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Author Topic: Running engine with no rear wheel  (Read 4236 times)

Offline Cold Streak

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Running engine with no rear wheel
« on: August 16, 2011, 11:50:09 AM »
I was pulling my wheels for a tire change and changing the oil and rear diff oil last night.  I had the oil draining and pulled the rear wheel.  When I refilled the oil I was about to start the bike to check the level and for leaks when I thought, maybe I shouldn't run the bike with no rear wheel.  Obviously I would have put it in neutral, but still it didn't seem prudent.  I'll wait till I put the wheel back on but I was curious if anyone has done this before.  I can't imagine what bad could happen but didn't want to find out the hard way.
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Offline B.D.F.

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Re: Running engine with no rear wheel
« Reply #1 on: August 16, 2011, 06:32:27 PM »
Now that is a brand new question I think! Good question too....

I cannot think of any reason not to run the engine with the rear wheel off, although you would have to be especially careful not to rock the bike off the centerstand for the obvious reason. I would not try to turn the final drive by putting the bike in gear though because without the rear wheel in place there is nothing strongly holding the drive in-line with the output shaft of the transmission. It does have U- joints in the driveshaft but still I would not try to put any torque through the drive without it being held rigidly in place which is what the rear wheel does; think of it like a triangle missing one side.... the other two sides would be 'hanging loose' so to speak.

Brian


Quote from: Cold Streak on August 16, 2011, 11:50:09 AM
I was pulling my wheels for a tire change and changing the oil and rear diff oil last night.  I had the oil draining and pulled the rear wheel.  When I refilled the oil I was about to start the bike to check the level and for leaks when I thought, maybe I shouldn't run the bike with no rear wheel.  Obviously I would have put it in neutral, but still it didn't seem prudent.  I'll wait till I put the wheel back on but I was curious if anyone has done this before.  I can't imagine what bad could happen but didn't want to find out the hard way.
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Offline VirginiaJim

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Re: Running engine with no rear wheel
« Reply #2 on: August 16, 2011, 07:37:11 PM »
We can certainly say that the bike won't go far without the rear wheel....
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Offline martin_14

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Re: Running engine with no rear wheel
« Reply #3 on: August 17, 2011, 12:52:20 AM »
Quote from: VirginiaJim on August 16, 2011, 07:37:11 PM
We can certainly say that the bike won't go far without the rear wheel....

what about it being on a ship? uh?
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Offline stlheadake

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Re: Running engine with no rear wheel
« Reply #4 on: August 17, 2011, 02:35:30 AM »
Quote from: B.D.F. on August 16, 2011, 06:32:27 PM
Now that is a brand new question I think! Good question too....


Brian

D@MN I was SO close to having a new question tonight!  I'm going to bed!
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Offline VirginiaJim

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Re: Running engine with no rear wheel
« Reply #5 on: August 17, 2011, 03:58:42 AM »
Points are not awarded for new questions...
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Offline VirginiaJim

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Re: Running engine with no rear wheel
« Reply #6 on: August 17, 2011, 03:59:56 AM »
Quote from: martin_14 on August 17, 2011, 12:52:20 AM
what about it being on a ship? uh?

Quite right....
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Offline jonathan

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Re: Running engine with no rear wheel
« Reply #7 on: August 17, 2011, 08:23:02 AM »
I don't think that it would be a good idea. Even in neutral there would probably be enough drag from the oil that the driveshaft would try to turn and with one end just hanging loose it could whip around and damage the suspension components or itself.
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Offline Cold Streak

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Re: Running engine with no rear wheel
« Reply #8 on: August 17, 2011, 12:06:34 PM »

Quote
I don't think that it would be a good idea. Even in neutral there would probably be enough drag from the oil that the driveshaft would try to turn and with one end just hanging loose it could whip around and damage the suspension components or itself.

I was thinking the same thing.  Didn't want to find out.

Quote
Points are not awarded for new questions...

Rats!   >:(
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Offline vortex2

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Re: Running engine with no rear wheel
« Reply #9 on: August 18, 2011, 11:13:49 AM »
Where's your sense of adventure? Just keep your hand on the
clutch and if it starts to go all Transformers on you, reel it in.
Make sure you video it, just in case you need to show your
insurance company what happened. Or us.  ;D
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Offline Cold Streak

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Re: Running engine with no rear wheel
« Reply #10 on: August 18, 2011, 12:56:39 PM »
Quote
Make sure you video it, just in case you need to show your
insurance company what happened. Or us.

I have a feeling I'd end up on one of those "Fail Compilation" videos.

BTW, what happened to Vortex1?   ???
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Offline B.D.F.

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Re: Running engine with no rear wheel
« Reply #11 on: August 18, 2011, 08:07:10 PM »
I think maybe Vortex1 was lost in a horrible final drive accident involving a C-14 missing a rear wheel. Something about lubing the drive splines with the bike turning 8,000 RPM in 5th gear. He touched the spinning hub with a finger he had dipped in rear end lube (easy boys!) and that was the last time anyone saw him....

This thread is heading downhill now but it started off with so much promise.  ;)

Brian


Quote from: Cold Streak on August 18, 2011, 12:56:39 PM
I have a feeling I'd end up on one of those "Fail Compilation" videos.

BTW, what happened to Vortex1?   ???
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Offline VirginiaJim

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Re: Running engine with no rear wheel
« Reply #12 on: August 19, 2011, 03:24:46 AM »
Quote from: Cold Streak on August 18, 2011, 12:56:39 PM
I have a feeling I'd end up on one of those "Fail Compilation" videos.


Points are awarded for those kind of videos...
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Offline Jack Daniels

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Re: Running engine with no rear wheel
« Reply #13 on: August 22, 2011, 05:45:42 AM »
Not really as bad, but reminds me of the video of the guy who decided it was a good idea to clean his chain with the bike running on the centerstand. 
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Offline Ron Dawg

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Re: Running engine with no rear wheel
« Reply #14 on: August 22, 2011, 01:52:27 PM »
Quote from: B.D.F. on August 18, 2011, 08:07:10 PM
I think maybe Vortex1 was lost in a horrible final drive accident involving a C-14 missing a rear wheel. Something about lubing the drive splines with the bike turning 8,000 RPM in 5th gear. He touched the spinning hub with a finger he had dipped in rear end lube (easy boys!) and that was the last time anyone saw him....

This thread is heading downhill now but it started off with so much promise.  ;)

Brian

Can't you just hear the "snap!" of that rubber glove????
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