 Fork/broomstick technique
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,877
Should be Riding
|
OP
Should be Riding
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,877 |
OK so here's the story... Took my springs out of my forks. I had them off the bike cause I wanted to paint them and change the fluid, two birds, one big PITA. Now they both appear to be stuck. I thought they were stuck in the extended position, but when I put the springs back in, the spacers stick up a good 4 inches above the tubes, and I can't get the caps back on. I thought maybe getting the springs back in, and thus pressure, it would free up whatever is jamming them. So then I thought maybe I would competely take the forks apart to inspect the seals, etc, see what's going on, and of course I can't unscrew the damper bolt. I do have an impact gun, but no long 8MM bit for it, just a T handle. I do have an oak dowel I could use, and I did try inserting it, turning the fork upside down, and pushing on the whole thing to supply friction, but I guess its' not doing it. The screw just spins the damper rod. So I need some help! Thanks.
Benny
Black & Silver '02
Too many mods to list
Not enough miles ridden
|
|
|
Re: Fork/broomstick technique
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,074 Likes: 83
Loquacious
|
|
Loquacious
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,074 Likes: 83 |
Cut off your T-handle so it's just a straight hex, insert it into the appropriate sized socket and use the impact gun. The gun needs to spin up very quickly, a regular impact usually won't work..it's a momentum kinda thing.
|
|
|
Re: Fork/broomstick technique
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825
"Lighten up, Francis."
|
|
"Lighten up, Francis."
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825 |
Not to derail, but is there any trick to torquing the damper bolt upon reassembly?
|
|
|
Re: Fork/broomstick technique
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,074 Likes: 83
Loquacious
|
|
Loquacious
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,074 Likes: 83 |
Totally out of character for me as I usually torque everything but in that case the "bump" is enough. I just feather the trigger of the zip gun till the washer makes contact then bump it once more when it's seated.
|
|
|
Re: Fork/broomstick technique
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,877
Should be Riding
|
|
OP
Should be Riding
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,877 |
Mine is a ball end T handle, so I think I'll go find myself a regular sacrificial allen wrench today. Thanks for the tip! With the broomstick tho, is that what you guys do? Turn the whole tihng upside down so you can press down on it?
Benny
Black & Silver '02
Too many mods to list
Not enough miles ridden
|
|
|
Re: Fork/broomstick technique
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825
"Lighten up, Francis."
|
|
"Lighten up, Francis."
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825 |
Quote:
Mine is a ball end T handle, so I think I'll go find myself a regular sacrificial allen wrench today.
That's what I did. A local hardware store sells allen wrenches separately for a couple bucks. Took a hacksaw to one and stuck it in an 8mm impact socket.
|
|
|
Re: Fork/broomstick technique
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 585
Adjunct
|
|
Adjunct
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 585 |
Quote:
Cut off your T-handle so it's just a straight hex, insert it into the appropriate sized socket and use the impact gun. The gun needs to spin up very quickly, a regular impact usually won't work..it's a momentum kinda thing.
Chy, I'm normally a guy that will offer no argument but please forgive me as I see a gap in that above info. I realize you said "normally won't work" and in another previous thread you mentioned the use of a "butterfly" impact. Some folks may not have access to a 3/8" drive butterfly which are very quick and fast. I have a butterfly but chose to use my 1/2" lazy impact, I feel like it will work every time as long as it's used properly, The key to using the 1/2" drive impact is several quick start bursts with the trigger it works fine. If you just hold the trigger down the internal dampener will just lazily spin inside. Pop the trigger on the 1/2" impact (stop start) a few times 3-4 times for mine works just fine.
"Will Ride or Fly for food"
|
|
|
Re: Fork/broomstick technique
|
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,816
Freelance Jedi Knight
|
|
Freelance Jedi Knight
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,816 |
Quote:
Mine is a ball end T handle, so I think I'll go find myself a regular sacrificial allen wrench today. Thanks for the tip! With the broomstick tho, is that what you guys do? Turn the whole tihng upside down so you can press down on it?
broomstick...... done it twice and worked
|
|
|
Re: Fork/broomstick technique
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,877
Should be Riding
|
|
OP
Should be Riding
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,877 |
Thanks guys.
Now the only reason I'm taking these apart is because they don't seem to be moving (in and out), so I can't fully compress them to get the fluid level right. Any ideas on what could cause that?
Benny
Black & Silver '02
Too many mods to list
Not enough miles ridden
|
|
|
|
|
