Weird hex bolt size

Tried to take the tank of the 10R last night (got a coolant leak from
one of the hoses underneath and need to remove the tank to get a
screwdriver onto the jubilee clip) and couldn't undo the bolts at the
front of the tank.

A 5mm hex key was too small and a 5.5mm was too big. What size is it
likely to be?

As it is I'm having the dealer sort it out on Saturday.

 

Feel free to bitch-slap me, but are you sure it's hex & not torx?


--
Krusty
www.MuddyStuff.co.uk
Off-Road Classifieds

'02 MV Senna '03 Tiger 955i '96 Tiger '79 Fantic Hiro 250

 

5.25 ?

 

Consider yourself bitch-slapped. It's definitely hex.

 

In that case you've bought a lemon - I'll give you 100 quid for it.

--
Krusty
www.MuddyStuff.co.uk
Off-Road Classifieds

'02 MV Senna '03 Tiger 955i '96 Tiger '79 Fantic Hiro 250

 

Duh. Why didn't I think of that?

 

That's the weird thing, it was both sides.

Did you have your fairings off the other day? I was amazed to find
all those fasteners were 4mm, including ones under the seat securing
it. Can see them rounding off in seconds if anything seizes.

 

Wrap some thick ally foil round a 5?

 

I'd take a file to a 6, myself. Failing that, an oversized Torx bit
will do the job.

 

I've got a couple of spare 6's I could do.

On a brand new bike? No chance.

 

I tried 2 keys, 1 allen socket head and 1 allen bit that came with my
impact driver. All were too small. The 5.5mm key which is un-used
was a whisker too big.

 

This has me in suspense I must say.

How's the kitchen?

 

heheh, it's going back to the dealer next weekend and I'm not having
it back until it's fixed. Whatever it is.

Good. It went really well and has turned out nice...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bensales/sets/72157600030252414

 

Ben, they're definitely 5's on my bike.. Curiosity got the best of me
so I just went to the garage and undid both of them, one of which was
torqued up tighter than I'd have expected, and has now gone slightly
star shaped in the hex part..

Looks like they're made of alloy, so might be worth replacing with
stainless at some point, for the sake of longevity.

 

£101.

 

It's as likely to be a shite allen key as anything else. They're not always
as accurate as the manufacturers would have us believe.


--
Beav

VN 750
Zed 1000
OMF# 19

 

See my other post about using several keys and bits. I reckon it is a
5mm, but just a loose enough fit that it'll probably round because
they're either done up bloody tight or locktight'd.

Either way I'm letting the dealer sort it as it's only 4 weeks old.

 

The former, and they're unlikely to round, but there will be a slight
mark where the face compresses.

I'm still waiting for the dealer to get my Akrapovics. Think I'll ring
them tomorrow and find out what's happening.

 

It is.

One of these...

http://www.sainsburyskitchenappliances.co.uk/Product_Information.aspx?Productid=4699

Very nice, although we haven't used it much yet. Heats up quick,
cools down quick, maintains the temperature you set it at by switching
itself on and off. And best of all, bloody easy to clean.

Category A energy rating as well.

 

You know, I haven't used a screwdriver on a gubile clip for 20 years.
I got pissed off with the screwdriver slipping out and wrecking the
screw slot, gouging bodywork, puncturing the hose or my hand - so I
bought one of these:

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P65=&tool=&item_ID=931&group_ID=19799&store=uk&dir=catalog

The agent promised that it would never "rip, slip or turn inside-out"
and it never has. Got me out of some tight corners too, even using
prolly more torque than it was intended to take - but with a little
6mm socket, it fits the hex heads of gubile clips a treat and I've
never holed a hose nor a hand since.