damper rods - loosening/tightening
 

anyone got any bright ideas for holding the damper rod whilst I loosen/tighten the bolt ? it's just rotating with the bolt at the moment - I've tried putting the springs back in & pushing down on it, or pushing down on it with a broom handle stuck up it, but no joy :-(

many thanks

Leave forks assembled. Get allen key and 8mm spanner … slide 8mm spanner on the allen key, place allen key in the damper rod bolt as usual, slide spanner down as close to the bottom of the fork as you can .. i.e. just resting on it. Get a club hammer and smack the spanner in the appropriate direction. This ‘shocks’ the bolt undone in a similar way to a air gun. That cracks it loose, then undo the rest normally. Works every time. 8)

thank mate. I had got the 'crack' done already, it was the loctite'd rest that was causing the problem. I've got it done now - taper-ended broom handle & the finger off a rubber glove seemed to do the trick

It's a good job this is a conversation about motorbikes :lol:

I had the same problem, I tried to undo the bolt once I had undone the forks and removed the spring.

I put the forks back together again and with some pressure on the spring I was able to undo the bolt.

LOL - yeh, I'm still walking a bit funny

Fizz's way usually works, had to admit defeat on my mate's curvy last winter, no amount of broom handles were working so had to take the forks to a shop to get the damper rod bolts slackened. The shame!

I always find the 'clout' method is more effective ...

'clout' method is ideed good, it also helps when tightening up again if you keep spinning the damper.

i find the best way is to use a square setion of wood, about 12mmx12mm. that should be sufficient enough to ram down and clamp the dam[per rod inside. then if need be use an adjustable spanner to hold the wood whilst holding the allen key in the vice