Banana axle

**bart** · 1st May 2011, 17:59

I've been playing around with some tyres today, preparing for the Naki mud ride. Still debating over which front to wear. I had a hell of a battle with the rear. Most of the issue was with breaking the bead on the old tyre, but that's another story.

I had a small issue getting the front wheel off (plenty of swear words and bad things said about DR's)....here's a shot of the axle.

My question is, can these things be straightened? Past experience with Suzuki parts point towards a 2 week delay for the new part (will confirm tomorrow).

**Box'a'bits** · 1st May 2011, 18:14

How the hell would that happen?

What about someone coming up with a loaner? Or off a wrecked bike..

**NordieBoy** · 1st May 2011, 18:15

Looks like it could be right on the bearing surface.

To do that would usually be preceded by a front wheel the shape of a crescent moon.

I can send my spare one up with marks's's's tyre to tide you over 'till one arrives...

**tri boy** · 1st May 2011, 19:09

Re bead breaking at home.
A $20 G clamp and a bit of plywood off cut willbust even the tightest/driest bead.
That axle should be able to be straightened, but a spare one close by would be good insurance.
How did it bend? Major bearing failure?

**buggsubique** · 1st May 2011, 19:30

surely one could be machined up pretty easy? (if it came to that)

**Padmei** · 1st May 2011, 19:40

Ithink there's more to it than that.They don't just decide to gat as munted as that. Barts keeping something quiet...

How the hell did you manage to get that out tho? Musta busted something on the way out!

Def keep it for the wall of shame.

**Phreaky Phil** · 1st May 2011, 19:45

I have a DR axle I could loan you if you need one.

**Woodman** · 1st May 2011, 19:53

Did that happen when that guy ran into you???

Trying to work out what the wheel and forks must be doing ???

**bart** · 1st May 2011, 20:32

I'd like to say it was from doing a massive wheely....but from what I can gather, it must have happened after this little incident

Pan out for effect (now insurance is sorted)

Pan back in to see the damage

I've riden about 1000km since, including the RRRR. Although I did notice something a bit weird with the front end, I just rode up beside a fence post or building and gave it a tweak one way or the other, thinking it was slightly out of alignment.

I had to take the little plate thing with the 10mm bolts right off. As soon as I did that, I could unscrew the banana axle. Took a little while to figure out what was going on.

Thanks for the offers for spares guys, but I may be able to borrow one locally (if not, I know a guy who should be able to straighten it). The replacement should be covered by insurance.

**GPS MAN** · 2nd May 2011, 08:42

Sounds like Nordie and Phil have spare axles....I would sort one of those until a new one could be sourced..

Not keen on bending the banana

Ok to get you home but, not to leave on a trip...

I will see what I can find and let you know

**clint640** · 2nd May 2011, 16:05

[QUOTE=GPS MAN;1130050554]Sounds like Nordie and Phil have spare axles....I would sort one of those until a new one could be sourced..

[QUOTE]

yeah... I wouldn't consider cold bending that straight to be anything more than a get-home fix. Your front wheel continuing to stay attached is kinda mission critical

Cheers
Clint

**bart** · 2nd May 2011, 18:00

A new axle is on it's way. Hopefully here in the next couple of days ($120 I think). I took the wheel in for new bearings. They didn't seem that bad, but I'll get them replaced anyway. Once I get it all back together, I'll get the forks checked.

From what I can gather, the front wheel was working fine, but the right fork was skewed off at an odd angle. I still can't believe I never noticed it.

**Crim** · 2nd May 2011, 19:07

Originally Posted by bart

A new axle is on it's way.

Good Call, as Clint says you've only got two wheels they are both important and that axle looks kinda Osama'ed to me

**Night Falcon** · 2nd May 2011, 19:10

Originally Posted by bart

I still can't believe I never noticed it.

....yeah I was gonna say something when I noticed the DR didn't look like it was tracking like a normal bike....but then it is a DR so gave it the benifit of the doubt

**bart** · 2nd May 2011, 21:38

Originally Posted by Night Falcon

....yeah I was gonna say something when I noticed the DR didn't look like it was tracking like a normal bike....but then it is a DR so gave it the benifit of the doubt

Yeah, with all that power, the front hardly touches the ground. No wonder I never noticed.....