Any tips on getting old bar ends removed.. babies aren't letting loose

kafehopeful

kafehopeful

Active Member
attempted to take off my bar ends that have been on the bike for no telling how long.. couldnt even budge the mothersuckers.. they have a phillips screw in the end.. i couldn't get anywhere with a screw driver.. even tried my impact drill (battery operated) and that did nothing.. i tried to squirt some spray lubricate to break up whatever rust or corrosion that is more than likely making it stick.. that hasn't seemed to help either..

only other thing i can think of is to try and get my phillips attachment onto a socket wrench and try and crank the sucker off.. but i don't want to strip or break anything..

didn't know if there was any other tips or tricks.. never had issues getting bar ends off before.. but i've also never owned a 26yr old motorcycle :p

thanks in advance
 
Are they weights or mirrors?

Should just be a rubber sleeve getting compressed (and expanded) between the nut inside and the external surface. Get the best fitting phillips (actually it's probably JIS ) bit in a 1/4" socket and go to town.

Can you get the bars and everything off the bike, or are the bar ends preventing that?
 
they're weights.. i'm trying to remove them to put on mirrors actually.. guess i'll be going the socket route tomorrow..
 
I'm enough of an old grumpy fucker to think that tearing apart a survivor like your bike is wrong. That being said...

They're corroded due to dissimilar metal contact. Either; A. heat the bolts, yes you'll probably melt the grips. or B. drill the bolt heads off so the weights themselves come off leaving a stub of the bolt sticking out you can get a vise grip on them.

Is that your 68 Chevelle on your website? Just so happens I have one as well.
 
KeninIowa said:
I'm enough of an old grumpy fucker to think that tearing apart a survivor like your bike is wrong. That being said...

They're corroded due to dissimilar metal contact. Either; A. heat the bolts, yes you'll probably melt the grips. or B. drill the bolt heads off so the weights themselves come off leaving a stub of the bolt sticking out you can get a vise grip on them.

Is that your 68 Chevelle on your website? Just so happens I have one as well.
Click to expand...

ya i know its pretty much sacrilegious to tear apart the GPz .. but to my defense.. im tearing it apart with the intentions of preserving it.. the plastics are in great shape.. im not certain they will stay that way.. my bike is my daily driver.. i'll be able to put everything back to stock if / when i choose to do so.. makes it sound reasonable to me ;) not just gutting the plastics.. i plan on this being my legit 2012 project. I'll be eventually tearing down / cleaning upgrading pretty much the entire bike. I hope to be able to restore this bike to its glory. It doesnt need much..

awesome i'll try adding some heat.. don't wanna melt my grips though.. they are like new.. but whatever happens happens.. grips are cheap atleast...

i wish the chevelle was mine.. it was my old roommate's fiances ride.. beautiful car..
 
Sometimes the most obvious things escape me...

So you've already tried turning the whole bar end right? Like with a pair of Channellocks.
 
doh..nope :eek: .. i'll give that a shot as well.. the weights that are on there are pretty beat up, paint chipped, etc.. so i'm not really worried about scratching them up i suppose.. i'll give that a shot before i apply the heat
 
You could also try giving them a few firm taps with a hammer. That'll loosen the connection as well.
 
Channel locks first, or a pipe wrench?

There's a tool you could use that has a philips head end, and you hit it w/a hammer and it turns just a bit with each hit. You use it for getting rear rotors off of little cars (my dad's kia needs this) They shouldn't be too expensive, but maybe you can rent one from a parts store
 
Thats called an "impact driver" and anyone who works on anything with a motor needs to own one. Its in the top five of must have tools.
 
dime city actually sells a nice looking one
http://www.dimecitycycles.com/vintage-cafe-racer-caferacer-bobber-brat-chopper-custom-motorcycle-brake-tools-impact-driver-15-0625.html
 
Redbird said:
+1
That's actually one of the first "specialty tools" I bought.
Click to expand...

cool.. i'll see if i can find one of those.. i have an impact drill but it wasn't doing much to loosen them..

lots of helpful advice in here.. got lots of options now.. thanks!
 
And impact gun isnt great for removing stuck screws like the ones your dealing with. Thats where the impact driver shines. Because youre smacking it with a hammer as its "turning" it breaks the fastener loose and drives the bit into the head so you dont strip anything. You can get them at Harbor Freight for $20 or so. I honestly use mine dozens and dozens of times when rebuilding a bike. Engine case screws, small siezed bolts, etc... Make sure you buy ever available bit as well. Youll always end up needing the one you didnt buy. Haha...
 
Yup and buy multiples of said bits too. They ALWAYS break on the last screw of that part that has been keeping you from doing important stuff...
 
NAPA sells an impact screwdriver for fifteen bucks and all of the #2 and #3 phillips bits you'll ever need. One of those and an Irwin bolt-out set is the finest xmas present you can give a guy with motorized things.
 
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