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Wheel Nuts - Impact Or No?

Discussion in 'Ducati General Discussion' started by AJHDingo, Nov 19, 2021.

  1. Trying to undo the 46mm rear wheel nut from the 848 rear wheel - getting silly now with colossal leverage and nothing, tried my relatively low torque air impact nothing moving. I am either going to take it to a dealer - but I don't like being defeated - considering hiring / buying bigger impact driver but is seems a poor idea to batter something that has a bearing at the other end. Any thoughts advice?
     
  2. I bet the dealer will use one.
     
  3. Indeed, but what the eye doesn't see... ;)
     
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  4. ^This and a 55mm Hex from Halfords.
     
  5. I use an impact wrench (mains powered one, like the one shown above) to remove the large nut as its the only way it will come off, and a long bar to tighten it back up.

    I never torque it, but have to be somewhere near cos I always need an impact wrench to get it back off. Once its all lockwired in place on the hub - its going nowhere in use anyway :)
     
  6. It’s common to use an impact driver to loosen the rear axle nut although I’d not advise it if you have an after market aluminium nut. You also need to use an impact socket which is usually black in colour. The axle thread needs to be greased on reassembly, my preference is a good quality moly grease but you could use white grease or even a decent multi purpose grease. I don’t use copper anti seize grease but I know people do. The other thing, the 848 has a small diameter rear axle so the nut torque is 176Nm. Andy
     
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  7. AJH, you need an impact wrench that has >400Nm/300ftlbs torque. You will be surprised how easy it is to crack the nut off when you use the right tools. Also the nut tends not to get damaged with an impact wrench as it drives tight and square. Using a big bar and socket can be risky as the nut is thin and you need to be careful to keep it square and tight, not easy at the torque needed to undo it. As Android has mentioned aftermarket alloy nuts or sockets are to be avoided as they can be easily damaged or even single use items that make the risk of slipping worse and end up getting stuck on. The dealer and all the tyre fitters will inevitably use one.
     
  8. Thanks all- I have a 1" steel impact socket and I machined the front down to remove the inner chamfer to get full engagement. So its tool buying time - I don't need much of an excuse to peruse tool catalogues.
     
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  9. I always use an 1/2" impact socket with a 3 foot extension to crack off the wheel nut. Then a torque wrench to tighten up when replacing. I will add that my sockets hav had the contact face grinded flat to allow maximum contact with the nut faces.
     
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  10. I use a breaker bar
     
  11. Off yes. On now. Careful with the nut if it’s an anodised after market job
     
  12. i always use an impact gun when removing wheel nuts but with a bit of rag round it first.
     
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  13. Good tip re the rag -I have learnt the hard way that I should also put some thick old towel around the bottom of the wheel through the spokes so when the socket and wrench fall off the nut it does not chip the wheel finish
     
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  14. Numpty question: rag round the nut then the socket on?
     
  15. Or a bit of masking tape round the nut works.
     
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  16. I tend to put something like a microfibre cloth as it’s thin in the socket as it’s easier than trying to wrap the nut. If I need to bother, which with standard nuts I don’t
     
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  17. Cheers fellas
     
  18. Yeah I get a bit of old rag and rap it around the nut before I put the socket on it to stop it scratching.x
     
  19. @Ivor, dislike, really?
     
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