Front wheel spacer missing... Hi Bird

Trebek · 04-27-2009, 08:47 PM

I lost the Front Wheel axle spacer on my High Bird 200. Does any one know where I can get on of these?

Weldangrind · 04-27-2009, 09:27 PM

Does the spacer have a step in it, or is it simply a piece of tube? If so, can you replicate one?

For example, I made several spacers using DOM (drawn over mandrel, doesn't have seams) tubing for a minibike I built for my buddy's kid. I buy it at the local steel shop and cut it at home on my chop saw. If you don't have a chop saw, they'll likely make a perfect cut for you for next to nothing. Usually the only requirement is that you buy at least a foot.

All you need to do is tell them the dimensions you need.

Cheers!

Trebek · 04-28-2009, 07:55 AM

Thanks brother, I don't know the exact dimensions of the spacer, but yes it was a tube spacer. I really hate to guesstimate dimensions when the front axle is concerned.....Scary.

Weldangrind · 04-28-2009, 11:15 AM

Not having seem your setup, I can only assume that the axle passes through the spacer, contacts the inner diameter of the wheel bearing and takes up the space between the fork and the wheel.

If I've got that right, simply measure the diameter of your axle and then determine the correct length. If you mock up the wheels assembly except for the spacer, you should be able to measure the resulting space that a spacer would occupy. If necessary, you could measure the gap with a cheap vernier caliper from the local tool shop. Harbor Freight likely has one. Measure in millimetres if you aren't familiar with how to read thousandths of an inch.

The only remaining issue is material selection. If you buy a foot of stainless DOM, it will never rust. Mild steel DOM is fine (and cheaper), but you need to paint it.

Cheers!

FastDoc · 04-28-2009, 11:50 AM

How did you lose the spacer? I thought stuff like that only happened to me!

Trebek · 04-28-2009, 08:14 PM

I'll try that, thanks Weldngrind!

How did I lose the spacer?...Hummmmmmmmmm. I changed the front tube and when I reinstalled the tire I could clearly see there was no spacer. I remember a tubular object kickin' around after assembly, but that was a year ago, so I can't find the damned thing. But apparently I didn't use it. Then drove the bike 800 miles (city/highway/mountain trails)..

I haven't riddin it a block since this discovery. I reread the assembly instructions and they never showed or mentioned a spacer. I should have guessed it earlier.

warrior91 · 04-28-2009, 10:42 PM

:!: how did you tighten your front axle bolt???guestimation... :?:
Your tripple trees must have been tight or no way you could travel 800 miles!!!

Trebek · 04-29-2009, 09:58 AM

Good question. This is what baffles me. Now when I try to tighten it it's obvious that the spacer is missing. My only explanation is that maybe the spacer was there the entire time, but I distinctly remember one laying around the remaining parts after putting the bike together.

Who knows?

I'd rather just be able to purchase a spacer, I tryed the place where I bought the bike from (Anam).

warrior91 · 04-29-2009, 01:09 PM

Put the front end together, tighten bolt till the shock tubes measure the same inside at the tree and at the bottom.
Measure the space on either side of the hub to the stop that the spacer butted up to...that should be the length of spacer.
Inside diameter can be measured by the size of axle bolt,outside dimension with caliper.
Chinese bikes are not rocket science...so if you are off a mm or 2...can't be worse than the manufacturing standards in china...

Trebek · 04-29-2009, 02:14 PM

Thanks for the answers folks. I'll start on it today.

BUG · 04-29-2009, 03:51 PM

Saw this on ebay, a little pricey.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2006-...4506.m20.l1116

Trebek · 04-29-2009, 04:51 PM

I'd pay it, but don't think it would fit the Hi-Bird. Thanks.

Cal25 · 04-29-2009, 05:53 PM

I would be Very surprised if it did not fit.

Trebek · 04-29-2009, 09:11 PM

I thought about it again Cal 20 and Bug, and bought the damned thing anyway. I'll keep every one posted on how things turn out. Hell, if the spacer is too long I'll cut a few mm's, if too short I'll add a couple washers.

Dragon · 04-30-2009, 08:57 AM

The spacer in that Ebay item doesn't look like mine. I have a 250 HiBird. That Ebay spacer looks too small, diameterically. Either that, or the bolt is too large. If my memory serves, my 'bird has 12mm bolt on the front.

