Motorcycle Repair: 85 700 Maxim X, motorcycle salvage yard, engine designers

Question
just bought it , want to change out the spark plugs but cant find a socket that will fit into the spark plug wells, what socket size is the correct one? the replacement plugs the Yamaha shop gave me were of the 13/16ths nut size but no socket I own will fit into the holes.  am I just an idiot , or is something strange going on?

Answer
Hi Christopher!! Oh man... do I know what you are going thru!! I work on bikes for a living and sometimes come across the occasional "defiant" one that no spark plug wrench will fit. But truth be known, the spark plugs are not to blame, the engine designers are to blame. But their excuse is that the manufacturer makes and sells the proper tool... usually for some exorbitant price. I have a complete collection of deep sockets in all the popular sizes that I have actually taken to the grinder wheel so as to make those puppies fit in the wells. Only to find out a simpler solution... the toolkits that came stock on these bikes have a sparkplug removal tool in them. So a quick internet check of most any motorcycle salvage yard will prolly yield quick results in finding the tool you need! The only other option is to invest in purchasing a thin-walled socket... but they are usually quite expensive. You might even be able to score the tool you need at your local bike dealer... I say this cuz I have had people come in to my shop needing exactly what you need, and being as how I usually have those toolkit socket wrenches laying all over the place, the customer walks out with what he needs for less than $10. Give it a try!!! Hope this helps...

Jack