K75 Lug Nuts

[hoodun]

The lug nuts on the rear tire came loose. Luckily I was in the city and only going 25mph. The back wheel started shaking so I pulled over and noticed the nuts were half way out. Could have been it for me if I was on the freeway.

I torqued the nuts down tight. Though, I did not torque them to spec, since it was only a test ride before installing new tires. The nuts also had grease on them and I am finding out that the threads and nuts need to be dry for the torque spec to be effective.

Anyway, this is just a reminder to others to be sure to keep your lug nuts dry and blow out the threads with compressed air everyone once in a while. Also, to make sure everything is tightened to spec. I am generally really good about this, but all it takes is one mistake.

I just read several other forum threads of people loosing their K75 back tire on the freeway. Some are saying they torqued the bolts to spec, though I doubt it. One of the posters has a broken neck and others are friends posting for dead people.

Torque those damn bolts! 77 foot pounds.

[argent brick]

Thanx for the heads up! I have owned my brick for about two years and have never checked my lug nuts. Something to do this weekend.

[wmax351]

Yeah, always check those. Little things like that are why I would worry about some of my friends on a bike. They don't have attention to detail.


In the image, the part circled in red is an extended handle for the preload adjustment and lug bolt wrench. Ingenious, and very useful. Easiest way to get the lug nuts well is to have someone else hold the break. Second easiest is to put it on the sidestand, and cinch them down really good. You aren't going to strip them, so no need to be timid.

[TimTyler]

I keep a 24" breaker bar with a 17mm socket on it in a tragkorb just for those bolts.

[johnny]

i use the tool roll lug wrench with the extender and squeeze the bolts down as much as I can before the moto falls off the centerstand... i figger ive done this approx 48 times with no noted loosness...

j o

[Scott_]

i use the tool roll lug wrench with the extender and squeeze the bolts down as much as I can before the moto falls off the centerstand... i figger ive done this approx 48 times with no noted loosness...

j o

The 1100's have a higher torque specification for the lug bolts than the 75's.

[Inge K.]

The 1100's have a higher torque specification for the lug bolts than the 75's.

Hmm, in my manuals it's the same on all models (105 Nm)....but the 11's got five bolts.

Inge K.

[Scott_]

The 1100's have a higher torque specification for the lug bolts than the 75's.

Hmm, in my manuals it's the same on all models (105 Nm)....but the 11's got five bolts.

Inge K.

Damn metric/english conversion crap again...... yes they are the same..

[hoodun]

Be sure not to over torque them! Tightening too much is just as bad as not tightening enough. You'll have a snapped bolts and a wheel flying like a frisbee. One guy lost his wheel recently and noticed broken lug nuts (probably from tightening to 105) on the freeway. Completely understandable mistake. Luckily he rode it out on his brake rotor. Probably shitting his pants at the same time.

I'm still shocked mine came loose. I was waiting for tires to come in the mail and wanted to go for a test ride on the new bike. I tightened them like I would a car tire (approx 50 foot pounds) and figured I would get it all to spec when I did the tires and brakes, etc. Just goes to show that its things like this that often cause bad wrecks. Bikes are not cars. Everything needs to be done to spec.

Also, valve stems replaced with tire change. I just read a forum where a guy went over 100k on one set of tire valve stems over a 15 year period and was proud of it. As long as you realize your playing with death, I guess its ok...

Be safe out there!

[Keith]

Over torquing will also reverse mushroom-out the softer alloy of the wheel.