Newbie 200ES owner - How to remove front tire...

[perk200es]

Okay, don't laugh - I've never owned an ATC/ATV or anything but cars and trucks and just bought a real sweet 200ES.

I want to switch out the easy-to-clog 25x12x9 deep trend knobby for the Goodyear Rawhide III I bought online. There a half a mile of un-graveled red clay between my hunting club parking area and the first decent hunting woods. After a light rain, that front wheel had to be unclogged over 30 times to get back to the truck with that knobby. Grrr!

How do you remove the whole front wheel to take it to the tire store??

Thanks in advance - perk200es

[250sx]

I don't have my manual in front of me, but there is probably a big bolt that goes through the wheel & hub you take loose to remove the assembly. You can then unbolt the wheel from the hub. Let me know if that helps.

[dads]

you have to remove the brake cable off the drum too. if the bolt has not been removed before it can be a pain. (rusted to the bearings and callor and bushings)

[perk200es]

Thanks for the info guys!

Sounds like I should go out there and spray the whole hub assembly down with a "rust buster" and let that work all day while I'm at work.

Then try to break the bolts loose later tonight.

- perk200es

[put-put]

Got one.. i wish you luck young jedi.. you'll need it.

I bet that the spacer on the axle will be rusted on that puppy real good.. so YES spray the hell out of it.

Then, remove the big bolt on the left side, and stick a screw driver in the hole on the other side.. thread the bolt back on the axle with the legs first, and hit it with a block of wood and a BIG HAMMER...

Don't hit the axle with a metal hammer directly or you'll mushroom the threads...

You might have to resort to a torch to heat up the thing and loosen up the rust... don't go overboard or you'll boil the oil in the shocks and ruin them.. but you gotta do what you gotta do !!!


Another tip.. get someone to put their foot on the bottom of the right side shock to keep it steady when you hammer the axle as the fork aborbs the hit and the shaft won't want to move.

Once you get it off. don't forget to greaase that sucker real good, and if possible install a grease fitting on the hub !!!!

[perk200es]

Thanks as well to you, put-put...

I have soaked it with rust buster two days in a row, but it will be this weekend before I get the time to try to remove it.

It seems my work really wants me to do those 11-13 hour days! Dang-it-all!!!

- perk200es