Need help, question about the rear axle spacers/seals

[Scorch]

I removed the rear wheel to replace the tube. Simple job, what could go wrong?
Well, when I went to put the sprocket hub back on, the rubber seal and small spacer on
the sprokect side fell off. Now, I can hold it in place, but either one of two things is needed:

1. Either the rubber seal is supposed to slip over the face, see pictures.
2. The swingarm must be spead apart about 1/4 to 3/8 of an inch to allow the wheel and spacers in.
Right now it is too tight to slide the wheel in.

Can someone with a 380 or 550 look at their rear axle and see if the rubber seal goes OVER the edge of the face?
I cannot see how it can, they are the same OD, and there is no way to slip it over without massive
amounts of stretching.

I'm stuck. Is there a common technique to spread the swingarm and allow the wheel in? This is the first time
I have ever seen this. Usually a wheel slides in with 1/16" to and 1/8" to spare.

[Cliff]

http://www.alpha-sports.com/suzuki_parts.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Look up the rear wheel at the above link and check to see if you've everything in right.
There's something out of place because you should not have to spread the swingarm!
Cliff.

[Cliff]

Just had another look at your pics. The bearing on the sprocket side is out of place. Drive it back in!

[Zook-e]

Did you have to use a mallet to drive the axel out? If so the axel may have been somewhat rusted and welded to the to the bearing causing it to be driven out by the axel.

[Scorch]

Wow, maybe the bearing did push out, I hope it's that simple. But, on my 380, the sprocket is on the left side, and the nut for the axle is also on the left side--

--meaning, the axle pulls out on the right side. Is that normal?

[Cliff]

Since you're at this point, with the rear wheel removed and the bearing out on one side at least, now would be a good time to clean all those bearings and repack them with new grease!

[Scorch]

You know, you're right, Cliff. I should do that... do the bearings come out by soft tapping with a wooden dowel? And do they go back in easily? Last question, is there a pair of bearings? One on each side? It looks like three bearings on the alpha sports part diagram.

Thanks!

[Coyote]

For sure there are 3 bearings. One on each side of the wheel hub and one in the sprocket carrier.
And none that I have ever removed come out easily. Usually requires a steel drift and a BFH. They are somewhat easier to put back in if you freeze them first.

[Scorch]

Right. I'll see if I can get this one back in, then.

[oldjapanesebikes]

Right. I'll see if I can get this one back in, then.

For removing them, if you don't have access to a blind bearing puller, then I have had luck with a concrete fastening bolt - assuming you can get the correct size, it works fairly well. Just cinch it up, and then drive it out with a suitable drift from the back side.

[Scorch]

Well, after tapping the bearing in, the wheel fits. Thanks, guys!