Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

Hopefully someone will be able to help me out here.
I need to remove my stock steering dampner on my 09 ZX10R but I cannot remove the screw that connects the dampner to the handlebars. I searched the service manual and all it says is that the bolt is a Torx bolt. I have a kit which has all manner of screw driver bits and 1 that fits the bolt, but I cannot get enough torque to crack the bolt.
I am pretty certain I am going to have to buy a tool like a socket set that can use these Torx drivers so I can get the bolt undone.

Does anyone know what tool I am after or is there an easier way to remove the steering dampner mounting bolts?

The bolt will be lock tighted in. What are you using on the end of the torx head bit? a screwdriver? If so you'll never get enough leverage to get that off.

You need to use a socket and the proper bit. Once off just put a standard allen head bolt in

thought so.
The torx socket I have is designed to go into a shitty ratchet hand screw driver that just kept slipping.
I cant stand using dodgey tools, but I resorted to using vice grips holding the bit, but they even slipped.
Are torx sockets easy to find IE: purchase at repco, gasweld etc or are they a pain in the arse to find?

yep, available at repco, supercheap etc

i bought a set of t handle ones the other day for my ktm.

Cheers Wattie,

I just picked up a 3/8 set of Torx and hex sockets from Repco

The right tools make it so much easier.

What you removing it for? While its off i highly recommend getting the genuine ohlins needle fitted(without the extra holes), so it works like it should of from day one I got mine done about 6 months or so ago, and its a massive difference

I was doing a "practice run" of removing the tank, and airbox while I wait for my block off plates to arrive. Plus I wanted to plan out how I was going to remove the air pump assembly.

I have heard of an American on the ZX10R.net forums who rebuilds the stock dampners with the new needle, but have no idea where to start looking for someone local to do the job.

Wattie wrote:http://Www.zenodamper.com.au

+1 He did mine And now it never see's further then 10-12 clicks, any higher and it really starts to stiffen up And by the 18 clicks the bars are pretty much locked

He has done my raebike also. Night and day