Has anyone ever tried reversing the rear axle? I have a 2006 XL1200R, and wonder if it would be safe to reverse the direction of insert of the rear axle with the next tire change, so that tire changes in the future would not require loosening the exhaust to get the axle out. Surely someone has at least tried this before, right? I don't think this question would be geared to my particular model, but any H-D.

 

If the axle has permanent axle cams,they would be working in the op. direction.

 

It can go either way on my `89 Softail.

 

Oh, 1FLTRI4ME, what exactly is permanent axle cams?

 

Dont know if this helps but, I was looking into getting the swingarm axle covers for my 05 wide glide and I looked up the mounting instructions before I bought them.

The instructions say: If the castle nut is on the right side of the bike, remove and reinstall from the right so it is positioned on the left.
In the case of my dyna, yes you can.

Needless to say, I will not be getting those axle covers until I need a new wheel.

 

TIDE, do you remember where you found those instructions, I'd like to see if I could find the same thing for my Sportster possibly?

 

I was thinking the cams(adjusters)are welded on the axle,at least on one end.
I was also thinking that if the axle was turned around,the cams would not work.
May be i'm wrong.

 

I haven't looked at one, but doubt if his Sporty has cam adjusters it like your bike.

 

These instructions are not applicable to the sportster, they are dyna specific. I had my local dealer print them out for me to see what I was getting into. It turns out, my axle is reversed. My indy reversed it so they didnt have to take off my pipe every time they change a tire. Now I have new pipes that dont come close to the axle so I will reverse it back next tire change.

 

Thanks guys...sorry, I am still not sure what the cam adjusters are exactly. I am guessing that is the eye-bolts that my rear axle runs through, and a nut at the rear of the eye-bolts adjusts the tension of the wheel on the belt-drive. If that is the case it appears that the axle loosely runs through the eye-bolts, same with the brake caliper. There is, of course, an eye-bolt on each side of the axle, whick portrudes through a small hole in the rear of the frame, onto which then the tensioning nut fits.