46/48 B31 forks

[Farmer Jon]

Did the early legs not have an oil drain screw? Any tricks for removing a rusty circlip.

[Gadorey]

Hi Jon,  for the very first years the forks did not have a drain plug. Mine are the same.
Removing the circlips even rusty ones is not too difficult. Look for a slot on the leg - that's where you want to insert a screwdriver's blade to lever and pry the clip out. It helps if you can rotate the clip in its groove so as to place one of the ends in this opening or slot in the legs. Once you pry the end out, try to get another blade under the clip to get it out of the groove and then work your way around.
It does help to have 3 arms and hands.

[Farmer Jon]

Thanks. Worked 3 hours on one not moving...I'll try again this morning.  I may cut the leg off, grind it out..

[Farmer Jon]

Success...  Had to cut the leg so it would go below the circlip but not drop below the bottom of the top bushing, which is steel by the way, to dremell out the clip. Welded a bushing inside the leg with 1/2 inch threaded hole. Tried a puller at this point no movement  Put a hardened collar over the leg to protect the seal holder threads. Cut a pipe same diameter as collar outside leg. 1/2 inch bolt with washers,  took a 3 foot pipe on a breaker bar to get it to pop.  Was determined to save these early telescopic legs.  Thanks to Gadorey