What is the correct way?

[anteva2]

I'm a bit confused. I just changed my rear wheel. I noticed that if I tighten the axle bolt first and then the pinch bolt there is a gap of about 4-6 mm between the spacer washer and the swingarm. If I do it the other way around, i.e. first tighten the pinch bolt that locks the right side with everything in place and then the axle nut, the gap from the first way disappears. Which is the correct way? Logic tells me to first tighten the axle nut and then tighten with the pinch bolt, but I don't know, that gap doesn't seem right to me... or does it?

 

[MaxMidnight]

According to the owners manual (p6-41 #7 refers) 'Tighten the axle nut, caliper bolts, brake torque rod nut and then the pinch bolt to the specified torque'.

 

[anteva2]

As I said before, logic and the manual tell me the way to go. The strange thing is that I have seen more Vmax with the washer stuck to the swingarm than with a 4mm gap.

 

[Parminio]

There's supposed to be a gap there. It allows the swing arm to move freely. If you have no gap at all, you've done it wrong and it will stress the hell out of the axel and swing arm when it binds up. And eventually, it WILL bind up.