DW FAN WRITES IN: “I recently purchased a used 2022 Polaris RZR 570 Trail White Lightening. On our first trail ride, we could not get through the trail-head gate! The trail is signed and gated for 50-inch machines and the trail head gates are 52 inches. This led us to discover that sometime in the machine’s past, 2-inch wheel spacers had been added. And we never noticed. So, it was go back home and remove the wheel spacers. The thing is how do I get them off?? Seems they won’t budge. Please help!” – Donna Garcia, Prescott, AZ

OUR PRO ANSWER: Those particular gates are tight! I have seen some as wide as 58-inch. But to address your problem, is it the bolts that hold the spacers on that won’t budge or is it the spacers are stuck on the wheel hubs? Each requires a different removal technique. Step 1, If the retaining bolts will not budge, you will need an impact gun, whether electric, air, or battery with a 6-point impact-rated socket. Some spacers have the retaining bolt wells machined so small, a standard impact socket will not fit inside. A decent machinist with a lathe can turn down the socket to fit. Note that if you try to use a thinner standard deep well socket, you may end up cracking the socket because it was never designed for impact use. Once the retaining bolts are removed and the wheel spacer still won’t come off, we go to step 2. Reinstall the UTV’s wheel and use the tire’s added leverage to rock the wheel spacer loose. DO NOT USE A PRYBAR ON THE WHEEL SPACER! You could end up damaging the wheel hub. If you do re-install the spacers in the future, use Marine Grade Never Seize to coat the center and back of the spacer as well as the retaining bolts to stop corrosion that would make future removal hard again.

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