83 GS1100e Fork removal

[radbassist]

I mean.....How hard can it be? Loosened the top pinch bolt, loosened the bottom one(s)......My Sh*t is stuck. everything is off of these forks.....brakes etc...
What am I missing? A bigger hammer?

[Guest]

Can you twist the upper tubes? They can really drag coming out of the air assist seals and a stout dowel on the top with application of a hammer may be needed to get them moving.


Mark

[radbassist]

I tried.....no go... soaked with WD40 last night in case they were corroded on there but we'll see tonight. I'm good at ruining stuff when it comes to stuff being stuck...I will try to resist using dynamite. What I need is a rubber/plastic toothed pipe wrench...
I'll try the dowel - I'm just making sure I didn't miss any stupid lock bolt somewhere...

[radbassist]

I got a question.....Do I NEED to take the forks completely out of the bike for a rebuild? I see videos every where on rebuilds and it seems like half of them don't take the forks from the triple tree.... And I can't find an 83 GS1100 specific video on how to...

oh and I was hoping my fork slipped out overnight and was wanting to see it on the ground this AM from the WD40....No such luck

[TxGSrider]

I suppose you could do them on the bike, but man that'd be tough.

[Guest]

If you get stuck or , in a fit of hammer frenzy , something breaks ......... I have a complete spare front end for an 83 ( along with a lot of other 81/82/83 1100 stuff)... Be silly cheap and I'm in Katy.

[Guest]

Oh and I have a big rubber mallet

Just one thought - you did loosen the pitch bolts on the air coupling ??

[hillsy]

Take the pinch bolts completely out of the bottom tree then tap a flat blade screwdriver between the clamps to help open them. Then twist the fork and pull it out.

[Guest]

there are round profile snap-rings on the fork tubes by the air rings. you have to pop them out of their grooves with a pick, then they will slide up the fork.

[Guest]

there are round profile snap-rings on the fork tubes by the air rings. you have to pop them out of their grooves with a pick, then they will slide up the fork.

There are no snap rings on the fork of my 82 1100E. OP's 83 should be the same.


Mark

[radbassist]

There are no snap rings on the fork of my 82 1100E. OP's 83 should be the same.


Mark

Got one out. Its a little different than the ones ive seen taken apart on videos. But.... One success at a time!! Stay tuned for more questions

[bonanzadave]

I have a complete spare front end for an 83.. Be silly cheap

How silly cheap ?

[radbassist]

Allright dammit. That fricken bolt just spins that is under the front axle galley. Do i need that homemade threaded all thread thing with the 2, 3/4" nuts?

[RichDesmond]

air (or electric) impact wrench really helps with those.

[hillsy]

Allright dammit. That fricken bolt just spins that is under the front axle galley. Do i need that homemade threaded all thread thing with the 2, 3/4" nuts?

Did you take the springs out already? Keeping them in helps stop the damper rod from turning, but an impact wrench like RichDesmond suggested works pretty much every time.