Bolt 14

[Polish-Jack]

I am draining and replacing the oil in the forks on my new-to-me 1981 GS400 and I am finding that the previous owner stripped the drain plug screws. While looking at the exploded diagram looking for part numbers I found Bolt 14 that does not exist on my fork. Looks like the PO lost it. But my question is what is the purpose of Bolt 14?

 

[Cipher]

to hold part 19 in place?? Yeah you need it. Night have vibrated out if no thread lock used.

 

[Steve]

Bolt 14 holds the damper rod (#11) to the outer tube.

In normal useage, there is absolutely NO WAY it can vibrate out of place, because the axle will keep it in place.

Yes, you do need it.

.

 

[standswithabeer]

i believe allen bolt #14 passes through the "piece, oil lock" and screws into the "pipe seat" assembly. part #10 and #11. holds everything in place and prevents leaks.

after fork disassembly on my projects (these bolts can can be a bear to remove), i clean the threads and use a little blue loctite. not red. there's a little gasket that goes under the bolt head to prevent leaks. not sure how your fork doesn't leak if #14 is missing.

can you drill and tap the side drain plug screw holes to the next size up? not forgetting that gasket too.

unless the parts diagram in your question isn't right. : )

 

[Polish-Jack]

I must be reading the diagram incorrectly. There is a hole at the bottom of right leg (part 3) that is at a right angle, facing the ground, to the hole the axle goes through. Is that hole simply an access hole so that Bolt 14 can pass deeper into the right leg? I did not notice that Bolt 14 was used in the other leg as well and assumed it was some sort of axle retaining bolt that was unique to the right leg, but that did not make any sense to me and that is why I asked the question.

 

[standswithabeer]

yes, that's an access hole to remove/install bolt 14. i recently disassembled the forks on my 79 GS750L project bike for cleaning and fork seals, here's a pic after cleaning but before polishing the legs. you can see the bolt threaded into the "pipe seat", upper right in the pic.