Dear All
Following a ride out i found my 1949 B31 to be rigid at the front as well as the back!
I intend to dismantle to find out what's happened.
On the service sheets it says i will need a special service tool to remove the seal holder. They are advertised for about £30 but it seems a lot to spend on what might be one days use!
Is there a short cut to this job or is the tool definitely required ?
Best wishes
Pete
If the holder has been off before you might get it off with a strap round it. If it is being replaced then something more brutal can be used. Otherwise you will need the tool.
You will find, during assembly, that gravity is not your friend. Service tool 61-3350 is used to pull the stauntions into the yolk but the tool is probably expensive. I took an old rusted stauntion top nut, ground off the hex and welded on a steel bar to pull the stauntion into place. I also tried a broom handle but it was a frustrating exercise.
Jim
In my experience (I've overhauled at least a couple of dozen BSA forks), the only way to undo the seal holders without damaging them is by using the special tool. Even with the tool, it can be a difficult job if the holders have been on the forks for a very long time. Although it is tempting to use a strap wrench on them, this never works. If you are anywhere near Oxford, I would be happy to lend you my tool. Although another special tool is recommended to pull the stanchions back into the upper yoke, as said, I have never had the need to use one as there are other ways of doing it.
These are the tools which I made and have used successfully several times.
Pic 1 shows the reassembly tool made from a stanchion top nut plus a large nut and bolt.
Pic 2 shows the tool for stripping the seal made from an old box spanner and tommy bar. You might need a good length of stout tubing on the tommy bar for extra leverage. They can be very tight.
Thank you all for your replies and photos.
That's helpful. I'm not near Oxford but thanks Spaceman.
I will try to manufacture a peg type spanner for the seal carrier.
For other bikes Ive persevered and managed to push each stanchion back up far enough to get the top nut on and then draw it up that way.
Ill have a go and see.
Any ideas why they would jam up like this?
Before you strip it down, have you tried loosening the spindle and pinch bolts in the bottom yolk and bouncing it to try and free it off?
Hi Pete C
No I haven't tried that. My assumption is that if its happened once it will happen again so needs sorting out anyway.
I expect it happened rolling over a fierce bump or a pothole and jammed down.
Pete
I managed to release the forks and get the suspension functioning again. Theres been some damage in the past that's causing the shroud to catch on the fork seal holder on the left side. It looks as though this wedged down as the forks bottomed out on a heavy bump. I haven't dismantled yet, went on another 50 mile run and its still working, so I will leave it for now.