Unbolting Engine

I'm unbolting my engine from the frame and ran into a lock nut, does anyone know where I can get the tool to get it off?

 

I think some guys are grinding large sockets down to have "teeth" that will undo these nuts.

Try a search.

 

Those nuts are typically called castle nuts.

Here's a pic of a socket ground down to fit a castle nut:


You can grind a slight taper to the "teeth" so it will grab the nut better.

 

The above is a specialty socket for removing nuts that your average customer would not typically remove. honda refers to this nut as an "Adjusting Bolt Lock Nut" in the service manual. Your other option for removing this nut is a drift and a hammer, but the possibility of mangling the nut are pretty high. It should be torqued to 40 ft/lb.

This is a castle nut:


The slots are for cotter pins.

 

Also, check out section 7-4 in the 90-97 VFR shop manual (on here somewhere in pdf format). I think the answers you seek are in there.

 

From my experience. A castle nut is still 6 sided, like a normal nut. You can still use a socket on it, you don't need a special tool. The tabs are for a cotter pin, that way the nut can not back off and become loose. I've never come across one on a motorcycle. But I've been working on cars for many years, and they use those nuts quite often, mainly on the steering linkage. So, you should be able to use a socket or wrench, just make sure you remove the cotter pin first.

 

It's a spanner nut.

It's a spanner nut and the tool from honda is cheap and the part # is in the manual. Your local dealer may even have one. Or fab a socket like you've seen in the other posts.

 

On the older V65 Magnas/Sabres there is a recessed castlenut on the clutch hub. Only way to get it out is to use the special tool or a fabbed socket.

 

Ill get a picture of the nut im talking about

 

There are spanner nuts used where the engine bolts to the frame. Their purpose is to help to keep a preload between the engine and frame. That engine doesn't just set up in there loosely. It needs to be squeezed slightly by the frame. Or more correctly the frame needs to be stretched around the engine. Since not all framesets and engine cases are identical the preload needs to be adjustable. The spanner nuts is how it's accomplished.