trouble reinstalling rear axle on 82 GL1100

[mcleish]

I followed the HOW-TO article (very nice, thank you!) and got the rear wheel off and to the shop for new rubber. The axle came out with just a few taps.

Reinstalling is the problem. The axle went in about 4 inches but now won't budge. I read thru all the posts about washers/spacers/bushings being in the right order. I took a photo of them as I removed the axle so I believe I have all the right parts in all the right places. The axle seems to have passed through all of those parts in question already.

I've tapped on it with a rubber mallet, but don't know how hard I can hit it before I damage something. I've tried moving the wheel up/down/left/right while tapping on the axle but it isn't going in any further. I'm not able to pull it out now, either, but it does rotate easily, so it seems to be stuck in a bearing. How hard can I hammer on it?

[Rambozo]

Using a light look into the hole on the other side of the wheel. There is a tube spacer inside the wheel that needs to be lined up with the bearings to get the axle in. It sounds like yours wasn't lined up. You can often use a long screwdriver to pry it into position. If your axle is jammed I would pull it out and start over. If you have hit the axle hard enough to crush that tube, you will have to remove the wheel bearings to correct that. (new bearings and new or repaired spacer tube)
A hammer is rarely the right tool.

[mcleish]

I got the axle thru with no hammering, lol
I loosened the final drive from the drive axle and was able to wiggle things enough to get the axle thru!

Thanks