Taking off the wheels

Hi all,

Help a newbie time. Anybody got a step by step for taking the wheels off a KZ? Mines a 1988 305 LTD if that matters. Looks like the front axle is held in with some sort of locking pin???

Thanks!

According to the diagrams at Kawasaki.com, your bike has a castle nut on the front axle w a cotter pin or hitch pin. Remove the pin first. If the axle seems stuck, you could spray some penetrating lube on it, try to twist or spin the axle in the forks to loosen it.
You may have to kinda tap the axle out. Unscrew the castle nut until it's flush w the end of the axle then tap it using a block of wood & a hammer. Twist, tap, etc.

Oh yeah, be sure to put a support under the bike before you try to remove the front wheel. The axle will come out easier when there's not weight on it. And you'll avoid a potential disaster of the bike falling.

Ok thanks. The cotter pins are pretty rusty. Can I get replacements at a place like Advanced Auto Parts?

What about the front disc brakes and spedo cable? Do I need to do anything with them while taking the wheel off?

If you unbolt the calipers and hang them with a piece of wire till you put the tire back on it wont hurt... As far as the speedo cable unscrew it and make shure the rod inside doesnt slide out that thing is normaly nasty lol..

I am new my self and the clymer manual is the book that helps me with little things like this .. for 26 bucks its a good piece of mind and i read it and re read it if you get what im sayin....

hope this helps!! have fun!!

Thanks for all the help. I haven't had any luck finding a manual for this bike. If you spot one somewhere, let me know. 1988 KZ305 LTD

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Do I get hitch pins (or cotter pins) from a regular auto parts store like Advanced?

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To see what type of hitch pin or clip is typically used on a KZ, look at the rear wheel diagram of the 81 650-CSR at Kawasaki.com.

Hitch pin clips are useful in a wide variety of applications.

Here's an example of a hitch pin clip used on an axle castle nut (instead of using a cotter key aka cotter pin or split pin).

Good Fortune!

Perfect thanks! I'll go to the local hardware store and try to pick some up. The wheel comes off this weekend!

When using a hitch pin clip instead of a cotter key, it's usually better imo to have the closed end facing the direction of travel (same as with a drive chain master link clip) to help avoid the clip being knocked out by hitting a stone or road debris while riding.

Good Fortune!