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?

__________________
XT660R (2006)
XT600E (1994)
Triumph Trident 750 (1992)
My blog: http://goingfastgettingnowhere.blogspot.com/

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.

__________________
XT660R (2006)
XT600E (1994)
Triumph Trident 750 (1992)
My blog: http://goingfastgettingnowhere.blogspot.com/

Superb find.

Halfrauds tomorrow to fill that gap in the tool kit

Steve T

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A weekend wasted isn't a wasted weekend

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.

__________________
XT660R (2006)
XT600E (1994)
Triumph Trident 750 (1992)
My blog: http://goingfastgettingnowhere.blogspot.com/

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

__________________
Harley Davidson..
The easyest way to turn gasoline into noise with out the side efect of horse power...

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)?

__________________
XT660R (2006)
XT600E (1994)
Triumph Trident 750 (1992)
My blog: http://goingfastgettingnowhere.blogspot.com/

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

__________________
Harley Davidson..
The easyest way to turn gasoline into noise with out the side efect of horse power...

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.

__________________
XT660R (2006)
XT600E (1994)
Triumph Trident 750 (1992)
My blog: http://goingfastgettingnowhere.blogspot.com/