Question about taking off front wheel.

I guess I am used to newer bikes where you loosen one side of the axle and pull it through to get the wheel off.

How do you get the front wheel off of my 1980 KZ1000? Do I unbolt the lowers on the forks to get it off?

Remove the fork lower caps and remove the rim/axle combo. Dont screw up the cap sides/orientation as they are machined to be exactly as they are (they have arrows and must be replaced exactly as removed).

You may need to remove one of the brake caliper mount to fork mounts (with the caliper), and pull it back/away from the wheel first (to allow space for the tire to pass by). DONT SQUEEZE THE BRAKE, it will push the piston right out of the caliper very quickly.

Good luck.

THANKS!

I already have the calipers removed from the bike.

So how do you get the axle out of the rim after it is off then, do the nuts on the axle remove from one side or both?

Also what is the best way to get the front wheel off of the ground? I have the exhaust off and was wanting to use a floor jack under the engine but it seems a bit wobbly.

I believe that after removing the axle nut that is slides right out. Very easy to figure out once its off.

You can use a block/2x4 of wood on your jack and pump it up just a couple inches, just enough to slide the front tire out. make sure the bike is on the center stand of course, and it should be fine. Or you could just drop someone, or some weights on the back seat till it props itself onto the back tire.

Don't have a centerstand. I'll put jack stands under the foot pegs to replace the centerstand to keep it stable enough. So how do you go about getting the front wheel off if the exhasut is on and you don't have a centerstand? lol Sounds like a pain in the ass!:S

badrhino wrote: Don't have a centerstand. I'll put jack stands under the foot pegs to replace the centerstand to keep it stable enough. So how do you go about getting the front wheel off if the exhasut is on and you don't have a centerstand? lol Sounds like a pain in the ass!:S

If a center stand isn't available, here's a link that includes my alternative redneck method of using a length of standard biker pipe and jack stands.

kzrider.com/forum/5-chassis/236039-center-stand

The slim chrome LTD chain guard allows sufficient clearance for this procedure.
But the standard model's larger non-LTD plastic chain guard does interfere and would need to be removed.

Good Fortune!

You can actually jack the bike safetly on the side stand as well, just takes a little talent, and some ratchet straps.

if you can get somebody to help hoist the bike you can stick 2 of those heavy duty plastic milk crates side by side and a 3rd centered directly behind with some old towels on top so you dont scratch frame.
these can be found behind any roberts dairy or grocery store(so ive been told :whistle: :woohoo: )
anyway with header off of bike you can sit the hole bike up on top of there and wrench away with both wheels off of the ground

or ratchet straps to a rafter or swingset

Yeah I had it on one milk crate for over a year when it was just sitting there. Started to smash it after a while. I'm going to try the rafter method to get the front off the ground.

thats why i say to use 3 of them,remember thats a lot of dead weight to hang from a 2x4 rafter

Using the crate didn't get my front wheel off of the ground if I remember correctly.