gear oil change

[DPuzz]

What size wrench do I need to remove the rear gear drive plug so I can add gear oil? It seems to be larger than 20 mm, so I will need to buy something.

[voyager55]

I just used a large crescent wrench, no problems

[debron]

I tried removing mine yesterday with no luck. I just had a crescent style also. I did measure it and it is 23 mm. May have to hunt for the 23 mm box wrench.

[woodman]

27 mm socket. Got it at lowes.It also fits the nut on the rear tire. I had used a cresent wrench and ended up rounding the corners on the alunimun nut.Cost me a new nut. Hope this helps. Dan

[debron]

27 mm?? Interesting. I measured it three times and it came out 23 mm each time. Maybe my caliper is out of whack.

I have a 27 mm socket but there is no room for a socket without dropping the muffler a couple of inches. Maybe that's what needs to be done.

[voyager55]

Boy you guys must have really over tightened the plug. I give it a tap with a large crescent wrench & it comes right off

[ekap1200]

I just use a standard box wrench. 27mm comes out to be 1.06299 or 1-1/16. An expensive wrench if bought new, best to hunt at a flea market this weekend and pick one up for about 5 dollars.

[woodman]

yes i do need to drop the exhaust. i figured with a socket that i won't round the nut, plus like i said it fits the rear axle nut. box wrench works too.

[Mr Jensee]

I just use a standard box wrench. 27mm comes out to be 1.06299 or 1-1/16. An expensive wrench if bought new, best to hunt at a flea market this weekend and pick one up for about 5 dollars.

I have been using a 1-1/16 box / open end wrench also with no bad results. It fits like a glove on both the rear axle and the gear casing. Mine was handed down from my father who had an industrial supply store. If you can find one in your area they are probably much easier to locate than a 27mm wrench.

[Kevin B in Illinois]

Napa carries these sockets and wrench's . I recently had to go get a 36 MM socket for a removal of a nut on a job. Napa had it and said they sell about two a week due to it being the size of Harley Davidson rear axle nuts. If you have a local Lowe's store you could get a Kobalt wrench or socket with a lifetime warranty.

KB

[metric]

I just got a 36mm socket for my clutch nut from Menard's and they have the 1-1/16 or metric one's up to 36mm, they are not chip... the 36mm was $19.00.
I use a crescent wrench for the final drive...

[DPuzz]

Thanks for all the info. The dealer I bought my bike from put it on so tight I cant get it to move with pliers.

[Kevin B in Illinois]

Yes Metric they aren't cheap, I paid $11.50 for the socket at Napa auto parts. I have a bunch of big sockets in standard sizes, but didn't have anything bigger than a 27 MM in metric sizes until now.

KB

[Lumpy Rider]

Looks as though the previous owner of my 2001 tried to loosen it with a hatchet.

[Mr Jensee]

You know I wonder where the intelligence went with some people. There should never be a reason to beat a bolt off. If you can not find either of the above mentioned wrenches or socket wrenches, a 18" Stiltson pipe wrench or a plumbers wrench which looks like a pipe wrench with no teeth in the jaw will work to get large bolts off. Just take your time, put the wrench on the bolt or cap in this instance and tap the handle a couple times with a hammer, tap not beat, and it will break it loose enough to remove it. Beating on magnesium or aluminum is just dumb.