Subject: RE: Help needed with tear down of front shocks
Author: Greg Bender
Date: Jul 27, 2005, 5:34 AM
Post ID: 1719213843
Hi Bob,
To remove the chrome spring housing, do not use a pipe wrench! You
*MIGHT* get lucky with a 'strap' wrench. But there again, be careful not
to crush it. I tried to make my own tool from a piece of pipe, grinding
and filing out the four notches at the bottom. But, the metal tabs
didn't hold up well and bent before loosening anything. Instead, I
ponied up the cash to MG Cycle for their special tool:
http://www.mgcycle.com/tools.html
"SB001 Fork collar tool for loop frames V700/Amb/Eld. This handy tool
slides down over the fork tube and engages the chrome fork collar
allowing easy removal and installation. A must have to avoid damaging
the "no longer available" chrome fork collars on loop frame bikes.
Perfect fit, easy operation. Don't even think of clamping a channel
locks or a pipe wrench on your fork collars! $49.00"
This is a well made tool (created by our very own Stephen Brenton) and
does the job very nicely. And, actually, I think $49 is a pretty good
deal considering how specialized this tool is.
You simply drive the races out of the stem housing with a suitable
drift. There is a 'stop' for them, so installation should be a breeze.
If you've come this far, you might as well replace the races, although a
visual and tactile inspection may show them to be in fine shape.
To remove the lower bearing, you'll need to remove the stem from the
lower triple tree and then drive it off. I'm going from memory here, but
I think this is correct.
One tip when you are dissassembling the forks...After you remove the
chrome spring housings, you will need to remove the circlip (part number
90 35 30 46, part 43 on plate 12 in the Eldo spart parts catalog). There
is nothing on this circlip to grab on to. However, if you look carefully
at the area in which the circlip is housed, you will see one or two
small holes (can't remember the actualy number, but it doesn't matter
anyway). Using a tiny screwdriver or an ice pick or whatever, stick it
through the hole and push the circlip out just far enough to get a screw
driver in there to start prying it out. You may want/need to rotate the
circlip so that the end of it is near the hole.
Hope this all helps!
BOB COLLETT wrote:
Head bearings need to be replaced. What is easiest way to remove the lower bearing? Do I need to replace the races in the stem housing? How is best way to remove the races, is there a stop to ensure proper seating of new race? Now that everything is apart, how do I remove the chrome spring housing from the lower part of shock/damper? Big pipe wrench or is there a trick or tool needed? Any helpful hints for a first timer with rebuilding shocks/dampers? BOB |
Regards,
Greg Bender
1971 Ambassador
2000 Quota
http://www.thisoldtractor.com/gtbender
Florida MGNOC website
http://www.thisoldtractor.com/fl_mgnoc
Minnesota MGNOC website
http://www.thisoldtractor.com/mn_mgnoc