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Dave & Teddy's Most Excellent Adventures 2012

If putting it back together use anti seize sparingly and torque it correctly.

Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk 2
 
Thanks to ALL of you for your responses - Here's where we are now.....

The cotter pin is not in the equation at all, as I easily removed all of it along with the right side nut without issue, so I know thats not part of the problem.

When I originally began to remove the Hitch Bolt, I removed the aformentioned cotter pin and nut, and then proceeded to remove the Hitch Bolt, all awhile, the Spyder was sitting on a rear flat tire, and I mean DEAD FLAT. In hindsight, I should have either jacked the Spyder up or plugged and re-inflated the tire before I started to remove the Hitch Bolt. Live n Learn....

I'm thinking, since I was able to get it to come out by about 4 inches, that was enough for the right side of the bolt to clear the hitch and get fully inside the axle, thus putting pressure on the left side and causing it to bind such as it has. Just my logical thinking here, no evidence to prove anything yet, as its still stuck more than ever.

Even with my buddies help last night (who's a MillWright by trade) trying everything we could, jacking it up high, mid, low, up down, actually plugging and reinflating the tire, removing the Muffler bolt so we could raise the muffler enough to get a long metal rod into the Axle Shaft on the Right side and trying to pound the Hitch Bolt out, all awhile using copius amounts of WD40 lubricant.......... nothing, it won't move besides being able to muscle the Hell out of it with a socket wrench and getting it to turn just a tad each time, but its just turning in place and not progressing.........UGH!!!

He has an electric impact that we're gonna try when we get off of work today, along with me stopping by the Auto Parts store to pick up some of the Lubricant that was suggested and we'll try this combination next and see what happens. But right now, we can't get the Hitch Bolt to go either direction, just around and around and that's giving it everything we got with a socket wrench. Hopefully with having a power impact, it will help to break it loose and with one of us wiggling the hitch up and down, maybe we can get it lined up to where it will slide out. Don't know what else to try at this point.

9 days now since we've been out for a ryde and Teddy is going stir crazy, I feel so bad for the little guy, but all the while we're working on the byke, he's sitting right there in his carrier on the back waiting for us to take off, but it never happens and you can just see in his eyes how bad he's stressing cause he wants to ryde.....
 
Wishing you and Teddy the best.:pray: I know I have a low frustration level and the 3 pound hammer would have been out long ago.:banghead:
 
The flat tire should not have made any difference. The axle is continuous, and has a hollow bore. The bolt slides through this bore, with a reasonably snug, but not tight, fit. It should slide through easily, with a bit of room to wiggle, and with the tightest fit being only where it fits through the hitch itself. To hang up that tightly, it has to be damaged to the point that it can't slide straight through, bent, or there has to be a secondary object like a cotter key fragment, debris, or rust stuck in between the bolt and the bore. I suppose there would be the remote possibility that the axle itself has collapsed around the bolt, but that is highly unlikely. At this point there is no easy answer. If the bolt is far enough into the bore that the end is recessed beyond the axle end, be sure the lubricant spray goes into the axle bore. It will be pretty impossible to get it to the axle on the left side. Getting it to turn as you drive it out is probably your best bet. If the hitch moves when you try to turn the bolt, it is stuck in the hitch, if not, it is stuck in the axle. Try to keep the hitch holes lined straight with the axle while you work, you don't need it hung up in two places. As I said, best of luck. I'll loan you some good cuss words if you need a few. Better cover Teddy's ears, though.
 
YAY!!! More help is on the way

:pray:Coz said he's packing up his tools and will see us at 4 today to see if there's anything he can manage to help with:bowdown: I wonder if I should have mentioned the brake pads, HID lights, BajaRon Plugs & Wires, Oil Change ...... :rolleyes:
 
Glad some help is coming. Man, I'm chomping at the bit at this as if this is my axle that's stuck. This sounds like stuff that happens to me. :banghead:
 
As Scotty said, turning with the impact driver while using a rod from the right side to hammer it out (along with the lube) is the best bet. Sure sounds odd...

Good luck!
 
