Front wheel spacers

Discussion in 'Mechanics Garage' started by Videoguy, Oct 10, 2020.

  1. Videoguy

    Videoguy New Member

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    Just had tires changed by a local shop on my 8th Gen. Noticed the left side spacer on the front has a small gap between it and the fork leg while the right side doesn't. Is this normal and acceptable? Did the re-alignment drill, but it had no effect on the gap. left side1.jpg Right side1.jpg
     
  2. FJ12rydertoo

    FJ12rydertoo Member

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    What year are we looking at here?
     
  3. fink

    fink Member

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    8th gen 2014 on.
     
  4. fink

    fink Member

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    Spacers are same size so has probably flipped one. Easiest way to check is to loosen everything off and retighten or better still pop wheel out and put back in.
     
  5. Videoguy

    Videoguy New Member

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    I thought the left side spacer was supposed to be longer than the right, or does that not apply to 2014-2015? Did loosen everything, re-tighten axle bolt, right pinch, pumped forks several times, then left pinch bolt, but this is how it stayed. is it acceptable or should i worry?
     
  6. fink

    fink Member

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    Parts fiche have same part numbers. The
     
  7. Videoguy

    Videoguy New Member

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    Just looked that up, must be earlier versions that have different sized spacers. Just read a few posts that you could get them mixed up. Can't do that if they are the same size! So the question remains if the gap on the left is ok, or normal, or if I should try to eliminate that by pulling the fork legs closer to each other?
     
  8. FJ12rydertoo

    FJ12rydertoo Member

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    I'm sure you're aware, but make sure you don't tighten the clamp bolts before the axle bolt is tight.

    Just stating the obvious.
     
  9. Videoguy

    Videoguy New Member

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    Yep, looked up the order and torque values in the service manual. Loosened everything and tightenedeverything back in order, pumping the fork before tightening the left pinch bolt. Gap remained the same. Parts diagram shows 8th gen spacers are the same size so no issues there. Poster on another forum sent me a photo of his, mine looks identical so I guess that gap is normal. If anybody knows different, please let me know.
     
  10. raYzerman

    raYzerman Member

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    Don't know about yours, but most bikes on one side are in effect a sleeve through the fork on the opposite side of the axle nut. It is meant to float, i.e., do not pull the fork legs in, and when tight, jounced, etc.... snug up the pinch bolts on that side (last).
     
  11. Videoguy

    Videoguy New Member

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    Exactly what i did. The procedure is well spelled out in the service manual, followed it.
     
  12. fink

    fink Member

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    Here are some pics of mine taken this morning. 20201012_110346.jpg 20201012_110252.jpg 20201012_110235.jpg
     
  13. Videoguy

    Videoguy New Member

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  14. fink

    fink Member

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    It’s a shoulder which butts up against the leg casting. There isn’t a gap.
     
  15. Videoguy

    Videoguy New Member

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    Actually if you look really closely at the first image you posted, the spacer has a chamfered edge that seems to butt up against a chamfer in the axle itself, then the shoulder in the leg casting is a couple of MM away from that. First image with arrow is my left side spacer, second is a lightened version of yours, 3rd is one from another forum. left side2.jpg 20201012_110346crop.jpg 0950 crop.jpg
     
    Last edited: Oct 12, 2020
  16. fink

    fink Member

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    I'm with you now. The shoulder on the axle is longer than the casting but is still butting up against the spacer. The gap as you say is supposed to be there the bottom of the fork is clamped, so won't move. It's designed like that.

    vfr fork.jpg schematic.jpg
     
  17. Videoguy

    Videoguy New Member

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    Great, seems we are in agreement! The right side spacer fits flush with the fork casting, the left side has a few mm before the fork casting. I assume that allows for aligning the forks. The left side axle has a bevel that the spacer snugs against.
    Front Axle.jpg
     
    Last edited: Oct 13, 2020
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