Handy tips for dismantling forks (on a VFR750)?

Having a bit of bother with the forks on my VFR, really struggling with the damper rod allen bolts.

I've tried a couple of different approaches, loading the forks and also pulling out the damper piston to try and generate enough friction to be able to turn the bolt without simply turning the damper/spring. *

Managed to get one of the bolts out and it seems to have some sort of thread lock on it (why the hell the former owner did that is beyond me when there's a copper washer there, the bolts are hard enough to get out anyway!), but the other one is having none of it and it doesn't seem to matter how much load is on it. What I could possibly do with is something to put between the spring and damper rod which increases the friction between the two, although whether this would actually work I don't know as no doubt fork oil will get in between the surfaces and scupper my efforts.

In order to get maximum load on the springs I'm also thinking some sort of "jig" with a ratchet strap to compress a spacer onto the fork spring, but wondered if anyone had any handy hints? Oh, and I don't have a compressor so no air tools.


Jase



* The model of the bike is 750FS, which has a damper rod with a sliding piston, so unfortunately the option of a long arm with an easy out or similar shoved down the damper rod to hold it is a non-starter.

There's an exploded diagram here if that helps explain what I'm on about with the damper rod piston arrangement.

[Sid Squid]

Originally Posted by Jase22

some sort of thread lock on it (why the hell the former owner did that is beyond me when there's a copper washer there

Thread-lock is standard - can't think of a bike that isn't specified to have damper rod bolts thread-locked.

You need to buy/borrow/make/steal* a damper rod holding tool - this again is normal.

Like the ones on this page: Click me, you'll need to find which is the right one for your bike.


*A little joke. Don't steal things - this is bad form and not gentlemanly behaviour.

[yorkie_chris]

That is not damper rod that is cartridge.

Use rattle gun, easiest way. You can get some tool for top of cartridge but they can be PITA. Sometimes you can do castellation on end of a 22mm pipe to fit.


I have some GSXR SRAD cartridges here if you want to come have a look to make a tool to fit. They are also showa of slightly later era so good chance they are similar.
Edit: no point, you can compare to other side.

I do not see the point of threadlock there, I do not see there is likelihood of them coming undone.

Originally Posted by Sid Squid

Thread-lock is standard - can't think of a bike that isn't specified to have damper rod bolts thread-locked.

I must be fortunate then as I've never come across them being thread locked before, until this set! Never had any problems without thread locking my own stuff before either, so won't be locking them when I put the forks back together, just torque-ing them up.

[tigersaw]

Broom handle has been known to work, cut it to size instead of the spring and tighten it up, then give the allen a good clout with an impact driver or a 'rattle gun'

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

Use rattle gun, easiest way.

May have to invest, I'm sure I'll get the use out of it anyway.

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

I do not see the point of threadlock there, I do not see there is likelihood of them coming undone.

Glad I'm not the only one! I don't tend to thread lock much at all, especially if I'm likely to want to get it undone again. So long as stuff's well nipped, it aint going to fall appart.

[yorkie_chris]

Originally Posted by tigersaw

Broom handle has been known to work, cut it to size instead of the spring and tighten it up, then give the allen a good clout with an impact driver or a 'rattle gun'

Look at diagram. Rebound rod is in the way of using that method.

[tigersaw]

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

Look at diagram. Rebound rod is in the way of using that method.

Hollowed out broom handle maybe
Yes, am corrected, didn't look at the exploded pic

[yorkie_chris]

Originally Posted by Jase22

May have to invest, I'm sure I'll get the use out of it anyway.

Those electric ones are actually pretty good even compared to air.