Unable to remove the rear wheel.

[ME 109]

Found it.

[Bamboo812]

Another thought; could be only the left side bearing is seized? I'd remove the bearing cover and see if that frees the axle to move to the left. If it's the inner bearing seized, then the whole bearing stack could be beaten out of the hub... Either way, use a grinder to cut the axle in stages, for removal.

[SteveD]

Hasn't happened just yet, but this is the plan..
Cut axle LH side undo nuts holding rear drive on.
Pull entire rear wheel and drive unit backwards.
Extract cut axle piece from LH swing arm.
Pull off rear drive.
Remove bearing holder from LH side of hub. Hopefully all this will enable removal of the old axle portion and failed bearings
Then fit new bearings top hat etc and new axle.

Then there'll be preloading the new bearings to come.

Grease verses anti seize on the axle?

[Bamboo812]

Grease! (it's the word that you heard...) Another thought; it's a good idea to rotate the axle when attempting to remove or install it. Failure to do so can cause the axle to bind in the swingarm, possibly bending it. Also, before mounting the wheel, grease the axle and clean the hole in the rear drive to make sure it is easy to install and remove next time...

[SteveD]

I've always used grease, but the bike in this thread had used anti-seize on the axle.

[Bamboo812]

We need to find where it's seized. Can you rotate the axle? If the axle is stuck in the rear drive, the wheel won't move left at all, but if the wheel bearing is seized, you should be able to move the wheel/axle combination together to the left. If this is the case, after removing the bearing cover, you might be able to beat the bearing stack out far enough to grind or burn off the offending bearing and save the axle. Keep the axle moving and lubed both ends when attempting this.

[ME 109]

83 doesn't have a bearing holder.
The axle is seized to the inner race of one or both bearings.

If the swing arm and fd are removed, the axle will still need to be pressed out, or hit out, if it's the rh bearing that's seized,

I'd try to knock it out, on the bike first. The axle is most likely ruined already.
A heavy hammer (5 lb) hit square on the end of the axle will likely have sufficient force to do this. I can't see this damaging the wheel.
The rh bearing outer race will take the initial load from the inner race. The outer race is seated fairly well in the wheel, to offer a firm resistance. You won't push the rh outer race further into the wheel.

If it's the left hand side only seized, the lh inner race will push the top hat into the brake caliper mount. This may, or may not damage the caliper mount axle bore.

[SteveD]

This bike is in Sydney. I think he's whacked it a few times already. No success.

[Bamboo812]

Does it have a disc or drum brake? If it's a disc, the caliper holder will get in the way of any "cutting the axle" fixes, if I'm not mistaken.

[ME 109]

It would be bloody tight but perhaps the swingarm can be spread sufficiently to expose the axle. Even then, might not get a 4" or 5" grinder in there.
And then there's the sparks, and snowflake wheels and stuff. I'd hit it more.