I’ve bought a klt 650 and need to change tires. The front pinch bolts are Allen heads and are way too tight. I’ve gotten one loose. Any ideas on how to proceed? Thanks
Use a brand new wrench/socket, heat the side where the threads are, smack the wrench/socket with a hammer when it's inserted into the head of the bolt then try to loosen it. Heat alone may do it.
Definitely give the allen socket a good whack with a hammer before trying to break it loose. As stated above heat helps.
Don't remove one completely. They share the clamping load. If you remove one completely you are causing the second to carry more clamping pressure against the threads. That alone will make it more difficult to remove. Put the one you took out back in and return it to the specified torque while you work on the second. Once that one is broken loose remove then a turn at a time going back and forth. Once you get them out use the same procedure to reinstall.
By heating them and shock loading by hammer struck I’ve gotten one more out. But I’m afraid I’m screwed in that one rounded off Its time to calm down. Thanks for your help
Nah, take your time, maybe go up to the next size allen - or try a US one that is hair larger. Maybe try a flat screwdriver if you have one you can drive in there then put a wrench on it to turn. Lots of options
Sometimes a torx bit will act as an extractor when an allen gets rounded inside. Hand impact wrench helps.
Last resort, weld a nut on the end. There will be a good heat source and a good traction bolt. I hate Allen and tors drives being a tech.
Smack it flat with a hammer. The metal that got pushed out will get hammered back in. I would install and tighten that bolt's mate, as mentioned above, before attempting to remove the one you may be able to get a bite on now.
I had one in a Valkrie last year that I couldn't get out. Did heat, torx bit, welded nuts on it, couldn't get a good enough weld to hold. Ended up having to drill the fucker out. That was fun...
the ones u removed, put some anti-seize on them and reinstall to the correct torque spec. then work on the others. or replace them and reinstall if they are mangled.
if everything else fails just drill the head off, once the head is off there should be no tension on the threaded part
Only prob with drilling the head off is the shank is recessed and given low torque rating of fork pinch bolts, I wouldn't count on the issue being related to bolt tension.
delicate use of a thin cutoff wheel between the slit. magnets. think about the game operation when nicking the sides lol