Fork strip

[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

[scarfacehugo]

In one word... Airimpactgun

...and a 6mm hex socket (long)

[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

[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

[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

[Mikerhayward]

Thanks chaps.

At least I have some idea of what I have to make.

Regards Mick

[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

[Mikerhayward]

You won't beleive it but my broom handle is too small a diameter.

Where have you heard that before.

Mick

[Killerwhale]

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...

[dandywarhol]

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

[Mincehead]

Hence the length of kilts, just to the knee.

[dandywarhol]

[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

[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

[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