Refitting the tyres later and i cant remember if you have to grease the main spindle up and if so what with .Thanks
Opposite here, always do, I use a waterproof racing grease, want those bearings running smoothly around it
I've always greased the spindles... not so much for rotation (dont think the bearings would rotate around the spindle anyway) but more to aid refitting, and to protect the spindle. The can become VERY corroded and I think a thin smear of grease greatly prolongs their life and makes easier to remove next time.
I always give it a grease. Like others have said, not caked in it......just enough to cover the metal. If I recall it says to do so in the Haynes Manual and I've always done it with all my bikes. I just use Castrol LM grease. You can get it from Halfrauds. Halfords | Castrol LM Grease 500g
Thanks to all I had some Putoline high temp grease in the cupboard so give it a light grease and when I checked the manual yes it does say grease it lightly .
As posted in the 'Lubricating Pivot Points' thread. My Tyre fitter made a point of stating how the Japs in particular don't bother lubing the wheel spindles. He was telling me how he gets some bikes in and he can tell on the first tap if the spindles partialy siezed where upon he aborts the tyre replacement and refers the client and bike to their dealer or mechanic. 9 times outa 10 he states the client returns having had new bearings fitted as the spindle has damaged them on forced removal. Just at this point he removed my front spindle on my 5 week old Bike with 425 miles on it and low and behold the spindle was dry as a bone! The rear spindle was exactly the same! I left a happy bunny with new tyres and greased up spindles!
Yeah I fitted my d212 tyres on my 2012 and it had done 450 miles shocked to see slightly rusty marks on dry spindles not now !!!!
dont talk about suzuki's and dry spindles... that prone to seizing that sometimes on the race bikes its quicker to change the swingarm lol
Sorry Kentblade, but I don't think you understand what the bearings do! They are sealed units, the grease stays on the inside. The outer race is an interference fit in the wheel. The inner race is a snug fit to the wheel spindle. When the spindle nut is tightened up, all the parts in between are locked solid together, ie spindle, swingarm, spacers and bearings. THE INNER RACES ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO TURN ON THE SPINDLE ! By all means grease em if you must, to slide spindle through bearings etc, but don't think it's a good thing for the inner races to turn on the spindle!
I lube up just for the ease of removing spindles and do they don't look like shite if water gets in there nothing to do with bearings as they sealed units as said but light greasing wont hurt
