special fork tool

[landshark]

I just welded a bolt onto the end of a piece of steel rod i found in shed.
Cost nothing and i still have it.

 

[1_v8_merc]

I also had no such problems.

My forks had the stock fluid in them from 1982, sludge and crap in the threads.

I just used an Allen key, and right where the 90 degree bend is, I slipped a socket extension over it to use as a breaker bar.

They put up some fight, but they cracked loose.

 

[Billy Ricks]

I also had no such problems.

My forks had the stock fluid in them from 1982, sludge and crap in the threads.

I just used an Allen key, and right where the 90 degree bend is, I slipped a socket extension over it to use as a breaker bar.

They put up some fight, but they cracked loose.

The first time I went into my 700 forks they were only a few years old. Found the mud for oil even that young. Had no problem with the bolts and no tool.

 

[jhicok]

this thread was very helpful!! i used the piece of 1/2 rod with 2 3/4" nuts locked together and it worked perfectly.

 

[hampshirehog]

Stripped the forks on the 750 today to fit new seals. I spent 30 seconds looking for my usual tool (a broom) so used a rake handle instead.

No need for an impact wrench nor air gun - that would have taken another minute to set up. Just insert the allen key and give it a sharp tap with a hammer.

 

[Guest]

I just started to take my forks apart today and ended up making a "special tool" today with a threaded rod and two nuts as suggested above after trying with the 8 mm hex socket on the outside. The 8mm bolt was starting to distort and I didn't want to completely strip it. I have a call into my neighbor to see if he can weld the nuts onto the threaded rod as no matter how hard I tighten them together they still pop loose. I have also heated the bolt for ~5 min with mapp gas. Is the 8mm socket bolt threaded into the piece that I'm also trying to loosen with the "special tool"? The exploded diagram on the fiche is not too clear.

 

[Guest]

The special tool made from threaded rod ended up twisting like a pretzel so much for that idea.

I then borrowed a 2' 3/8 drive extension from my neighbor and used a reversed spark plug socked and it came off with little effort.

 

[Jason the terminator]

Now this isn't as high tech as the things other members have done. I used a broom stick. It won't strip the damper rod or scratch anything up. If you chew the end up just cut it off and tap it back inside the rod. Works like a charm and everyone all ready has one laying around.

 

[chuck hahn]

Yes its the stop the spinning effect i was looking to eradicate. So by general consensus i take it the 78 1000s are the 19MM sort.

 

[salty_monk]

550 doesn't have anything you can get a nut into... have to use a broom handle on them

 

[cowboyup3371]

Will one of the plastic broom handles work or will they just bend too easily? What about a handle off a shovel or will that be too thick?

 

[Jason the terminator]

My only advice is watch the thickness and straightness of the handle. I had used the tapered end of a broken snow shovel which was just a little thicker than a broom stick. It got stuck in the fork tube do to the extra width and the small amount it was warped. I was able to get it out but it took some work. A wood broom stick works perfectly and that is what I will stick with.

 

[guitargeek]

I used some 1/2" extensions with a reversed 5/8" plug socket on the end, worked like a charm. I'd tried the broom handle trick, compressing the spring, impact driver, all to no avail.

 

[SVSooke]

There must be something special about everyone's forks. I've done a couple of sets of GS forks and a set of GSX-R forks. I never held the dampers with anything. Just pulled the bolt out of the bottom of the forks easy as pie. Reassembled without holding them too.

As I stated erlier done a few 83 750 forks with no trouble.Tried the 1000 forks yesterday,got a problem.Going to hit it with the impact gun first.If no go with that I'll try the plug socket trick.Guess my luck ran out

The hex on the bottom of the typical spark plug socket is 19mm. If you have some long 3/8" ratchet extensions it's an easy matter to stick the extension into the socket backwards and then stick the socket down into the forks to hold the damping rod. You need about 18" of extensions or so, although I haven't measured.

Salty_Monk (Dan) taught me this trick and it works great.

Edit:The reverse plug socket worked a treat! Thanks to Chuck,your triple tip worked great to.