if you decide to only change the fork springs out, use a flashlight to peer into the tube. Remove the spacer, the washer using the hook, then the spring. I used a softer wire. That stuff they tie chain link fence to the rails with. Make a 'G' hook at one end. The washer and spring should lift right out using the flashlight to ensure you are hooking on a spring coil. The spring is only a little ways down with the fork fully compressed.
Recommended that you change the fork oil out too. Each fork calls for 548cc (about 19.25 oz) which is just enough past a pint that you have to buy three pints. grrr
It is really simple to pull the forks.
- Remove the front caliper and hang it away from the fork tube with the brake line still attached to the caliper
- Remove the wheel
- Remove the lower shrouds and let them float on the fork tube. Tape the lower tube to prevent marring
- Remove the fender, rotating it out the back and lay it on the top of a towel. (that way you don't have to disconnect the speedo cable loop/holder.)
- Using a 7/8" wrench and the palm of your hand bust the top fork caps loose. (I think they are 22mm). If you don't remove the handle bars you can't use a socket on the fork caps until you remove the tubes.
- Loosen the lower triple tree pinch bolt.
- Loosen the upper tree pinch bolt while holding the tube.
- Draw the tube out, leaving the upper shroud in place.
- Using a ratchet with the socket, apply downward pressure on the top cap while removing it.
- Remove the steel spacer
- Use the 'hook' to remove the washer
- Use the 'hook' to remove the spring
- Invert and pump the fork several times to remove the fluid.
- If the fork stick in the fully compressed position, insert the axle and bump it with a rubber mallet.
- Let the fork hang upside down while you remove the other fork tube.
- Fill the first tube with a pint and three oz of fork fluid.
- Pump the filled fork slowly ten times to disperse any air bubbles. Let is sit for 10 minutes, Check fluid level and correct.
- Fully extend fork
- Place spring in tight side down
- place washer in, place spacer in.
- Compress fork and using pressure, reinstall the fork cap
- Reinsert fork tube into tree
- Careful on height of fork in top tree
- Tighten lower pinch bolt
- Tighten upper pinch bolt.
- Torque lower pinch bolt
- Torque upper pinch bolt
- Torque the fork cap(s) (once bound in the triple tree)
(the right side can be torqued, the left side is a near guess as you have not removed the handle bars.)
- Slide lower shroud into place and torque its bolts.
- Do same for other fork....
- Reinstall fender
- Reinstall front wheel
- Torque axle
- Reinstall caliper
- Lower bike of stand and while holding the front brake, bounce the front end end up and down to settle the forks and stuff.
- Torque the axle pinch bolts.
- Toss all the empty beer bottles in the trash.
Stuff to do while you are there
- Remove and clean the shrouds
- WD40 the lower fork shroud rubbers
- inspect the brakes.
- clean clean clean
