Torsion spring removal 2014 Yamaha Viper LTX SE

[AndyB]

Ok, I am obviously overlooking something. I spent way too much time now trying to remove the stock torsion Springs. I am stuck at the part where one has to somehow remove the retainer clip from the backside of the upper idler wheel. I just can't seem to work my clip tool between the idler wheel and the "dangling" torsion spring. The entire rear end has been dropped and torsion Springs are completely "unloaded" yet I still can't get enough force on the retainer ring to pull it back cuz the damn torsion spring is in the way. What am I missing? No way it should be this difficult to remove a torsion spring. Thanks in advance for the input and patience with dumb questions like this!

 

[cannondale27]

I use a chisel to hit the inner race of the wheel bearing to get the wheel off.

 

[AndyB]

I use a chisel to hit the inner race of the wheel bearing to get the wheel off.

Thank you Cannondale! Your suggestion lead me down a path that I should have thought of from the start! So, the inner snap ring doesn't come off...duh! TOTALLY was over-thinking this. It is indeed just some BRUTE FORCE to get those idler wheels/bearings off the shaft. I was originally thinking that there's no way it takes brute force to force them off as this is just "barbaric" but goes to show you that sometimes one just has to get "medieval" on stuff!

So, here's what I did. Instead of using physical effort of hitting the inner race with a hammer and chisel I used a pneumatic hammer with a chisel end after spraying some PB Blast on the shaft and it drove those bearings right off the shaft with EASE! Didn't mark up the bearing or the shaft but obviously one has to be careful with this way of doing things as the power of the pneumatic hammer can easily grind a groove in the shaft.

Again, thanks for the insight Cannondale!

Andy B.