In regards to your other question, that is all that is necessary to remove the rear wheel. You don't have to remove the rear caliper bracket, nor anything else.

Here's the actual steps I typically follow when removing my rear wheel.

1. Remove the rear brake caliper, and tie it up out of the way.
2. Use a sharpie or alcohol pen to mark the current position of the swing arms index mark. This will facilitate resetting the chain's slack on installation.
3. Break the torque of the swing arm pinch bolts and rotate the adjusters to loosen the chain. You only need to rotate one side, as long as the axle nut is still torqued down.
4. Tighten the swing arm pinch bolts. They only need to be a good hand tight at this time. This will lock the adjusters in place and maintain wheel alignment when reinstalling the rear wheel.
5. Remove the two rear axle snap rings.
6. Remove the axle nut and slide the axle out (to the left side of the bike). You should be able to easily push the axle out. If not, it is likely that the weight of the wheel is causing the axle to bind. Simply apply a slight upwards pressure on the rear wheel and try to keep it level. This should relieve the weight from sitting on the axle and allow it to slide free. If it still doesn't move easy, or moves but stops, more than likely the rear axle is still binding due to the wheel being out of alignment with the adjusters. Simply check the right adjusters axle nut hole to see if the wheel is aligned with it and adjust the wheel as necessary.

For reinstalling the rear wheel, simply follow the above steps in reverse order with a few provisoes: First, once you reinstall your axle nut, make sure to torque it to spec before loosening the pinch bolts to tighten the chain. Second, once the axle nut is torqued, go ahead and loosen the pinch bolts and reset the chain slack by by aligning the index mark you made earlier with the index mark on the swing arm. Snug the pinch bolts back down but again only hand tight. Now reinstall the rear caliper, and torque it to spec. Put your bike on its side stand and double check the chain slack. Make any necessary adjustments and then torque the pinch bolts.

Thanks for taking the time to make this detailed response. I haven't removed a wheel, front or rear, from any motorcycle before now. This is great. If removing the caliper is so straightforward, and it makes the overall job easier, then that's what I'll do.

 

[Ishikawa]

Id say removing the caliper is a must. Its pretty easy so no big deal but I think you have to do this.

Then that settles it :grin:

Thanks Roland.

 

[FeralRdr]

In addition to above, I remove the ABS sensor both front and rear. Saves it from getting hit removing/reinstalling the tires. 6mm hex like the caliper.

Thanks for the heads up on that.

My previous experience with removing the wheels was on my 2012 which was a non ABS model. My 2017 is still so new that I haven't had a reason yet to remove the rear wheel. Everything else being the same, it never occurred to me that could be an issue.

 

[Ishikawa]

Thanks for the heads up on that.

My previous experience with removing the wheels was on my 2012 which was a non ABS model. My 2017 is still so new that I haven't had a reason yet to remove the rear wheel. Everything else being the same, it never occurred to me that could be an issue.

Yes, thanks from me too. Mine is a 2015, so ABS was standard.

 

[Ishikawa]

One more question: Is it necessary to clean/regrease the axle or any other parts before/during reassembly? The 2013 service manual (the only one I have access to) mentions high-temp grease in a few places (...like the "grease seal lips").

 

[TCN1k]

One more question: Is it necessary to clean/regrease the axle or any other parts before/during reassembly? The 2013 service manual (the only one I have access to) mentions high-temp grease in a few places (...like the "grease seal lips").

I throw some general red grease on the axles when I put them back in.

 

[rcannon409]

When you remove the rear caliper, remove the bolts..Obviously, duh.....

But,, before you slide it off the disc, wiggle it back and forth. This pushes the pads backwards and makes installation easy.

Be sure and pump up the rear brake before riding. This will push the pads back where they belong.