Axle bearings...

[HemiChallenger71]

I'm finally doing axle bearings on my 350X, and I can't figure out how to get thos big nuts off the axle on the axle on the side of the Rotor. I got the inder nut loose, and it screws inwards twards the axle. The other large nut I cannot get loose. I have tried to turn it both ways and it will not budge, I just turn the motor over. I even tried standing on it. The axle on this machine might be something fro ma 250R, I really don't know, it seems to be about 1 or 2 inches wider. I called a dealer ship service, and the guy told me both nuts screw off the axle in the same direction, and one is just a locking nut. I however cannot get my nut loose. I tried penetrating oil too.
Also, how much would axle bearings run me, and if I need a carrier how much would htat be, and how do I tell if I need a carrier???

Thanks again guys for any help.

[atc86r]

both nuts do turn the same way to loosen. keep using oil. some very small dirt particles in there and the oil will lift them up. the bearings are cheap from rockymountainatv and seals. i got my carrier off classifieds for $75. they come with bearings installed when new. on the axle nut deal you will have to have rear brakes installed and someone standing on pedal. you shouldn't have to use heat. i use adjustable wrenches and piece of pipe for leaverage. the nex't time it will be a piece of cake.

[ATCnut]

the inner nut (the smaller one) is the lock nut. They are left hand thread and loosten toward the inside. The bigger nut pushes on a snap ring that is in a groove in the axle. These nuts can be really tight. The way I get them off is with a long wrench. I put the trike on a stand so that the rear tires are off the concrete floor. With the wrench on the big nut, I grab the rear wheels and use them to bang the wrench on the floor. By reefing on the wheels I get enough force to break the nut loose. I also bang the wrench when tightening the nuts, because I have seen a lot of them come loose while riding. Here is a pic of my wrench set, they are homemade but I have seen a couple of web sites that sell them. The ones I have seen for sale are 5 sided, like a flair wrench. A really big cresent wrench should also work.

Axle bearing and seals are not too expensive, there are also two half flat O-rings that go around the carrier.

A carrier itself is pricey. Is your 350x a 85, or 86? All the aftermarket carriers are for 86s, and requred 86 sprocket stuff. They run $100+.

One other thing. There is a big spacer that goes between the bearings inside the carrier. Its purpose is to distrubuite the side loads to both bearings. I have seen people leave them out, and there bearing wear out really fast, because when you tighten the big nuts up, you are pressing sideways on the bearings.

[atc86r]

finger tight the big nut then tighten locknut and use threadlock on locknut.

[Dirtcrasher]

Most people need a new carrier because they let the bearings go bad for too long. Because the bearings are not working the load affects the outer races fit in the housing bore - either by rocking or spinning but it ruins the press fit required to keep them put when your done. They need to press in fairly snug to last. My Blaster was 6mos. old when I decided to tear it apart to grease it, the rear axle already showed signs of the inner race spinnning on the axle shaft, I replaced them and used Loctite cylindrical type - All too many of you do not know the benefits of this lovely stuff. It can fill voids and help secure a loose fit bearing into it's housing. It removes easy with a small amount of heat. MAKE sure you use a press or a piece of threaded rod to install the bearings. It is so important to use the right tools, alot of times you get one shot at loosening, pressing tightening etc. whatever the part may be.The biggest thing to remember about radial bearings is just that, they are meant to take up spinning loads only. In other words banging on the inner race to install them will shorten their life. :-D

[350Xrider]

Yep, listen to ATCNUT on this one.

[HemiChallenger71]

Thanks guys.I have actually been tightening my axle. Hofily I wont have to replace the carrier but the bearings have been bad for a long time and I've been riding hard on them. The bearings were so bad that the brake rotor mount was hitting the caliper mount. You could rock the machine back and fourth on the bearings.