It is hard to understand for sure with this being so tight/stuck in the axle bore. Does anyone think that the hitch rod could be slightly bent on the nut/carter key end? it wouldn't take much.
Hey! remember you pulled the trailer on the ride at Lamonts in all of the mountains, you might have gotten a little agressive a time or two. Could this have something to do with possible damage to the hitch bolt? OK GUYS, don't call me crazy, I'm just thinking out loud here trying to figure out something forTeddy!:dontknow:
 
It is hard to understand for sure with this being so tight/stuck in the axle bore. Does anyone think that the hitch rod could be slightly bent on the nut/carter key end? it wouldn't take much.
Hey! remember you pulled the trailer on the ride at Lamonts in all of the mountains, you might have gotten a little agressive a time or two. Could this have something to do with possible damage to the hitch bolt? OK GUYS, don't call me crazy, I'm just thinking out loud here trying to figure out something forTeddy!:dontknow:
You are not crazy. If the hitch got knocked real hard over to one side, the end could theoretically bend. It could also have damaged threads if the hitch was moved forward or back real hard. That is one reason I was hoping he could knock it back in, so the end could be inspected. The free end of a bent bolt would likely wobble off center when turned.
 
Wish I could add something here Dave, but the above advice is very good. Hope you get it beat and you and Teddy are riding again soon. Good luck!
 
Houston, We have Success!!! Sometimes, It takes a villiage ...........

With my buddy Doug on the Impact, Coz on the Pipe Wrench, Teddy up in his carrier Supervising and me on the other side with metal rod and hammer, along with liberal amounts of that Blaster Penetrant, by golly it took some work,
but I'm Happy & Thankful to report,
:yes::clap:MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:yes::clap:

And a HUGE :bowdown:THANK YOU:bowdown: to ALL those of YOU:bowdown:
that gave your insight, suggestions, PMs and phone calls
of advice and support.
I'll detail more later, got to get to work right now,
but just wanted to share the good news, as I know many of you were waiting to see how this would transpire.
We got the hitch bolt, axle and rear tire removed, but still have a ways to go yet. More later.

:firstplace:THANK YOU ALL:firstplace:

 
Dave & Teddy

Glad its all coming together for you. You and Teddy will be out riding again soon for sure! :yes::yes::yes:
 
Great news Dave.

Could you post a closeup picture of the hitch bolt? I believe that the right side is where the hangup started and it was because of dirt,corrosion, etc.. This build up and the fact that the clearance between the hitch bolt and hole in the axle is about .010 inches. I'm in the process of putting my tire back on and will be looking at the hitch to see if I can say what caused the problem and maybe a way to prevent it from happening.
 
I wish I would have taken a pic before cleaning it, as this pic is after cleaning

Great news Dave. Could you post a closeup picture of the hitch bolt? I believe that the right side is where the hangup started and it was because of dirt,corrosion, etc.. This build up and the fact that the clearance between the hitch bolt and hole in the axle is about .010 inches. I'm in the process of putting my tire back on and will be looking at the hitch to see if I can say what caused the problem and maybe a way to prevent it from happening.

You are 100% correct, the entire issue was due to a build up of corrosion on the Hitch Bolt. When we removed the Axle Bolt, it seems to have been coated with 'Never Seize' from the factory and it was an easy slide out. The Hitch Bolt, and Hitch, being added after assembly did not have any type of protective coating however, and it was totally corroded, so much so, it is even pitted along the length of the bolt.

This I'm sure is self inflicted, due to the Spyder being our daily driver in all weather conditions, including winter and road salt. In hindsite, knowing Teddy & I would be ryding all year long, I should have taken these apart long ago, (at least before winter) and applied a liberal coat of 'Never Seize' and avoided this entire hassle. I'm live'n & learn'n every day:opps:

Besides this issue, we ran into another corrosion issue trying to remove the muffler, as the spring loaded clamp holding the most outter side of the muffler was totally seized together, I'm sure due to the extreme heat from the muffler along with the added corrosive road salt we have to deal with from time to time in winter ryding, and we had to actually break it off. The other side, closest to the center of the byke, came off without an issue. So we have to order those parts and we will liberally apply 'Never Seize' to them as well, once we get to hooking everything back together.

So, for any of you Spyder Ryders out there that ryde in ALL weather conditions like us, learn from our error and protect your undercarriage by applying some type of protectect like 'Never Seize';)
 
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I'm not sure that Never-Seize is the right thing to use. See what the label says about preventing corrosion. As an alternative, I think I would use a silicone (dielectric) grease. I would also be worried about corrosion on the inside of the axle. At very least, it needs to be cleaned thoroughly. The cleaning "brushes" made for shotguns would work well for this. I'd also spray the inside of the axle and the shaft of the bolt with cold galvanizing, to inhibit further corrosion. clean, spray, let dry thoroughly, then use your grease or Never-Seize. Periodic removal is probably a good idea from here on out.
 
Awesome news Dave! So glad you got it out and there was no significant damage in the process. Good thing Teddy was there to supervise the process. Would have hated to see the posts if you were left to your own devices... :yikes:
 
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