stripping USD forks

[Bibio]

having never stripped a set of usd forks can someone who has done this please satisfy my curiosity.

what i would like to know is, once you have taken off the top nut from the cartridge can you just slide the outer tube (part with the seals) off?

or do you need to strip the cartridge out. if so can you just undo the bottom retaining bolt and take the cartridge out in one piece?

[Sid Squid]

Usually, yes, there's no need to remove the damper assembly.

[Bibio]

coolio. so to replace the seals all i need to do is take the top nut off and slide the outer tube off?

[Sid Squid]

Yes. But I'd probably take the dust seal and the circlip off too :p.

[Bibio]

lol, will remember that. thanks Sid.

[zadar]

coolio. so to replace the seals all i need to do is take the top nut off and slide the outer tube off?
Depends what year USD forks are. Only the ones with radial calipers can do this. Others before you need to bang bushings apart.

[Bibio]

phew. just as well they are gsxr 600 k4-5 with radial.

thanks zadar

[maviczap]

On a similar vein, how about draining the oil from 1991 USD GSXR 750 forks, just undo the top nut and tip out into a container ?

What weight fork oil & what air gap as standard?

[Red Herring]

phew. just as well they are gsxr 600 k4-5 with radial.

thanks zadar

Did mine a couple of weeks a go, only problem I had was holding the spring down far enough to get to the lock nut to remove the spring. You'll either need to splash out on the proper tool or have a reasonably dexterous mate to hand!

[zadar]

On a similar vein, how about draining the oil from 1991 USD GSXR 750 forks, just undo the top nut and tip out into a container
There is only one way to do it right, take forks complete apart.

[maviczap]

Ok time to get some info on line

[yorkie_chris]

Should have seen the state of the -600 forks on my SV. massive amounts of black slime in the bottom and some long shreds of crap stuck in the compression valving. No wonder it felt squishy.

Pull them completely in bits!