Proper tools: head and barrel

A ground down 1/4 Whit ring spanner with as little offset as possible is what you need to get in there. I use one that was intended for Triumph base nuts. If it's flat and thin, it passes between the fins which allows a bit more movement.

and you've got to guess to torque them up when rebuilding

I believe that both RGM motors and our friend at Norvil offer a suitable spanner in their tools section. Pay your money and take your choice.

P.S. I prefer RGM, nicer people

Correct torque is hand tight with a six inch ring spanner, plus a tweak....it's all done by feel !

I'll probably get laughed at here, but.... I keep a 6"ring and open ended spanner, both with small 'nicks' at 6" from the imaginary bolt centre.

THEN... I use a spring balance (kept at right angles) to measure the pull when tightening the base nuts etc. Basic maths dictates to double the lb/ft figure, and it does need three hands at times!

NOT overly accurate I'll grant you.... but at least you can get them done equally, which is probably more important, no?

(retires ducking, to avoid brickbats!)

and you've got to guess to torque them up when rebuilding

Hi Charles,

No laughing here, this a perfectly good way of doing it and is (potentially) as good as a torque wrench. Depends on the accuracy of the balance and the accuracy of the pull.

Personally I use Richards method:-

Correct torque is hand tight with a six inch ring spanner, plus a tweak....it's all done by feel !

Regards

Tony

I'm not laughing Charles. think I'll take a trip to a fishing tackle shop the next timeI need to do a rebulid.

Oh dear, what have I started?

Seriously though... If anyone else IS daft enough to try this method (I was born stupid..... what's your excuse!) then please, PLEASE use care and common sense.

Do realise the forces involved here... a 30lb/ft nut will need a pull of 60lb using a 6" spanner, that's over half a hundredweight in old money (more than a sack of spuds!) and it will be horizontal, too.. unless you lay the bike on it's side! NOT recommended if the bike's on a bench/lift either.

Iuse a small digital luggage scale bought for peanuts via e-bay, it has a nylon strap which is quite 'user friendly', but again, DO make sure all spanners/nuts etc. are well seated and square, with no chance of slipping.

Knuckles and skin do grow back again, eventually, but eyeballs rarely do!