ok so i bought a used ninja 500 and im replacing the front wheel bearings. to get the wheel off it looks as if you have to use a big *** allen wrench. the biggest i can find is 10mm, but i need bigger. if anyone has any help at all on this topic that would be sweet cause ive been everywhere trying to figure out how to get the wheel off without paying a shop. thanks

 

Go to an auto parts store, and buy the wrench for it.

 

cant find anything on that site, ive been to walmart lowes homedepot and autozone and none of them carry bigger than 10mm

 

10mm? what the fkkk, thats smaller than my pinkey... have you tried any tool stores like Nothern Tool Supply or even looked into ordering via Snap-on dot com or somthing along the lines of that?

 

snap on has some, thanks alot man

 

if you check auto parts stores they have some for drain plugs. alot of german cars have 17mm drain plugs. or i know there are some off brand sets that have a 12mm, 14mm, and 17mm. look for those.
and last resort you can use some metric bolts that you have laying around. just put two nuts on the bolt to jam together. then put the head into the hex opening.
voila!!!

 

uhhhhh will you explain that again for me haha

 

Sorry to jump on top like everyone else, but the right tools make the job so much easier!

 

Craftsman tools are usually on sale at Sears. And, they have a lifetime warranty.

 

Oh hey!

I just ran into this last weekend while changing out the forks on my ZX6R.

I thought I recognized the hex size opening from somewhere else, and I pinned it down to my 4-way tire iron.

It turns out that it is the exact same size as one of the openings for lug nuts. I took the axle in that I got with my new forks and bought a set of long lug nuts (conical for truck wheels) of the exact same size for $3.84. I just tried a few metric and english sizes and found a set with zero play. I can check on the size but I believe that I ended up buying 1/2" thread dia. b/c it was a little snugger than the metric sizes and I wanted a tight fit in case I had to really crank on it or use an impact.

Just stick the lug nut into the axle and use the portion that is sticking out to wrench on. Luckily it was very easy to loosen with the 4-way. Worked perfectly, allowed me to use my torque wrench, and it was cheap.

Hope this helps.


Modified by UTCiv at 2:56 AM 9/15/2005

 

I don't know what size your axle nut is but this works on a zx12 and 929.....

Take a spark plug socket (with hex head that fits your bike) and that has the 3/4" adapter hole completely through the socket. Take a 3" extension and place it on the inside of the socket. (where the spark plug would normally sit.) Use the back of the socket (the hex head part as your tool to loosen the axle.)

Or get a bolt with the metric hex head of the correct size, get two nuts and tighten themselves against each other. Place the hex head of the bolt in the axle, wrench on the nuts that are jammed against each other. Cost less than 2-3 bucks to make.

Also cycle gear sells a 3 way hex axle tool for ~15 bucks.

Steven

 

Or just measure the size of the fastener, and get the right size tool.

 

cbrman got it. I personally use the axle tool at cycle gear so i have accurate torque readings.

 

all of those are badass ideas thanks a lot