Front Wheel Removal

[georgeorge]

Has anyone here taken off the front wheel? And if so, did you experience any problems getting the 4 stainless pinch bolts (at the end of the forks) out?
It's a 6mm allen wrench bolt and I just keep twisting allen wrenchs. I've even cut an allen wrench to about 3/8" long and used a 6mm socket with the piece in it to try but still can't get em to loosen. Am I doing something wrong? Is it possible they are reverse thread or did mine get assembled too tight by Honda when new? Would heat help? I'm just afraid to damage the finish by using a torch to heat the fork.

Any help would be great!

Thanks,
Brian

[Mellow]

The pinch bolts shouldn't be that tight.

I have a set of hex/sockets for my 1/4 drive wrenches. I can't remember but I think the pinch bolts are only supposed to be torqued at 16 ft. lbs.

If they are that tight, might be better to take it to a dealer and have them loosen/re-torque them so it they screw it up they can replace it.

[georgeorge]

GOT EM!!!! :hotpepper
They were very tight, but I got em.

I went to Sears and bought a 3/8" drive 6mm hex socket. :tools1: Worked MINT!

TIP: Don't try to do it with regular bent allen wrenches. They Stink!

Brian

[Horst]

Does this mean your OEM tool kit is toast now ? ... :eek:

[Don Webster]

The Pinch bolts on mine were also very tight to get out the first time. Got some of the 3/8 allen sockets & found out the cheap ones you find at some stores are not much better that the bent ones. The ones I got were a little smaller than they should have been. Bought some Stanley Pro Series they worked just fine.