04-27-2009, 08:47 PM	#1
Trebek Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 150	Front wheel spacer missing... Hi Bird I lost the Front Wheel axle spacer on my High Bird 200. Does any one know where I can get on of these?
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04-27-2009, 09:27 PM	#2
Weldangrind Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Sardis, BC, Canada Posts: 25,977	Does the spacer have a step in it, or is it simply a piece of tube? If so, can you replicate one? For example, I made several spacers using DOM (drawn over mandrel, doesn't have seams) tubing for a minibike I built for my buddy's kid. I buy it at the local steel shop and cut it at home on my chop saw. If you don't have a chop saw, they'll likely make a perfect cut for you for next to nothing. Usually the only requirement is that you buy at least a foot. All you need to do is tell them the dimensions you need. Cheers! __________________ Weldangrind "I figure I'm well-prepared for coping with a bike that comes from the factory with unresolved issues and that rewards the self-reliant owner." - Buccaneer
	0

04-28-2009, 11:15 AM	#4
Weldangrind Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Sardis, BC, Canada Posts: 25,977	Not having seem your setup, I can only assume that the axle passes through the spacer, contacts the inner diameter of the wheel bearing and takes up the space between the fork and the wheel. If I've got that right, simply measure the diameter of your axle and then determine the correct length. If you mock up the wheels assembly except for the spacer, you should be able to measure the resulting space that a spacer would occupy. If necessary, you could measure the gap with a cheap vernier caliper from the local tool shop. Harbor Freight likely has one. Measure in millimetres if you aren't familiar with how to read thousandths of an inch. The only remaining issue is material selection. If you buy a foot of stainless DOM, it will never rust. Mild steel DOM is fine (and cheaper), but you need to paint it. Cheers! __________________ Weldangrind "I figure I'm well-prepared for coping with a bike that comes from the factory with unresolved issues and that rewards the self-reliant owner." - Buccaneer
	0

04-28-2009, 11:50 AM	#5
FastDoc Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Southeastern Washington desert Posts: 14,761	How did you lose the spacer? I thought stuff like that only happened to me! __________________ Happy to serve.
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04-28-2009, 10:42 PM	#7
warrior91 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: N.E. Saskatchewan, Canada Posts: 679	:!: how did you tighten your front axle bolt???guestimation... :?: Your tripple trees must have been tight or no way you could travel 800 miles!!! __________________ '91 Yamaha Warrior- stage 2 '83 Honda ATC 70 '08 Yongjiang 125cc mx (Loncin) '08 Yongjiang 150cc atv (Jinlong)
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04-28-2009, 07:55 AM	#3
Trebek Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 150	Thanks brother, I don't know the exact dimensions of the spacer, but yes it was a tube spacer. I really hate to guesstimate dimensions when the front axle is concerned.....Scary.
	0

04-28-2009, 08:14 PM	#6
Trebek Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 150	I'll try that, thanks Weldngrind! How did I lose the spacer?...Hummmmmmmmmm. I changed the front tube and when I reinstalled the tire I could clearly see there was no spacer. I remember a tubular object kickin' around after assembly, but that was a year ago, so I can't find the damned thing. But apparently I didn't use it. Then drove the bike 800 miles (city/highway/mountain trails).. I haven't riddin it a block since this discovery. I reread the assembly instructions and they never showed or mentioned a spacer. I should have guessed it earlier.
	0

04-29-2009, 09:58 AM	#8
Trebek Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 150	Good question. This is what baffles me. Now when I try to tighten it it's obvious that the spacer is missing. My only explanation is that maybe the spacer was there the entire time, but I distinctly remember one laying around the remaining parts after putting the bike together. Who knows? I'd rather just be able to purchase a spacer, I tryed the place where I bought the bike from (Anam).
	0

04-29-2009, 01:09 PM	#9
warrior91 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: N.E. Saskatchewan, Canada Posts: 679	Put the front end together, tighten bolt till the shock tubes measure the same inside at the tree and at the bottom. Measure the space on either side of the hub to the stop that the spacer butted up to...that should be the length of spacer. Inside diameter can be measured by the size of axle bolt,outside dimension with caliper. Chinese bikes are not rocket science...so if you are off a mm or 2...can't be worse than the manufacturing standards in china... __________________ '91 Yamaha Warrior- stage 2 '83 Honda ATC 70 '08 Yongjiang 125cc mx (Loncin) '08 Yongjiang 150cc atv (Jinlong)
	0

04-29-2009, 02:14 PM	#10
Trebek Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 150	Thanks for the answers folks. I'll start on it today. __________________ 78 KZ 650, 1999 XR600R, High Bird 200
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04-29-2009, 03:51 PM	#11
BUG Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: United States Posts: 144	Saw this on ebay, a little pricey. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2006-...4506.m20.l1116
	0

04-29-2009, 04:51 PM	#12
Trebek Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 150	I'd pay it, but don't think it would fit the Hi-Bird. Thanks. __________________ 78 KZ 650, 1999 XR600R, High Bird 200
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04-29-2009, 05:53 PM	#13
Cal25 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Terrell and Grapevine Tx. Posts: 1,585	I would be Very surprised if it did not fit.
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04-29-2009, 09:11 PM	#14
Trebek Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 150	I thought about it again Cal 20 and Bug, and bought the damned thing anyway. I'll keep every one posted on how things turn out. Hell, if the spacer is too long I'll cut a few mm's, if too short I'll add a couple washers. __________________ 78 KZ 650, 1999 XR600R, High Bird 200
	0

04-30-2009, 08:57 AM	#15
Dragon Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Tejas Posts: 834	The spacer in that Ebay item doesn't look like mine. I have a 250 HiBird. That Ebay spacer looks too small, diameterically. Either that, or the bolt is too large. If my memory serves, my 'bird has 12mm bolt on the front. __________________ Chinabikeless
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