Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

I'm having a nightmare of a time trying to get my forks off to get the rebuilt!

Main problem is 2 of the pinch bolts for the front wheel spindle won't loosen! The other two have come off fine!

I've tried WD, 14V rattle gun, tapping the Allen key with a hammer to loosen any locktite and still nothing!

Any suggestions?

A mix of 50/50 Transmission fluid and acetone is suppose to be the best product to help remove a siezed bolt..

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They arranged a subjective test of all the popular penetrants with the control being the torque required to remove the nut from a "scientifically rusted" environment.

Penetrating oil ..... Average load

None ...................... 516 pounds

WD-40 ................... 238 pounds

PB Blaster ............... 214 pounds

Liquid Wrench ......... 127 pounds

Kano Kroil .............. 106 pounds

ATF-Acetone mix.......53 pounds

The ATF-Acetone mix was a "home brew" mix of 50 - 50 automatic transmission fluid and acetone. Note the "home brew" was better than any commercial product in this one particular test. Our local machinist group mixed up a batch and we all now use it with equally good results. Note also that "Liquid Wrench" is about as good as "Kroil" for about 20% of the price

Thats interesting Dave .

I do like some judicious use of heat on seized bolts , if it can be applied without damaging anything .

Heat gentlly, then apply the penetrating fluid of choice .... as it cools, the fluid is drawn into the threads.

A good impact driver with a good alan key socket,but as above lube them first.I have found Rost off to be a great penitrator

the kid wrote:Thats interesting Dave .

X2.

I've used PB blaster in the past for stubborn bolts.

Will try the the home brew method when the next occasion arrises.

Tried tightening a little then undo?

If all else fails, cut off the bolt heads carefully so as not to damage anything else to release the pressure/binding, drill and use an easy out, if not drill acurately with appropriate size and re-tap as the 2nd last resort.

Acetone and atf? sounds good but acetone disolves everything including rubber. I like the heat method, it usually works but be careful, aluminum melts at a very low temp for metal and theres no warning, it just turns to liquid. Good luck and please update us morons on what you did. Cheers!!

You mean the bolts at the bottom of the fork outers that pinch the axle, yeah?
Is it one each side, or os it both on one fork tube?!
If it is one each side, then the thing to do is put the other bolts back in (lube the threads lightly and torque them up to spec). Doing this will 'unload' the other bolt slightly.
Just a thought.

(-8

Agreed, tighten the other bolt to release the load. U could also try a g clamp or similar to pinch the fork & release the load

Will give it a go when I next get to it; shopping duties with Mrs ZXR for a few days first!

JimZXR wrote:... shopping duties with Mrs ZXR for a few days first!

Man's work is never 'done' ...

(-8

Try one of these very handy for cooking as well, the heat applied to the head of the bolt releases the bonding agent and it doesn't get hot enough to melt ally

Use some heat from a solder torch or maff gas torch, heat the thread from the back and tighten the bolt 1st then spray some penetrate or ATF/Blend before you try to undo it. I have had a lot of success undoing lower outboard leg bolts using this method.

John

ATF-Acetone mix, cant say ive ever heard of this, might have to give it a try next time
http://www.loctitefreezeandrelease.com/
ive used this before with varied levels of success and wurth rost off plus always seems to do the job in the situations ive come across
also good fitting tools, last thing you want to do is strip anything, ive found some different brands of tools can have varied levels of snugness and bite