Featured Removing Thruxton R Front Sprocket

Had a new chain & sprocket set to fit to the 1200 Thruxton R and had to leap a couple of hurdles. Armed with a new locking washer I removed the sprocket covers (outer and inner) and got the coolant tank hung out the way - all straightforward. Sprocket nut needed a 36mm (across flats) socket so off to Halfords and bought a super heavy duty brute. The afternoon was then spent heaving on a breaker bar with bike in gear and brakes locked on. Family & friends enlisted to assist and bike nearly ended up on its side wearing my wife and with me underneath. Gave up before something or someone got seriously broken. This morning I took a trip to MachineMart and purchased a Clarke mains voltage impact driver for £71. This is much cheaper than the rechargeable battery powered versions and offers high torque which seems to cost several hundred pounds in the battery types. Working on my own this time I again had the bike in top gear, brakes cable tied on and also the forks ratchet strapped to a ground anchor. Applied the impact driver in reverse and I couldn't have counted to 1 before the nut was spinning off. The bike itself had not flinched so all my lock down actions appeared redundant .(better safe then sorry) There was no sign of the ubiquitous thread locking compound but there was a small telltale of rust in the first couple of thread turns. I'm sure I will now be able to undo the wheelnuts on my camper van as quick as a KwikFit Fitter and impress the neighbours with my AK 45 sounding spanner. It probably would have been cheaper to give it to the bike shop to do but where's the sense of satisfaction in that!

 

As has been said before, my biggest fear is that when I die my wife will sell all my tools for what I told her I paid for them!

 

Thanks all for the supporting comments. I did also try heat from a butane torch and a hand held impact driver normally used for Jap bike cross-head screws. So not in any doubt it was the right tool for the job. Any fellow Trumpet owner in the locality, needing tight nut fettling give a shout.