Installing Trailer hitch - avoiding obstruction in axle housing?

[Uticat]

Thanks Peter, for clearing things up. So to replace the existing axle, does the rear wheel need to be removed? How is the correct axle installed?
Thanks.

 

[Peter Aawen]

Thanks Peter, for clearing things up. So to replace the existing axle, does the rear wheel need to be removed? How is the correct axle installed?
Thanks.

It's been a minute or two, but IIRC you should be able to get away with just removing the muffler (it'll probably get in the way of pulling the axle shaft/tube out & it's only a couple of screws & a spring or three to give yourself easy access. ) then slackening off the belt tension; & if you're not taking the wheel off, then pushing the incorrect axle shaft/tube out with a dowel (section of broom handle??) that 'drives' the axle tube out thru the hole past where the muffler should be; & then replacing it with the correct axle tube, using it to push the dowel back out, doing that all without actually 'removing' the rear wheel &/or taking the belt off; then re-tensioning the belt & replacing everything. You might even be able to do that without undoing the tensioners on the swing arm at all, if you want to try disconnecting the height adjust sensor arm from the swing arm; jacking the Spyder up so that the rear wheel is juuust lightly touching the ground; undoing the axle nut and pulling the shaft/tube out; then sliding the replacement in... :dontknow:

I can't say that I've ever removed/replaced an axle the latter way, but I reckon it could be do-able - it's just that whenever I get to do something up the back end of a Spyder, there's always more to be done back there - a new tire; brake pads; rear wheel bearings; ACS... I'd sorta hope your 2022 doesn't need anything else done yet, but you never know!!

Nb: Use that dowel/piece of broom handle to push the axle shaft tube out so that it keeps everything in the right place, cos IIRC there's a spacer or two in there that help position the hub in the swing arm, and to locate the brake disc &/or caliper correctly too. First time I pulled the axle, I simply cut a piece of broom handle that was about 6" longer than the axle tube and was just a little less dia than the outside dia of the axle tube, so that it still had enough contact area to push the axle out. Doing it that way keeps everything in place and in the right order, so that even if you need to take the wheel off, you can still see where all the bits & bobs & spacers came from/will need to go back.

Hitch availability in Australia?

Martin in Qld has no stock of tow hitches for 2019 F3. Where else can one be purchased? Asking for a friend.

Last I looked, Freddy, the Classic Towbars mob who used to make a/mkt hitches here in SA have gone out of business, so unless you know of/can find any others selling a/mkt, your friend'll probably either need to source a 2nd hand hitch; or buy OEM! :yikes:

 

[Uticat]

Thanks again for your information. Since the bike is new (new old stock), I've sent the dealer an email with the bulletin attached and hopefully this will be resolved as others have done. Love this site!

 

[Freddy]

Peter said: Last I looked, Freddy, the Classic Towbars mob who used to make a/mkt hitches here in SA have gone out of business, so unless you know of/can find any others selling a/mkt, your friend'll probably either need to source a 2nd hand hitch; or buy OEM!

I see Lamonster Garage has them relatively cheap. It's a 2016 trike, not 2019 he tells me. I'll contact them for shipping estimate.

Next question - is there anything special about wiring up a trailer harness plug? I see they are out of stock of the plug & play item.

https://www.lamonstergarage.com/tra...der-f3-t-f3-ltd-and-2020-rt-models-lamonster/