Thanks for the ideas - i'm still a little confused, there are "top hat thrust sleeves" on each side that will move in & out about a quarter inch but not come out. How do I remove these? And where are the seals ? Sorry about my ignorance - it's all a learning experience!
Thanks, Bill Conquest
The metal thrust sleeves, often referred to as a "top hat" due to their resemblance to, well, a top hat, can be wiggled a bit after removing the axle and wheel from the bike. There's nothing wrong. They're just going commando. The sleeves will come out with the seals. The "movement" disappears after reinstall and torquing the axle. The longer tube spacer inside the hub takes up the slack and the axle passes through the spacer.
The seals (grease seal, oil seal, whatever you're keeping from leaking out) are usually made of a firm rubbery material with a small spring on the interior, an overlaid metal outer circumference and a "lip" in the inner i.d. that must be lightly lubed before slipping the seal over the previously cleaned axle.
A 32mm socket makes a great seal drive tool. Just eyeball the seal as you deftly tap it home; keeping everything square to the machined hub-to-seal joint.
Do you have either a Haynes or Clymer repair manual for your scooter? Your seal job will be so much more enjoyable -and doable- if you have a solid base of reference. I know you just can't wait to dive into rehabbing those front fork seals that are looking kinda weepy.
A few wiseacres here abouts might suggest that you RTFM, but Justin, aka: The Big Honcho, knows I'm a gentleman and wouldn't do something so crass...
If you get stuck, post up and we'll all help you to git 'er done. Larry the Cable Guy. Awful movie. [smiley=lurker.gif]
