TOPIC:

This is strange, muffler blocks bolt removal... any images I look at of kz440 show muffler forward of bolt.

Put your bike on the center stand on a wooden block to increase the ground clearance.
Then loosen the rear damper blods on the swing arm. This should give you the required access to pull the rear axle

You can remove the wheel and axle as a unit.  loosen the axle. loosen the chain adjusters and swing them down. remove the chain adjuster blocks. kick the wheel forward and lift the chain off the sprocket. remove the wheel assy. I put a pad under the rear wheel when I'm ready to remove it so that it just rolls off, instead of dropping. makes it easier, since the rr wheel is kinda heavy and unwieldy. 

If you still want to remove the axle sideways: instead of removing the mufflers, disconnect the shocks. that would be much easier. I prefer removing the wheel assy as a unit. never even tried to pull the axle out. ha ha.

edit. the assy method. then when you're ready to re-install the wheel, just roll it in place and reverse the above steps. 

 

Then install the axle the other way 'round    

slayer61 wrote:

Then install the axle the other way 'round 

  

Dual mufflers 

I am fairly sure that most of the non-LTD versions had mufflers that extended beyond the axle.

Like deez won.


 

Take a look at pages 118 - 119 in the factory service manual. Kawasaki recommends disconnecting the bottom shock mounts, just like Martin said, though it shows pulling the axle out rather than removing the entire assembly in tact. I suppose either will work, as long as you can clear the rear fender.

www.kzrider.com/modules/ServiceManuals/kz440.pdf

TexasKZ wrote:

......... Kawasaki recommends disconnecting the bottom shock mounts, just like Martin said, .......
 

Hm, are you really sure about that?

Michael aka (Scirocco)

Scirocco wrote:

TexasKZ wrote:

......... Kawasaki recommends disconnecting the bottom shock mounts, just like Martin said, .......


 

Hm, are you really sure about that?

Michael aka (Scirocco)

Yes, off course but i suggested the same in the first reply........

My apologies, I should have written, as Scirocco and Martin have said.

I thought that possibly these were not original mufflers .... seems that question is answered.
when I had the rear wheel off I do not recall seeing that the adjustment slots had openings to roll out with bolt installed.... dropping the swing arm as described would be easier than pulling a muffler, tho they come off easily. 
not worried about doing the job in the shop, want it to be simple in case of emergency during ride.
thanks all