My 13 tooth is "out for delivery" on the UPS truck. Any tricks to changing it? I read that they can be tight and hard to remove.

 

No tricks.
Have you access to a rattle gun?
If not, find a buddy and have him sit on the bike, stick it in gear, apply full brakes front and rear, get a large pole to get some leverage and heave ho.

Good luck.

 

+1 to the "rattle gun" aka impact wrench (this works the best).
personally I wouldn't have the bike in gear, I'm afraid of transferring too much pressure to the tranny.
Make sure the safety washer under the nut is flattened completely.
It wont hurt to go out now and put some penetrating oil on it to soak in.
I put anti seize on the threads when i reassemble mine to make it easier next time.
Good luck
Dan

 

Wouldn't the rattle gun transfer things thru to the tranny also? In my mind, big hits from an impact gun could be more damaging than sing a bar and absorbing some of the forces with the brakes?

 

I would put the bike in neutral.

David

 

Mine is an 09 and I think that the nut for the sprockets are not as tight as the older bikes. I used a 1/2" breaker bar. I sat on the bike and held the brakes and with my left foot I pushed the breaker bar down and it went fairly easy. Like said before make sure the lock washer is flat.

 

On my 09 I had a 1/2 in. breakover with a 3 ft. long piece of PVC pipe over it and couldn't break it loose with someone on the bike and the brakes, my impact wrench was too weak also. Lucky I'm good friends with the guy that runs the local indy shop and he had his kid knock it off with their impact and change it out for free.

 

Rattle gun shouldn't transfer to tranny, if the bike is in neutral. Anyway you do it , i would have the bike in neutral. Yes use the brake or some other method to keep the sprocket from turning.
Dan

 

I usually put a big screwdriver (or pry bar) across the swingarm arm and the rear wheel against the rim blocker (or a spoke at the rim's end) to prevent the wheel from turning.
That's easier than pushing the brake when you're alone!

 

If the gear box and other parts can't take the impact driver all I can say is Kawasaki's in for a bunch of gear box warranty work! Road shock is probably worse, not to mention rider abuse, intentional or not.

Worry not ns-san.