Spent all day yesterday getting forks apart, or trying to.
It's easy enough up to the point where you use the stanchion as a slide hammer to separate the stanchion from the leg, (having undone the allen bolt underneath the axle clamp).
I even went out and checked the Haynes manual to make sure I hadn't forgotten a bolt or clamp, but all good.
The seal itself was really stuck into the top of the leg, and wouldn't budge. Normally the just pop out with the fork bushes following on behind, acting as a slide hammer. But these were absolutely stuck, on both legs.
Behind the seals there is a steel washer, and this has cold-welded/corroded into the top of the leg.
As i have some spare lowers, I even considered cutting the lowers off- it's the stanchions I needed- but eventually, after much effort, one seal was able to be chiselled out, and after twenty or thirty more attempts the leg separated- one more to go today.....
Good job I wasn't doing it as a ride-in, ride out job for someone else!
Hopefully back together for tonight, with new taper rollers, fork sliders, seals and oil.
Getting forks apart
Getting forks apart
It's not falling off, it's an upgrade opportunity.
Re: Getting forks apart
Use a heat gun on the fork around the seal area. if you just keep tugging on them you risk damaging or pulling the bottom bush through the seal, it'll come apart but then you'll need to have a new bush made, you might get a new part but often the bottom bushes are not available.
http://www.bidefordmotorcycles.co.uk
2014 CRMC Post classic Superbike champion.
2014 CRMC Post classic senior production champion. On a Suzuki Katana 1100
My bikes, Firestorm, Suzuki GSX-s1000 Katana, VFR800Fi. Projects, 1986 popup Katana, 3 XJ600’s
2014 CRMC Post classic Superbike champion.
2014 CRMC Post classic senior production champion. On a Suzuki Katana 1100
My bikes, Firestorm, Suzuki GSX-s1000 Katana, VFR800Fi. Projects, 1986 popup Katana, 3 XJ600’s
-
thumperslaw
- Posts: 1209
- Joined: Thu Nov 24, 2011 7:14 pm
- Location: oxford
Re: Getting forks apart
I boil the kettle pour around seal
Always worked for me
Always worked for me
98 storm with goodies!
Srad seven fiddy stuntbike
K100 "flying brick"
R.I.P engine number 5
Srad seven fiddy stuntbike
K100 "flying brick"
R.I.P engine number 5
Re: Getting forks apart
Chiselled the seals out, then used much brute force.
The large steel washer underneath the seal was corroded in.
Sorted and rebuilt now, I realised that the tapers hadn't been ground on the damper rods in these forks so did that too.
I'd also forgotten that the WP springs still used the 100mm tubes as well, I though they'd dispense with those and use a full-length springs.
Mac V2 came round to assist, and ran me out of teabags....
Usual thing, a two mile test ride left the taper roller head bearings slack and needing nipping up again- I'll leave that to another day.
The large steel washer underneath the seal was corroded in.
Sorted and rebuilt now, I realised that the tapers hadn't been ground on the damper rods in these forks so did that too.
I'd also forgotten that the WP springs still used the 100mm tubes as well, I though they'd dispense with those and use a full-length springs.
Mac V2 came round to assist, and ran me out of teabags....
Usual thing, a two mile test ride left the taper roller head bearings slack and needing nipping up again- I'll leave that to another day.
It's not falling off, it's an upgrade opportunity.