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Fork strip
Posted: Sun May 01, 2011 2:57 pm
by Mikerhayward
Hi All
I need some advice. Finally got around to stripping my forks. However I can't undo the damper rod bolts. Tried to do it with the forks still on the bike but they just keep turning. Fair amount of resistance so I assume the damper rod is turning as well. It says in my haynes manual that a tool can be made to hold the rod from inside the fork tube. Anyone know what the proper tool looks like. It looks like it will be a 3 lug affair to engage in the top holes of the damper rod. Or is it like a big bolt head as looking down the tube i can see what looks like an upside down socket.
Any help will be very much appreciated. Thanks
Mick
Re: Fork strip
Posted: Sun May 01, 2011 3:33 pm
by scarfacehugo
In one word... Airimpactgun
...and a 6mm hex socket (long)
Re: Fork strip
Posted: Sun May 01, 2011 7:22 pm
by Mikerhayward
Sounds good
Unfortunately I don't have access to a Air impact gun. Not over the bank holiday anyway.
Does anyone know what the tool looks like.
Mick
Re: Fork strip
Posted: Sun May 01, 2011 9:18 pm
by hjp1968
Hi
It's a hexagon type fitting that you can make a tool out of a bolt with the right size head which you can drill a hole through and pin it to the end of a rod. However not very helpfully I can't remember the size of the bolt! Sorry
Re: Fork strip
Posted: Mon May 02, 2011 8:48 am
by JL
If you have access to a welder, you can weld a bolt one end of some bar and then weld a handle on the other end, kind of like a giant t-handle. I just welded a piece of flat as I didn't have a bolt handy, and then ground it until it fit snugly. You can also use several nuts on a piece of threaded rod. Sorry, can't remember size either.
Scroll down the page here:
http://www.xs650.com/forum/showthread.php?t=37
Re: Fork strip
Posted: Mon May 02, 2011 7:03 pm
by Mikerhayward
Thanks chaps.
At least I have some idea of what I have to make.
Regards Mick
Re: Fork strip
Posted: Mon May 02, 2011 9:07 pm
by dandywarhol
Tap in a wooden broom handle - it assumes the hex in the munched up handle - worked fine for me until Igot an impact gun

Re: Fork strip
Posted: Tue May 03, 2011 7:57 pm
by Mikerhayward
You won't beleive it but my broom handle is too small a diameter.
Where have you heard that before.
Mick
Re: Fork strip
Posted: Tue May 03, 2011 9:10 pm
by Killerwhale
Mikerhayward wrote:You won't beleive it but my broom handle is too small a diameter.
Where have you heard that before.
Mick
Broomstick here to, but with a plastic bit in the bottom wich went in perfectly in the hex head...
Re: Fork strip
Posted: Tue May 03, 2011 11:25 pm
by dandywarhol
Mikerhayward wrote:You won't beleive it but my broom handle is too small a diameter.
Where have you heard that before.
Mick
They make big broom handles north of the Border - get a bigger yin

Re: Fork strip
Posted: Tue May 03, 2011 11:50 pm
by Mincehead
Hence the length of kilts, just to the knee.

Re: Fork strip
Posted: Tue May 03, 2011 11:52 pm
by dandywarhol
Re: Fork strip
Posted: Wed May 04, 2011 9:06 pm
by Mikerhayward
I did just that and I didn't have to risk an excursion north of Watford.
My mate had a hoe with a 28mm handle. Worked a treat although he was a bit disappointed that I cut the round bit off the end. They were both very tight. Far tighter than I expected. But at least the're out.
All looks in pretty good nick so will just reassemble with new seals and dust covers and oil.
Thanks all
Mick
Re: Fork strip
Posted: Sat May 07, 2011 7:23 pm
by Mikerhayward
Bike now back together. I had to make a tool to reassemble to forks.
As suggested earlier I found a nut the right size for the damper tube, ground, fitted and welded the head of a smaller bolt inside that and locked 2 nuts onto the smaller bolt shaft so I could use a socket that would fir in the fork tube. Worked a treat. So all done now.
MoT next.
Thanks for all the comments
Mick
Re: Fork strip
Posted: Mon May 09, 2011 12:35 pm
by Marty Moose
Next time pull the forks and put the springs back in. Mount them in a vice and compress the forks as much as you can. Then use the rattle gun to undo the bolt. I've never had a set I could not get undone using this method for tight bolts.
MM