GSXR 600 K4 forks apart

[Red Herring]

Folks, apologies if this has been asked before, I did try the search facility but couldn't find what I needed.

Been trying to take my forks apart and can't work out how to get the top cap off. Normally you just push the spring down, hold the damper rod and unscrew it but on the GSXR K4 fork the preload adjuster seems to also be threaded onto the damper rod. I've undone the end cap but it won't come off with the adjuster still in situ. I've tried using a little force to unthread it but not moving, before i try any harder does anybody know if I'm missing something?

Thanks. RH

[yorkie_chris]

On SRAD forks you need tool to compress spring, then you hold preload adjuster with one nut and undo locknut with another. Whole cap assembly then spins off damper rod. That is also showa so can't see it being massively different.

[Red Herring]

That's how I've always done all my other forks, but on these the compression adjuster also seems to be threaded onto the damper rod so as you unwind the end cap the adjuster disappears down into the cap (as if you were applying more preload).

[zadar]

Most like you having preload adjuster holder unscrewing. You are not suppose to put wrench on preload adjuster but on holder, which is silver part on underside of cap. You hold that part and undo nut right under it.
If your silver part is turning with blue preload adjuster you will have to fix it, tighten it against cap body.

[zadar]

Black painted square is nut. hold part red arrow points to (preload holder) and unscrew nut. You need two 17mm wrenches.

[Red Herring]

Thanks Zadar, they've come straight apart. Can't believe I missed that, having said that you don't half have to pull the spring down to get to it!

Don't suppose you happen to know what the standard fork oil height is do you?

[zadar]

You do have to compress spring to get to nut.
I set level at 125mm.

[Red Herring]

Thanks mate, I'll use that as a base setting.

[zadar]

Just make sure that silver part is screwed in to gold part good. If it goes up/down with blue preload it is not good. See on top of cap part that sticks out of blue with screw adjuster in it. That is same part, silver under cap, all one piece.
Hold gold cap with wrench and tighter silver part against it, or at least check if loose. I think you may loosen it first time.
There is also procedure how to screw cap back on damper rod to make sure your rebound adjuster works.

[Red Herring]

Cheers, I made a note of where the lock nut was before undoing it and i think the main thing to watch for on reassembly is that the rebound adjuster is screwed out before tightening back up, otherwise you might compress the rod. I just couldn't believe how much crud there was in the bottom of the forks. I'd noticed the action hadn't been so good over the last few months but it's embarrassing just how bad I'd let it get!