MT-09 Rear Axle High Torque, Torque to Infinity

Hey all, it's finally happened!

Yamaha recommends torquing the rear axle nut on the MT-09 to 108 lb-ft, which honestly seems pretty excessive. I’ve always stuck to 100 lb-ft using a proper calibrated torque wrench and I’ve still ended up with some thread wear on the axle and nut. I went to tighten the wheel and I had that horrid feeling of realising it turned to infinity.

From what I’ve seen online over the years and now finally experienced myself, that high torque might be fine the first time with brand-new parts, but it’s not good if you’re adjusting your chain regularly. I think most of us are loosening and tightening the axle fairly often, and that kind of repetitive stress seems to slowly wear things down.

I've learnt from this, as it's completely my own fault still, a 7 year old bike and I've never changed those parts.

What I’m planning on doing now:

Torquing to 95–100 lb-ft max, and that’s only if the threads are clean and in good shape.

Swapping out the axle nut every once a year.

If I use a bit of anti-seize, I will drop the torque a bit more maybe 90–95 lb-ft.

So, when should you replace the Axle?

I've researched this and can't find an actual recommendaion, I guess if the threads are still clean and not damaged, you can probably get years out of it, seems like 7 :)

But if the nut doesn’t go on smoothly or you see any flattening, galling, or metal flecks… it’s probably time to bite the bullet and replace the axle. I’d now going to take it out and check it once a year.

Curious to hear what others are doing with your bike, anyone using Loctite and going lower?