I have the service manual for my bike and it does not explain the "procedure" for checking wheel axle end play. It merely tells me the tolerances and shows a photograph of a dial indicator attached to the brake rotor via a magnetic stand while the wheel is mounted on the bike.

Do I simply push and pull the axle (using my hand) from the other side?

My bike is a '96 Badboy. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Rodney

 

OK... think I've solved this.
1. I removed my rear wheel.
2. I cleaned the grease from all the parts.
3. I re-assembled the rear wheel on the bike
without any grease.
4. Using a dial indicator mounted to my brake
rotor and touching the end of my axle, I
used a pry bar between the swing arm and
brake rotor to move the wheel toward the
left side of the bike.

I was able to see .003" movement. When I removed pressure from the pry bar, the wheel would come back to zero on the dial indicator.

Now I have another question. When I dis-assembled the rear wheel, the axle crown nut was on the "right side" (brake rotor side) of the bike and the spacer washers (the variable sized washers used to achieve correct end play) were located under the wheel bearing located on the "right side" (brake rotor side).... I re-assemble the rear axle this same way.

However, my HD Service manual says that I should have the axle crown nut on the "Left side" (pulley side) and the spacer washers should also be on the "Left Side" (pulley side) or there will be no end play.

My bike is a 1996 softail Badboy. Is the manual correct here or was (is) my bike assembled incorrectly????

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Rodney