Topic: Trying to remove front sprocket from KZ400

[Tugboat]

Hey guys - while I'm rebuilding my 750 I've been cruising around on my '76 KZ400.. fun little bike that's perfect for getting to & from work and cruising around town. Anyways, went to replace the chain which was dangerously stretched and figured I'd replace the sprockets while I'm at it. Back one's in pretty bad shape but the front one doesn't look too terrible. But they're like tires, right? Replace them all at the same time for even wear? So I've had a buddy of mine stand on the rear brake to keep the back tire/chain/engine from moving while I'm cranking on the nut that holds the front sprocket on, and that sucker just won't budge. I'm using a cheater bar with rachet, and even with the extra leverage I can't get it loose. Any suggestions here? I've let it soak in WD40 for a while but that didn't seem to do anything. And I'm totally relagated to driving my car(!) while this thing sits there waiting for what should've been a simple repair. Help!

[754]

Might be lefthand thead..
 May need impact or striker tool.. be careful...

[kirkn]

Can't exactly tell from my monitor, but did you loosen the pant-leg washer?  That is, the tab that bends up and holds the nut?

Nut should be normal threads.

BTW, WD40 sucks as a penetrating oil, IMHO.  Get a spray can of PBBlaster and try.

[WFO]

New chain means new sprockets leaving that one would only invite wearing out that new chain faster.

[Steve_K]

They can be hard to remove.  I had a friend use the rear brake(SV650 rear disc brake) to hold the chain and sprocket while I used an extension bar on my sprocket. BTW, I had to tweak the caliper afterward from the high pressure to try to remove that nut.  No dice.  Loaded on truck and took it to my friendly dealer and his higher power impact wrench, removed it in seconds.  On the truck no less!  I buy the guys there beer and elk and buffalo summer sausages and they treat me well.  No charge to remove

[Stev-o]

+1 on the pneumatic wrench.
Had to do that recently to remove a trailer hitch ball on my Tacoma. Went to to a used tire place on the side of the highway and he only charged me $7, well worth it.

[Tugboat]

OK - so back when I started this thread I said "screw it" and replaced the chain and rear sprocket only. Still couldn't get the front sprocket off. Am about to take the rear wheel & chain off to replace my "well worn" rear shocks, and figured I'd give this another go. I've let it soak in PBBlaster through several cycles and it still won't move. I'm VERY wary of damaging my driveshaft or other internal components trying to just torque this thing off. Heat it? On a wet-sump engine? If I use some sort of pneumatic impact driver, do I risk damage to other parts?

[RRRToolSolutions]

An air wrench with it's impact motion will pull it right off. Take the 1/2" drive socket with you to your local tire store and have them remove it with their tool. If you buy tires there, they might not even charge you.

Regards,
gordon

[MoMo]

Don't know your budget but Makita makes an 18v impact wrench in 1/2 or 3/8 drive, either is in the two to three hundred dollar range with charger and battery. check Amazon.  I had always used air tools in my shop(the compressor is deafening it comes on) and bought the Makita recently.  No noise and very powerful   Larry

[Hondawggie]

Reminds me of getting a wheel off my car to fix a flat -- I'd had all 4 tires replaced by the Wheel Works chain on my different vehicles for years, on one car I had a flat and decided to park the car, jack it up and remove the wheel then take it to my Wheel Works dealer for free repair.  Could not get the lug nuts to budge.
That fix-a-flat didn't work neither.

I have a 30"-long 'breaker bar' and put my lugnut socket on that and even the breaker bar with all that leverage and me, a pretty husky 210lb dude could not get the friggin lug nut to budge.

The Wheel Works guy come over (he gets all my wheel business) he cant get the lug nut to move with his industry-grade lug nut tool.
He said 'drive it with the flat to the shop I'll follow you'

At the Wheel Works tire store, the mechanic put the air wrench on her, OFF come the lug nuts in seconds.

[kirkn]

...and that's just WRONG.  If someone has the lugnuts on there so tight that the hand tools provided won't get 'em off, they were on too tight!  One MUST be able to change a flat by the side of the road.

[Hondawggie]

...and that's just WRONG.  If someone has the lugnuts on there so tight that the hand tools provided won't get 'em off, they were on too tight!  One MUST be able to change a flat by the side of the road.

Thats excactly what I told em.  Them guys at Wheel Works is too trigger happy on them airguns.  When I told the manager "what if I have to change a flat on the side of the road" he stuck up for his crew he said "well they have to be tight."

Thats Wheel Works for ya, they just got acquired by a big player in that biz and they're 'locking up' the business I guess.    

[Stev-o]

A good tire shop wire torque 'em by hand, generally in the 80-100 ft-lbs range.