Can't loosen brake rotor bolts!!!!

Hey guys,

I am swapping out the rear wheel on my 82 kz 750 e3 for a 16" wheel (going custom cruiser style with the bike). I have been trying all day to loosen the allen bolts that hold the rotor on to put it on the "new" wheel, but I can't get them to budge at all! Does anyone have any tricks for getting these boogers off?

Thanks,

Clutch

I usually start with giving them a good smack with a hammer, if that doesn't work try heating them with a propane torch.

Sounds like you need some leverage. Can you get a small piece of pipe on the allen wrench to extend the leverage?

Kawickrice wrote:

Sounds like you need some leverage. Can you get a small piece of pipe on the allen wrench to extend the leverage?

That's actually what I tried after soaking them in some WD-40 hoping to loosen up the crud holding them tight. With the extension, I just felt like I was going to snap my allen key in two pieces!

~Clutch

I found that PB Blaster or "Liquid Wrench" to be good for loosening up stuck bolts. Heat the stubborn bolts up with a torch and then (with the torch shut off) apply the penetrating oil after it cools for a bit.

The stuck bolts then should be able to be removed.
When re-assembling the bolts, apply some of the silver anti-seize so they can be removed in the future. A little goes a long way, so it only needs to be applied on a few beginning threads of the bolts.

Try this:

www.kanolabs.com

We use their "Kroil" in the marine industry. Also an impact driver might help.

switch wrote:

Also an impact driver might help.

I was thinking about trying to find some way to use my impact wrench, but just have regular, every-day allen keys....

You might consider getting some allen head sockets and try removing with a socket wrench or air impact driver. I would definitely agree with smacking them first with a hammer in case someone put blue locktite on them in the past.

Phil

cut a pc of your allen wrench and put it in a regular socket...hacksaw works but a dremel or die grinders much quicker

clutch wrote:

...(going custom cruiser style with the bike). ...

What a shame.

..

JMKZHI wrote:

clutch wrote:

...(going custom cruiser style with the bike). ...

What a shame.

..

It's all about being more comfortable on rides! (Plus I'm getting too old to be getting tickets all the darn time. LOL!)

Use air tools but only air impact allens. The bolts are stubborn, using cheap tools you'll probably round off the allen heads before they come loose.