This is a basic walk-through for removing/installing the front wheel on the VTX 1300. The pictures for this article are primarily from the C model, but the procedure is the same regardless of which model 1300 you have. As always undertake this project at your own risk, but with a little common sense this isn’t very hard to do.

Required tools/Materials

• Motorcycle lift
• Torque wrench capable of 16 to 43 ft/lbs
• Deadblow/rubber hammer or hammer and block of wood
• 6mm and 17mm allen sockets
• 7/8″ or 22mm socket
• Something to block the rear wheel (2×6, phone book, bricks, whatever)

Removal
Raise the bike on the lift and block the back wheel so the bike won’t rock off the lift when the front wheel is removed.

Use a 6mm allen socket to break loose the pinch bolts on the RIGHT side only. With those pinch bolts broken loose, use the 7/8″ or 22mm socket to loosen and remove the axle bolt.

With the right side complete, break the left side pinch bolts loose and remove the axle altogether. You may need a dowel or broomstick to drive the axle out. Whatever you use, make sure it’s soft enough that it won’t damage the threads for the axle bolt.

Be aware that once the axle is out, the wheel will fall – so be ready!!!

With the wheel out, remove and inspect the spacers. Take note that they are different sizes (right bigger than left). I usually put my axle and the spacers back together so nothing gets lost while I swap tires, etc. This picture is from an 1800 but it’ll give you an idea of what I mean. It also helps ensure that no parts get lost.

While everything is broken down do some inspection to make sure you’re riding safe – check the axle, bearings, dust seals, bolts, etc. If anything seems worn or faulty then replace it – isn’t your life/safety worth more than a $.50 bolt or a $15 bearing?

Intermission…
Now is the portion of the write-up when you do whatever you were removing the wheel for in the first place…

Install

This is pretty much the reverse of what you just did to remove the wheel. If for any reason the rotor needed to be removed (some shops will remove it to swap tires) make sure that it is reinstalled with red loctite and torqued to 31 ft/lbs. The manual doesn’t mention loctite on these bolts because they “require” replacement and new bolts come with the loctite on them. If your bolts look fine then they should be ok to re-use (with loctite). If you don’t feel comfortable re-using them, then replace them.

Now put your wheel spacers back on properly (right bigger than left) and lift the wheel into place. When getting it into place, the rotor must be inserted into the brake caliper properly. The pic to the right is an 1800 caliper, but the idea is still the same – get the rotor into the caliper between the 2 brake pads. Since it’s not necessary to remove the caliper, just make sure it lines up properly as you lift the wheel into place.

With the tire in place and the rotor inserted into the caliper get the axle started through the rim and use a deadblow/rubber hammer or a hammer and block of wood to drive it through. It’s important not to use just a regular hammer or you will round over the edges of the 17mm axle hole. If you do that, you won’t be able to get the 17mm allen in there to torque the front axle. If you look at the axle you will see a small groove on the left side where it seats into the fork leg. You want to drive the axle in until that groove is flush with the edge of the indent on the fork leg. It should look just like the picture below – you will see the groove with the axle out and it should help you better understand.

With the axle/groove in place, tighten the pinch bolts on the left side only to 16 ft/lbs.

Now reinstall the axle bolt on the right side and torque it to 43 ft/lbs. If for any reason the axle slips in the left pinch bolts, hold it with a 17mm allen socket. With the axle bolt torqued in place, tighten the right side pinch bolts to 16 ft/lbs.

That’s it – you’re done – congratulations!

Afterthoughts
This is a fairly easy job for most riders and it can cut your tire changing costs in half. More money = more chrome and that’s a good thing!

Video courtesy of Big Bad

This video is intended to give you an idea for the kind of things you’ll see and do during this job. It is not intended to replace the above instructions for anyone except experienced mechanics because the text above contains important details.