So I was trying to remove my bald knobby, in favor of one with some life left in it when...
I noticed my rim lock was not loosening but still turning. Seems someone (me) used gorilla like force to tighten it. So the stud seems to have come loose in the rim lock and turns, but does not loosen. Time for the dremel and a new rim lock.
So the lesson here is tighten them, but don't over do it. In my defense, I did it trail side after noticing the tire spinning a little and resetting the tire and rim lock. I wasn't about to let a flat happen out in the woods (with you guessed it, no spare tube).
If you have any suggestions less severe than cutting of the stem let me know, please. Currently it is soaking with PB Blaster, in the hope it lets go.

Problem number two, with a little background...
Since my dirt wheel is currently out of commission, I decided to throw on the wheels with 705s on. That set has a 42T chain ring, dirt has a 43T, so I need to adjust the chain tension.
Drive side tension bolt moves freely and easily, the brake side barely moves. In fact, it takes so much force to move it, I'm afraid I'll break the bolt. It has been hosed down with PB as well. This side has always been a little harder to move, so I always spray it down before starting the moving procedure and clean any crud off the bolt as best I can with a toothbrush.
I've tried going in and out, cleaning and spraying with PB as I go to no avail.
Any suggestions other than patience and replacement(not an option for today, but will order a new bolt).
I was trying not to change chain rings but might have to. Wish I had a garage...

Thanks.
Ben

 

Well, I'm f'd now. The bolt is bending, which means the break isn't far behind.
I'm sure there is some serious corrosion on the bolt inside the swingarm.
I just need to get it out without breaking it. If it breaks, I'll have to pull the swingarm and find a machine shop.
Wish I had the snail adjusters now!

 

God damn! Did you try heat? prehaps a light tap with a hmmer?

 

Sorry to hear about the adjuster. My friend had the same issue with a crf250. He ended up breaking the bolt, then he drilled and retapped it. I agree on the snail adjusters ,simpler is better.
good luck
marc

 

Yeah, snail adjusters are a little more durable.

 

Well, it's a done deal now. $1.87 bolt has me totally screwed. Yup, I broke it. No way to drill it out because I can only get in there on an angle. Can't even drill it straight enough to try an ez-out (which I doubt will work).
If Kawasaki had used just a little anti-sieze I wouldn't be so screwed right now.
At least I know what I'll be doing over the next few weeks. Tearing apart my bike and putting it back together the way it should have been done in the first place. If it isn't supposed to have loc-tite, it's getting anti-sieze!
Now to extract that bolt......how the !$%# am I gonna do that? Good thing this isn't my first time, just never had this little room to work.
And I just realized my dremel is at work! Oh the humanity!
Looks like I'll be going for a slow ride.

 

Well the temporary fix...

with a velcro wrap to keep it from falling out (I hope).

 

If you can find a long left hand bit (counterclockwise rotation), I've had good luck with them before. Sometimes even backing out the bolt as I drilled it. I would drill it out to proper size to retap the threads. Don't even try an easy out as it's sure to break off in the bolt, then you will be really screwed.
good luck
marc

 

go to an engineering supply shop and buy a long series drill, that will get you at the correct position.
use a 1/4 drive socket set to turn the ez-out, good luck

 

So after some tense moments drilling, first with a 6" long 1/8" drill bit, then up to 3/16", and finally 1/4"...we were able to punch the remainder of the bolt into the swing arm.
Then collapsed the bolt and was fine until...the tap snagged but was cutting...backed it out and back in several times, getting a little more each time, when SNAP the tap broke!!!
After some foul language, it dawned on us that the tap is very hard and brittle and tapered. So with a punch and hitting in some stategic locations on the tap it broke up and went into the swing arm.
Armed with 2 new adjuster bolts, I ran one in and out to clean up the threads, then used the second one with a bunch of anti-sieze as the permanent solution...back to normal, almost just like that. Phew.
And I ran a chase around the first, that one is usable now, so I've got a spare.