Easy Fork Spring removal tool

[Steve in Sunny Fla]

So I rehabbed the forks on my new to me 87 XII today. Of course I'de read about it taking 2 people to compress the spring retainer plug to remove the c clip. But since there's only one of me some common sense had to help out. Here's what I did, and what you'll need:

1 bolt, 1/2" dia x 6" long

1 nut to fit said bolt

1) 1/2" drive socket, with an OD app the size of the OD of
the triple tree around where the fork tube goes. A steel
or aluminum plate with a 9/16" hole in the center would
work also.

Here's how to set it up:

1) remove forks from triple tree
2) remove air tube / collars
3)put bolt through the socket with the bolt head in the open
side of the socket
4) thread the nut onto the bolt, so that a couple threads
protrude through the bottom of the nut
5) coming up from the bottom, insert the bolt through the
upper triple fork hole, open end of socket UP
6) insert the fork up into the lower triple. leaving app 1" from
the end of the bolt. Tighten the triple clamp bolts to hold
the fork tube
7) hold the bolt on the top - I used vice grips - and turn the
nut. It will anchor the socket / plate against the top triple,
and and the bolt will compress the spring retainer easily so
you can remove the retaining c clip easily with a small pick
tool
8) once the c-clip is removed, simply loosen the lower triple
clamp bolts and the fork will shoot downward, relieving the
spring pressure.
9) to reassemble, set it up the same was as in step 1, with the
spring retainer cap ready to compress the spring. Simply
turn the nut, drive the retainer down, preloading the spring
and exposing the c-clip groove. Insert c-clip, loosen triple
clamp bolts. DONE!

doing it this way it was all to easy to dissassemble and reassemble the forks. HTH, Steve

[Steve in Sunny Fla]

Hey Steve - that's a pretty easy way to go - thanks for posting! (for the folks who meant to post, but didn't) Steve

[Me Again]

(for the folks who meant to post, but didn't)

I did save a copy to my Voyager file .Guess I'm just getting forgetfull in my present degree of youth. Thanks

[Chris near Kansas City]

I made something like that several years ago using Chris in SoCal's instructions from the Wyzard's forum. Works good. It's been all over the country helping other owners, LOL. Matter of fact, it's been used twice in the last couple of months.

http://voyagerxii.4kaztwylde.com/wyzard ... g_tool.htm

[Steve in Sunny Fla]

I made something like that several years ago using Chris in SoCal's instructions from the Wyzard's forum. Works good. It's been all over the country helping other owners, LOL. Matter of fact, it's been used twice in the last couple of months.

http://voyagerxii.4kaztwylde.com/wyzard ... g_tool.htm

HMMM, when I went to wyzards tech FAQ's prior to the install, his writeup described needing 2 people, one being a 110# wife... Steve

[Chris near Kansas City]

The original hints sections mentions using a pipe as leverage to pry/push the caps down and a 110# person to hold that while the other pulls the snap rings out. The new(er) hints section has the info on the spring tool.

[ekap1200]

here is another method of removing the top retainer, being a mechanic, I have alot of toys in my toybox. There are some pics listed in my tinypic pages, the bearing splitter only has to be hand tight. http://tinypic.com/3ia1q4ub
On another note, How does one post just one pic on this forum and what size does the pic need to be Gene from N.J.

[Chris near Kansas City]

Use the 640x480 message board resize when you upload. Then use the "image code for message board and forums" link. Copy & paste that into your post. Repeat if you want 2 pix, or 3, or 4, or.....however many you want.

Hit the preview button and if your picture didn't show up, something is wrong. Once it shows up, hit submit.

Chris

[Steve in Sunny Fla]

not to take anthing away from that dedicated tool, but I put mine together from stuff in the shop in about 1 minute. that said, I think it's a more viable option for most folks doing this job, since they're not going to be doing it day in, day out. Keep in mind building a tool adds time to the overall job - good if you're doing the job often, bad if it's a one time deal. Steve

[Rhinestone Kawboy]

On another note, How does one post just one pic on this forum and what size does the pic need to be Gene from N.J.

Although Chris gives the instructions for using tinypic, the complete instructions for posting pics on these forums (including non tinypic hosted) is in that topic under the announcements in each respective forum.

[Chris near Kansas City]

Steve, his tool, which is the picture in my post, will only work if the fork tubes are removed. Most people won't want, or need, to tackle that. So, like you mentioned, your tool, and the one I made, will serve the majority quite well.

Side note, you wouln't believe how many "real" automotive shops don't have a bearing splitter like that.

[ekap1200]

Use the 640x480 message board resize when you upload. Then use the "image code for message board and forums" link. Copy & paste that into your post. Repeat if you want 2 pix, or 3, or 4, or.....however many you want.

Hit the preview button and if your picture didn't show up, something is wrong. Once it shows up, hit submit.

Chris

Thanks Chris, that clears that up for me. I didn't make these pullers up just for the job they are just general shop tools. And I jumped the gun and put the tubes and front end togeather before using the tool to install the spring caps. and it worked fine. Thanks again for the pic info.