Subject: RE: Fork Assembly Won't Let Go! >:(
Author: Charlie Mullendore
Date: Feb 15, 2004, 6:50 PM
Post ID: 1716051259
Hi Gerald,
If I'm reading the situation correctly, you can't get the forks out of
the top plate and the sliders won't come off of the fork tubes. And that
you have a drum-brake front end?
The fork tubes are tapered at the top and wedge themselves into the top
plate tightly when the top plug is tightened down. I usually loosen this
by screwing the top plug in nearly all the way (only 3/32" or so between
it and the top plate) and then wacking the top plug with a dead-blow
hammer. Should pop loose pretty easily. Make sure you have the plug
screwed in as described, otherwise you could damage the threads. Once
the top is loose, you can slide the fork out of the lower triple clamp
and remove the springs. No need to remove the sliders from the fork
tubes unless you need to replace bushings, seals, etc.
To reassemble you may want/need one of Stephen Brenton's tools to pull
the forks back up through the lower clamp and into the top plate. If you
still want to disassemble the forks further to replace seals, etc.,
you'll want/need the tool he makes to remove the chrome seal holders
from the sliders. Hope this helps,
Charlie
http://members.tripod.com/charlesmullendore/index.htm
gerar-@netzero.net wrote:
Hello Loopframers- I'm slowly restoring a 1972 El Dorado, and right now I'm trying to improve the front wheel suspension with progressively wound springs. The first problem to arise is that I can't get the fork assembly off of the bike! Hm. I've got the instrument panel off, and the front wheel and fender off. I'm reluctant to remove the linking plate as it seems the common negative ground of the idiot lights have been soldered to the linking plate, and I'm thinking maybe its removal is not necessary. (Maybe this is not the case). I've got the fork plug (on top of the linking plate) removed, and the bolt connecting the bottom of the steering yoke to the fork rod out. I managed to get the bolt at the top of the steering tube out, but I cannot get the nut at the bottom of the steering tube out. This nut is below the bottom steering yoke. Using a 48" cheater bar, I managed to damage the nut exterior a tad, so I've backed off and sprayed it with WD40 and tapped it a couple times with a hammer, and I'll wait till tomorrow and use a monkey wrench. I tugged on the bottom of the fork assembly, but it won't let go, and I wondered what's holding it on? I've studied the assembly manual and the parts manual, but I still can't visualize what needs to be loosened. I realize that this 'mystery fastener' is the same thing that prevents the front wheel from falling off when someone does a wheelie, so I was wondering where that fastener was. In the meantime, I'll look at the wiring at the idiot lights to see if I can't get that linking plate off- Please help! Gerard Wing I'm I got the special fork collar and fork puller |