Castle nut

Trying to take the front wheel off my '88 KZ305 LTD. None of my sockets are big enough for the castle nut. Before I go buy a bunch of new ones, can anyone tell me what size that nut is?

Also, when I put the wheel back on, do I need to use a torque wrench or do I just tighten it down as much as I can?

14mm

otakar wrote:

14mm

I've got a 14mm socket and it doesn't come close to fitting. You sure that's right?

I don't know what size your front axle nut is, but I'd guess it's bigger than 14mm. The one on my KZ650 is 19mm, but it isn't a castle nut.

As for tightening it, you should try to use the proper torque. However, if your front castle nut is like the rear one on my bike, you may have to simply tighten it down until you can fit the cotter or hitch pin in there. I use a crescent wrench. I don't know what the torque spec is for your bike. I would use a torque wrench, then tighten it more if necessary to install the pin.... unless someone w more experience has a better idea.

Topper wrote:

otakar wrote:

14mm

I've got a 14mm socket and it doesn't come close to fitting. You sure that's right?

I just went to kawasaki.com and looked up your bike. It states 14mm 42045-020. But that might be the axle size also. Why don't you just measure it. Since you know it is metric it will be to the closest mm. When the nuts get that big they are not even in single mm increments so it will be simple to measure and approximate if you don't have calipers.

I never saw a front axle with a cotter pin.

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Assuming you have the tool kit, it should have the correct size wrench.

I hate cotter pins, no more cotter pins, 'R' clips and safety wire from here on out.

Kawasaki never got with the times on their MX bikes. All my KX250's came with castle nuts on the rear axle. I swap them out with Honda nylock nuts.

front axle nut on KZ1000s (at least mine) is 19mm and it isnt a castle nut and no place for a cotter pin,r pin or safety wire.Rear axle has such a place.bj

When Kawasaki says it's a 14mm nut, it's absolutely correct. Nuts are listed by the diameter of the bolt they screw on, like 3/8" nut fits a 3/8" bolt, and usually takes a 9/16" wrench or socket.
19mm wrench for a 14mm nut sounds reasonable to me.

I'm going to give 19mm a shot. We'll see how that goes.

What about the need for a torque wrench when putting the wheel back on? I'd like to hear some more opinions on that.

Obviously I don't want my wheel falling off (or wobbling). Is tightening it down as much as I can (providing I can get the cotter pin in) enough? Or do I really need to tighten this to a specific torque setting?