Installing Wheels - Help out a Stuck Newcomer

[surf.seppo]

Here goes ... my first post on GSTwins (long-time reader tho).

I've searched everywhere on the Wiki and the forum first, and come to the conclusion that I'm an idiot (or at least anyone else with this problem figured it out w/o posing).

After noticing some dry rot and reading a few forums from GSJack, I decided to pick up some new tires and swap out the Dunlops the last guy who had the bike had put on. Got new tires, didn't want to bead/balance them, so the dealership (ya I know...) said they'd balance for free if I got the tires through them. The tires weren't too badly priced, so I went for it. They wanted to ding me $100 for pulling and installing the wheels though, and I figured I could do that. got the rims off no problem, got new rubber, and now I need to get the wheels back on.

Front:
Fairly easy. However, I'm worried that the break might be riding a bit. When I spin it, it only spins for about a second/half-turn. Is this bad? How can I center it more in the caliper. (I also think I might've gotten some air in the system which means I'm bleeding this weekend).

Rear:
For the life of me, I can't get everything to fit on the axle. Or, when everything is on, the axle won't fit into the swingarm. It's a 92 gs500e, so from left to right (looking at the rear of the bike), Clymer says there should be: cotter pin, nut, chain adjuster thing, swingarm, l. spacer and oil ring, sprocket assembly (including bearings), wheel, disc brake, r. spacer (which is kinda shaped like a mushroom), caliper holder thingy (technical term), swingarm, adjuster.

If I put it all together, I have just enough room for everything minus the r. spacer. But that's not right. It all came off the axle, so it should all go back on. What am I missing? Is there any trickery to reinstalling the wheel easily? (A friend and I worked at this for about two hours this morning before installing the front wheel in about five minutes -- two minutes to install, three to remember the speedo cable and reinstall -- and me joining the message board). Please help!

[beRto]

Here goes ... my first post on GSTwins (long-time reader tho).

I've searched everywhere on the Wiki and the forum first, and come to the conclusion that I'm an idiot (or at least anyone else with this problem figured it out w/o posing).

welcome to the forum and congrats on the new tires! 

Front:
Fairly easy. However, I'm worried that the break might be riding a bit. When I spin it, it only spins for about a second/half-turn. Is this bad? How can I center it more in the caliper. (I also think I might've gotten some air in the system which means I'm bleeding this weekend).

Seems like it might be dragging. Did you touch the brake lever when the tire was removed? You may need to take the wheel off and push the brake pistons back in (with the reservoir lid removed). My front wheel does about two turns before stopping.

Rear:
For the life of me, I can't get everything to fit on the axle. Or, when everything is on, the axle won't fit into the swingarm. It's a 92 gs500e, so from left to right (looking at the rear of the bike), Clymer says there should be: cotter pin, nut, chain adjuster thing, swingarm, l. spacer and oil ring, sprocket assembly (including bearings), wheel, disc brake, r. spacer (which is kinda shaped like a mushroom), caliper holder thingy (technical term), swingarm, adjuster.

If I put it all together, I have just enough room for everything minus the r. spacer. But that's not right. It all came off the axle, so it should all go back on. What am I missing? Is there any trickery to reinstalling the wheel easily? (A friend and I worked at this for about two hours this morning before installing the front wheel in about five minutes -- two minutes to install, three to remember the speedo cable and reinstall -- and me joining the message board). Please help!

I'm assuming that you are following the Clymer manual then? I don't remember any particular difficulty whenever I've had to do this. I lever the wheel etc. into place with my foot and then wiggle the rear axle through. Is the rear caliper fitting easily over the disk?

Maybe posting a picture would help? 

You'll get it, not to worry! 

[surf.seppo]

Front Wheel: Didn't touch the lever (was really careful about that, since bleeding the system sounds bad). Possibly tightened the axle too much (I loosened a bit, and turned freely), but I'll check the pistons.

Rear Wheel: Total clutz. I took the sprocket off at the dealership, and slipped the inside spacer thing onto the outside. That was just enough to fuss up reinstallation. Both tires are back on now, and wow! It's amazing what a new set of rubbers does. I can actually corner now.

Thanks for the help