Front axle tool
 

I have just fitted a tool tube to the XTR, and I am now putting together a tool roll for this year's expeditions. Most of what I need I have got, but I have nothing to remove the front axle. It needs a 14mm Allen key, but mine only go up to 10mm. I have a spindle key that I bought for the Sprint, but the smallest hex on that is 19mm. As far as I can see, there is nothing in the OEM tool kit that will serve. (That is a serious omission on a bike designed for trail use, IMO.)

What do other people do? Easy enough to buy a 14mm Allen key, but that's a big old lump to carry round on the off-chance. A 14mm bit to suit a 3/8" drive ratchet would be neater and lighter and could be used with a torque wrench, but I haven't seen one yet. Any ideas?

Google sump plug key

Basicallly a stubby 14 / 17 mm hex key really small so fits in with a bike tool kit.

You can get a 17mm spanner or a bar throo it so ok for the front axle

Got mine from the local car shop for a couple of quid

Halfords do a 14mm drain plug key in 3/8 about four quid, that's what I use.
Regards,
Jim.

Hehe, posted this, went straight to Halfords on another matter, and found a drain plug key, 14mm hex, 3/8" drive, four pounds and ninety-nine pence.

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/s...egoryId_255216

It's nice and small and will fit in the tool roll easily. Result.

Thanks for the replies, guys.

Superb find.

Halfrauds tomorrow to fill that gap in the tool kit :038:

Steve T

:cool:

It's great, a perfect fit in the axle end, and takes up no room at all in the toolkit. I didn't like the idea of carrying round a huge, single-purpose Allen key just in case. Also, I like to torque things up correctly, at least while I am at home, and it's nigh impossible to do that with a plain old Allen key. With 3/8" drive, all my ratchets, bars and the small torque wrench will fit.

Just think, it would have cost Yamaha around a quid to put one of these in the owner's toolkit and saved us all the bother.

i cut 40mm off the end of my 14mm key....
a 14mm spanner fits it...

I suppose it depends on the relative cost of each. Is it worth cutting up a serviceable 14mm key when the alternative is under a (GBP) fiver (NZD 8.00)?

I apologize for my post.... Sorry...
I have maybe used that 14mm allen key once in the last 10 years & its still about 150mm 6' long....

but anyway.... Sorry

Hehe, no need to apologise! Funny thing was, cutting down a full-size Allen key was something I thought of, and I am sure I have done something similar with a past bike, but when I priced one up it seemed a lot of money to chop it up and throw most of it away. There's another trick somewhere involving 14mm nuts, but I am too thick to remember it.

Point is, the cut-down Allen key is mechanically a sound idea, just uneconomic when there is a cheaper alternative.

Axle tool
 

Years ago I bought a special tool to suit the FJR1300 I had as the same as the XT no tools are supplied to remove wheels in the kit.

I couldn't find one for my XT660Z so I thought I'd make my own.

So bought a 22mm combination spanner, Cut off the open end and welded on a 14mm bolt.

So 22mm ring for the back axle and 14mm bolt head for the front axle.

It's not perfect but it works. Just take a 14mm bolt and turn a 14mm nut into it until it locks tight. If the flat surfaces don't line up perfectly, play around with a thin washer.
I used it before I cut off a 14mm hex head for the tool kit.