Need to remove my front tire - need the damn tool

[bove]

yep, thanks jeff.

did you see me almost dump it coming out of the parking lot? those black tar snakes were worse than sand

[Punjistick]

Sears does carry the tools you need. I bought my sparkplug socket setup from them. Look for a half-inch drive sparkplug socket that has a 13/16" hex head on the drive end. Pull the rubber out and make sure the square drive portion is square on the inside of the socket (some are round). Then get a half-inch ratchet extension to put throught he inside of the socket. 13/16" is approximately 21mm which is more than adequate to loosen up the front axle. Since it uses a normal half-inch drive, you can use a torque wrench to tighten it back up.

I can post a picture when I get home.

Bill, would you mind posting a picture. I need one for my EX and so far have not been able to find anything.

[ZX-12R]

Bill, would you mind posting a picture. I need one for my EX and so far have not been able to find anything.

Here you go!

[ZX-12R]

Alex...

I had to look at a few sockets before I found one that worked. On the square drive section of the socket, occasionally it is rounded on the inside which prevents you from inserting the extension through the middle. Make sure to pull the rubber out and test fit an extension before you buy the socket.

[Punjistick]

Awesome thanks

[KB]

I am a tool. I'm available tomorrow

KB

[gmdboston]

If it's anything like my 9R, just leave the pinch bolts tight on the end with the 22mm socket head and loosen them the other end. I think the other end is a 17mm, which is a more readily available tool. Got mine at Ace Hardware.

That works for removal, installation is a little tricky with that method. You have to make sure the entire wheel/axle assembly is al the way to the right side of the bike before you retighten the pinch bolts. It can be done, I've done it. I gave up on finding a 22mm allen years ago and used a piece of 7/8 hex stock welded into a 7/8 socket. You can use that method to make any size allen you need. Also two 22mm nuts locked together on a piece of threaded rod will work in a pinch. Three nuts work even better aas you you can turn the middle one against the upper one and it wont just unlock from the lower pone in the allen head. If you have a welder and a lathe & a mill, you can make any tool. When I started working on suspension alomost 15 years ago, they was no source for special tools at all, we made every thing.

[SVRACER01]

look at me! im peter kates! i can do anything! im wicked smaht! eeeeerrrrrrr

[stoinkythepig]

Also two 22mm nuts locked together on a piece of threaded rod will work in a pinch. Three nuts work even better aas you you can turn the middle one against the upper one and it wont just unlock from the lower pone in the allen head.

I have a 22mm headed bolt with two nuts locked together on it in my tool box. I still prefer the pinch bolt method though.

[TheIglu]

I just use the wrench that came in my tool kit on the Rex. I thought all Kawasaki's had it in the tool kit? Looks like a spark plug wrench/socket, but longer.

[hammadown]

You would think, but that makes entirely too much sense! Bove and I spent almost a day just tryin to find something that would fit. Even this ole bolt and 2 nuts trick didnt work. OH well at least its done now...damn specialty tools!

[ZX-12R]

I thought all Kawasaki's had it in the tool kit? Looks like a spark plug wrench/socket, but longer.

There was nothing in my tool kit to remove the front wheel which is why I got bored and figured out that a sparkplug socket would fit if turned around. That and Snapon wanted $60 for a 22mm allen wrench. Funk dat!

[bove]

There was nothing in my tool kit to remove the front wheel which is why I got bored and figured out that a sparkplug socket would fit if turned around. That and Snapon wanted $60 for a 22mm allen wrench. Funk dat!

yep, $60 - terrible

the guys at valley motorsports had a machinist make them their tools, they said they couldn't get their hands on a 22mm anywhere either

[JeffL]

yep, thanks jeff.

did you see me almost dump it coming out of the parking lot? those black tar snakes were worse than sand

No, I was too busy trying to purposely spin up the rear on those fresh tar snakes.

[keeena]

I have a 22mm headed bolt with two nuts locked together on it in my tool box. I still prefer the pinch bolt method though.

Welp, a bit late to help the OP... But I also did this for my ZX7R years ago. 1 bolt, 2 nuts and a lock nut (or weld) does the trick. Use the bolt-head side in the axle. To loosen, hold the middle nut w/ a wrench. To tighten, use a suitable socket on the outside nut. Smaller one is 22mm in this pic.



I thought using the pinch bolts to hold one side while tightening the other was not a good idea? Don't remember why...could've just been the centering aspect (e.g. sounds like what Pete may have been getting at).

[bove]

the pinch bolts probably would have worked, except all we had to turn them was vice grips (we're up at college, all the tools are home)

whatever, it has been taken care of - the new tires are incredible

[Expat]

You can buy a tool online from Cyclegear.com they want about $16 plus shipping or so for it, It will fit 3 different hex sizes, alternatively, a resouceful Brit is cutting pieces of 22mm hex bar and selling them on e.bay motors (UK site) for about $7 plus about $4 for shipping. I found mine uner a search for Z1000 parts.
Hope this helps.

[Punjistick]

I found a guy on the EX500 forum selling 12mm tools (what I need for th EX) for $5 + shipping. Now I can actually remove the forks and bring them in seperately instead of the fork + wheel.