this post was submitted on 29 May 2026
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Motorcycles

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Hello. I'm a new rider who recently purchased a ten year old bike. I have ZERO mechanical know how, but decided that I wanted to learn.

So far I managed to take both the front and rear wheels off to get the tires changed and I managed to change the oil. Since I am unskilled, it took a LOT of fumbling through these to get things going...including breaking some nuts (rear axle nut was stuck and I originally only had a 12 point socket) and bolts (overtorqued an oil filter cover bolt despite using a torque wrench) and buying replacement ones.

Since the bike is 10 years old, I know that all of the fluids need to be changed. I feel comfortable attempting the actual change for the brake fluid from my research EXCEPT I don't want to irreparably damage this area. The front brake works fine, but the sight glass is totally clouded and opaque, so I cannot visually check the condition or level of the fluid.

These are JIS screws and I have purchased replacement screws. Any advice here? Please consider my novice skill level lol.

I bought some screw extractor bits but do not have an impact driver. I have some JIS screwdrivers, a hammer, a regular drill, penetrating oil, and replacement JIS screws.

Thanks!

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[–] 0ops@piefed.zip 1 points 2 days ago

It might be worth trying to borrow an impact, they can be magic in situations like this. I distinctively remember struggling to remove some stripped out screws holding a set of bindings to a ski. I tried all the tricks, rubber band, tapping with a hammer, all to no avail. I was about ready to attempt drilling it out when a friend who saw me struggling walked up with his little impact driver. VCKCKRRRRRRRRCK. VCKCKCKRRRRRRRRCK. They came out like nothing