posted July 24, 2006 07:55 AM
Need help with front wheel Dont have manual yet. Does anyone know how the front wheel comes off. Ive taken off the calipers and unscrewed the hex screws at the bottom of the forks. Do the large hex shaft unscrew or does the whole shaft slide out?
posted July 24, 2006 10:03 AM
Loosen the hex screws on the side that has the 17mm axle "hole". Then, take a 17mm hex wrench on that side of the axle to unscrew it. Once you have that side removed, you can loosen the hex screws on the larger end of the axle, then slide it out.
I highly recommend buying a 17mm hex wrench if you are changing your own front tires. I bought one years back and just keep it in my tool kit. The cheesy substitute for a 17mm hex wrench that's in the toolkit is almost useless on a factory tightened axle.
Sears carrys those 17mm hex wrenches in stock, they aren't too expensive. They also work with Volkswagen and Porsche transaxles on the fluid drain and fill plugs. ____________
'06 Passion Red ZX-14 | Black D&D Slip-ons | Speedo Healer | V1 | zumo 550 | Heli-Risers | PhantomX
posted September 11, 2006 06:16 PM
Ok - it's time for me to change my front tire and I just figured out that the ZX-14 *does not* use the 17mm hex wrench that I stated above!
Has anyone else removed their front wheel yet? If so, what tool did you use? There doesn't appear to be anything in the tool kit that will get the job done, and I don't know the exact size, but it's considerably larger than 17mm... maybe 21 or 23mm on the smaller side?
I'm in a pinch now, because I need to take my wheel with me to work in the morning in the car, so I would love to know what the trick is... .
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'06 Passion Red ZX-14 | Black D&D Slip-ons | Speedo Healer | V1 | zumo 550 | Heli-Risers | PhantomX
posted September 11, 2006 06:29 PM
Just measured the front axle bolt sizes, they are 22mm on both sides... how does Kawi expect the average person to get that off? I already have a 17mm allen wrench that worked on both my ZRX and ZZR1200... I guess I have to go and hunt down a monster 22mm allen wrench now? ____________
'06 Passion Red ZX-14 | Black D&D Slip-ons | Speedo Healer | V1 | zumo 550 | Heli-Risers | PhantomX
posted September 11, 2006 06:40 PM
find a bolt with a 22 mm head, weld tha nut on the other end, use the bolt head as an allen wrench....
That or buy the kawasaki socket
posted September 11, 2006 06:48 PM
Edited By: TeamSpeed on 11 Sep 2006 19:49
Somebody said to use a large spark plug socket where you put a socket extension backward into the socket (where the spark plug would typically go) and put a wrench on the extension. The hex end of the spark plug socket should fit into the axle bolt.
quote:
Sorry Bugs, It's a 22mm. A 13/16th spark plug socket, turned around. With a short extenion thru the spark plug end works prefect. I have a 1/2" drive 13/16th made by Craftsman. Works great. And it costs a hell of a lot less then $29.00
posted September 11, 2006 07:19 PM
Edited By: zerMATT on 11 Sep 2006 20:21
I like that 13/16ths spark plug socket idea, but unfortunately, my 13/16ths spark plug socket isn't a *true* spark plug socket... it's just a plain-old deep socket. My 5/8ths spark plug socket has that shank... but that's only 3/4".
I may just buy a proper 13/16ths spark plug socket though... I like the idea of the cost savings over what a 22mm hex wrench might run. Seems like my 17mm Craftsman hex wrench was around $15, so who knows what the 22mm wrench would cost, if they even had one.
On a side note, what the hell was Kawi thinking with this setup?? And why don't they include a tool in the toolkit that will allow someone to remove the front axle? Heck, there's a spark plug wrench in the toolkit... what are the chances that you'll need to remove a spark plug before you need to remove your front axle? I just don't see the logic there...
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'06 Passion Red ZX-14 | Black D&D Slip-ons | Speedo Healer | V1 | zumo 550 | Heli-Risers | PhantomX
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posted September 11, 2006 08:43 PM
You don't get it, do you? It's called 'product liabilty'. If they include the tools to remove the front axle, some jackass will screw it up, get ahold of some asshole lawyer and sue the shit out of KMC...On the other hand, if someone has the right tools, it usually means that they cared enough to buy something they are going to use a lot, as in a (wow!) qualified mechanic.
____________
82 Gpz750, 84 Ninja 900, 2000 ZX12R (Muzzy Big Bore Kit), *another* 2000 ZX12R (Muzzy custom stroke crank 1341cc motor), 2004 ZZR1200, 2005 ZX10R, 2007 ZX14, 2008 Concours 14, 2014 Versys 650, 2014 Yamaha WR450F, 2015 Ninja H2
posted September 11, 2006 09:38 PM
Very interesting thread as i have yet to take my front wheel off.
Only i don't have any readson to do it just yet .
Sure has got me curious though .... i'm tempted to get the front end in the air and attempt an R&R just for the hell of it! ____________ '06 Passion Red ZX-14
quote:You don't get it, do you? It's called 'product liabilty'. If they include the tools to remove the front axle, some jackass will screw it up, get ahold of some asshole lawyer and sue the shit out of KMC...On the other hand, if someone has the right tools, it usually means that they cared enough to buy something they are going to use a lot, as in a (wow!) qualified mechanic.
So all of a sudden Kawi had an idea to limit their liability by not giving you a tool to remove your front wheel? In their infinite wisdom, they give you tools that you can nearly disassemble your bike, including removal of the rear wheel, all body panels, gas tank, battery, spark plugs, oil drain plug, and lots of other bits... but removing the front wheel... yeah, that's waaaaaay more dangerous.
And about Kawasaki's "qualified mechanic's", would that include the only Kawasaki-trained mechanic to every work on a motorcycle I've owned who left the oil drain plug loose after a 600mi service? Yeah... that's the guy that I want removing my front wheel.
posted September 12, 2006 04:52 AM
I bought a 3 size tool It looks like three nuts welded together. !7mm 24mm 22mm Got it at Cycle Gear. Insert the right size in the axle and a socket on the other side. Spins it right out ____________
The banks are failing..
The banks are failing...
Invest in Ammo
posted September 12, 2006 05:37 AM
Edited By: zerMATT on 12 Sep 2006 06:42
quote:I bought a 3 size tool It looks like three nuts welded together. !7mm 24mm 22mm Got it at Cycle Gear. Insert the right size in the axle and a socket on the other side. Spins it right out
Cycle Gear is already on my itinerary for today...
posted September 13, 2006 06:41 AM
Edited By: fastestbusaaround on 13 Sep 2006 07:42
quote:I bought a 3 size tool It looks like three nuts welded together. !7mm 24mm 22mm Got it at Cycle Gear. Insert the right size in the axle and a socket on the other side. Spins it right out
Every time I ride my 10, I get my nuts welded together:P
...maybe you should build a mold to do it in high impact plastic...probably only cost ya like 20K for the mold...so if you sold a 10K of them or so, you might get the investment back (or not). ____________
FYYFF!!!
posted September 13, 2006 12:13 PM
Where on the cyclegear web site did you find it???? Or is there another site besides www.cyclegear.com
Thanks
____________
1987 Red/White Ninja 750
1988 K1
1991 FatBoy
2004 VROD
2005 K1200S
2006 ZX-14 - Red
...and it does fit right into the factory toolkit nicely! ____________
'06 Passion Red ZX-14 | Black D&D Slip-ons | Speedo Healer | V1 | zumo 550 | Heli-Risers | PhantomX
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posted July 24, 2006 07:55 AM
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