How To Remove And Install The Front Wheel On Your 97-01 Honda CR250
The Tools You Will Need
- 22 mm socket for the axle nut
- 12 mm socket for the pinch bolts and brake caliper
- Large ratchet or breaker bar
- Torque wrench
- Block of wood
- Pliers
Pre-Service Notes
- Start with your bike on a stand with the front wheel off the ground.
- I recommend opening the Service & Torque Specs in a new tab for easy reference.
- If you need parts and tools, make sure to buy them here!
- Pictures with captions are after the steps below.
- If you need any help don’t hesitate to ask!
Front Wheel Removal
- Step 1: Unbolt the brake caliper from the fork and hang it out of the way. This is not a necessary step, but it will make installing your wheel much simpler.
- Step 2: Loosen and remove the axle nut.
- Step 3: Loosen the pinch bolts, but do not remove them.
- Step 4: Use your block of wood to knock the axle out of the mounts.
- Step 5: Pull the axle out.
- DO NOT USE A HAMMER TO REMOVE THE AXLE!
- Step 6: Pull up on the wheel to relieve the pressure on the axle. Finish pulling the axle out of the mounts with your pliers.
- When you pull the wheel away from the forks, make sure the hub spacers come with it.
Related: How to service the bearings on your front wheel.
Front Wheel Installation
- Step 7: Wipe down every part of the wheel and hub before you install them. If you have grease, apply a thin layer to every part you can.
- Step 8: Align your wheel hub with the fork and install the axle. Make sure to install the hub spacers if they were removed.
- Step 9: Install and torque the axle nut to 65 pound-feet.
- Step 10: Tighten the pinch bolts on the axle nut side first. Torque the pinch bolts to 14 pound-feet.
- Step 11: Install the brake caliper.
- Step 12: Take your bike off the stand and compress the front forks several times. This will allow the forks to align themselves to the axle.
- This is a very important step; misaligned forks will bind and potentially cause severe damage.
- Step 13: Tighten the pinch bolts on the opposite side of the axle nut. Torque the pinch bolts to 14 pound-feet.
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