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83 GS1100e Fork removal

  • Thread starter Thread starter radbassist
  • Start date Start date
R

radbassist

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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?
 
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
 
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...
 
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 :)
 
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.
 
Oh and I have a big rubber mallet

Just one thought - you did loosen the pitch bolts on the air coupling ??
 
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.
 
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.
 
derwood said:
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.
Click to expand...

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


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


Mark
Click to expand...

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
 
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?
 
radbassist said:
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?
Click to expand...

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.
 
radbassist said:
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?
Click to expand...

Probably not. The damper rod just needs bit of fiction on it to keep from turning. Someone mentioned a broom handle works or I was thinking toss a shop cloth in hole and then the spring and push on it a bit. It shouldn't need much unless some dummy put lock tight on it.
 
Sandy said:
Probably not. The damper rod just needs bit of fiction on it to keep from turning. Someone mentioned a broom handle works or I was thinking toss a shop cloth in hole and then the spring and push on it a bit. It shouldn't need much unless some dummy put lock tight on it.
Click to expand...
It depends. Often one of those tricks works, but sometimes they can be a real bugger. When you're dealing with a bolt that may not have been loosened in 33 years all bets are off. :)
If no air compressor is available Harbor Freight sells an electric impact for about $70 that usually works.
 
I had to do the all thread with nuts on it this summer. First time the forks were apart.
A little late, but I did mine with the forks on the bike.
 
Last edited:
radbassist said:
Allright dammit. That fricken bolt just spins that is under the front axle galley.
Click to expand...

At least it turns. Mine were so tight I F'ed up the allan head and had to buy new bolts. Yes, they were factory loc-tited. Could not find that metric size and pitch anywhere. Had to order them from the local stealership.
 
bonanzadave said:
At least it turns. Mine were so tight I F'ed up the allan head and had to buy new bolts. Yes, they were factory loc-tited. Could not find that metric size and pitch anywhere. Had to order them from the local stealership.
Click to expand...

I buggered the 1 i was messing with a little. Ill try everyones tricks this weekend but will definitely get the electric impact wrench

first time these have been apart...
 
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