Kawasaki steering head bearing nut socket

[johnnyc14]

I'm changing the steering head bearings on my Kawasaki Concours 14 and needed a special socket to tighten the nuts on assembly. I got the nuts loose with a hammer and brass punch but I want more control when I re-install.

This is one of the nuts.




I had some 2" OD schedule 80 pipe with 1/4" wall thickness and a piece of 1.5" round bar. I turned the inside of the pipe to match the smallest dimension on the OD of the nut ( 1.75") and left 1/4" unmachined at one end.



I milled the 8 legs.



Then I turned 1/2" of the 1.5"round bar down to 1" and the milled a 7/8" hex on one end for a wrench. The round bar is now an interference fit into the 1.5" ID end of the pipe.





I pressed the round bar into the small end of the pipe leaving 1/4" showing above the pipe and made 3 passes with the mig welder to fill the square shoulder area.



Then I turned the welded area at a 45 degree angle and a smooth finish.





It works great.

John

 

[xalky]

Nice job. We do these things....Why?..........BECAUSE WE CAN:goodjob2:

 

[johnnyc14]

It wouldn't be any fun to just buy the socket.:LOL:

John

 

[Maxx]

That's a funny looking pipe wrench. :rofl:

 

[cascao]

Just like me.
Time fixing the bike: 2 hours
Time doing better tools to do the job: 6 hours

 

[Getaway]

Thanks for sharing. I look forward to reading these posts every day. Nice work.

 

[Richardvonmann]

BRILLENT! Nice work! Probably last longer than some Chinese socket that cost an arm and a leg through Kawasaki too.

 

[jeff_g1137]

Hi
this is on ebay in the UK, he makes lots of tools for bikes.
it may be helpfull :thumbsup: jeff

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/KAWASAKI-ZRX-1100-ZRX-1200-STEERING-TOOL-SOCKET-HEADRACE-BEARINGS-TRIPLE-TREE-KD-/301011554750?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts_13&hash=item4615afd1be

 

[rchrdinaz]

Great Job!

It's masterpieces like this one that give meaning to life and adds richness to mankind. If you ever want to get rid of it, sign it, and I will hand it down to my children.
:coffeebreak:

 

[283v8]

What a nice tool.
I made a similar socket years ago ------ with a hacksaw and hand file. It worked, but was not as artful as yours.
Can't wait till I get a mill.