Fork leg removal (1965 B40F)

[Bicycle repair man]

Some forks have pinch bolts on both yokes. You only have one on the bottom yoke.

[AdrianS]

I can't remember a problem undoing the nut. If very tight, can you not take it to someone with an impact gun and get them to undo it?

[Spaceman]

An impact gun would do the job very easily but, unfortunately, you can't fit a socket to the bottom fork nut because it is only fitted with two flats (if I remember correctly). As said earlier, just clamp the stanchion in the lower yoke and then shock the end of the spanner/wrench with a mallet if necessary!

[DAVE BRADY]

Hi,

I agree with clamping the stanchion in the yolk.  If this is not possible the nut can clamped in a vice (with good jaws) and a pipe wrench used on the stanchion that has been wrapped in a rag bandage to prevent damage.  The longer the wrench the better so that the use of a hammer to shock it is avoided.  Care is need  as the nut is not very deep and could slip if not kept perpendicular to the vice jaws.  Perhaps not the best method but it does work.

Dave.

[Phil C]

Can't knock Kidderminster Motorcycles. Ordered two oil seals by phone yesterday, and they've just popped through my letterbox.   

Phil

[Phil C]

Evening everyone,
Clamping it in the yoke and giving it the shock treatment worked. Thanks. It's now all stripped down. The twine seal came off easily. I'm tempted to use twine again, but might just use twisted PTFE tape, as I guess it's more effective. Doesn't feel to be any play on the bushes, and all appears okay. So I guess I'll fit a new oil seal and reassemble. I'm still none the wiser as to what caused the oil/grease run on the outside of the brake plate (it didn't happen again) but when I drained the forks there was less came out than I put in, so I guess there has been a leak somewhere.  A new seal might help I guess.

Before I reassemble I need to decide whether to replace the oil seal holder on the other fork (in which case I'd do both) which of course I'll he taking off next. You can see on the photo that the chrome has been rubbed off it. I don't know how. When I compress the fork it doesn't seem to be rubbing. I guess it's only a cosmetic issue, so I might not renew it. Or maybe...

Phil

[Phil C]

When I peer down into the slider, I see something sticking up an inch or two.  What is it? It's quite hard to see it clearly, as the torch light dazzles against the oily surface and it's quite hard to get a focus on it.  Phil

[idie]

What you can see is a cone to stop the forks bottoming. Oil in the fork legs is forced into the stanchions through the hole in the bottom nut by the cone so dampening the bottoming out.

[Phil C]

Thanks Idie. Not quite sure exactly how it works, but at least I know what it is.

Had a good idea about my worm seal holder (btw, to clarify, it was like that when I bought the bike a few years ago), I might find one at the Bristol Show jumble in late Feb! Even if I don't, it will be fun looking. As long as Shepton Mallett isn't the coldest place on the planet that day, as it seems to have a tendency to be. I've discovered seal holders are pretty expensive to buy new. Anyway, for now I'll just stick with what I've got.

Phil

[AdrianS]

The seal holder has been rubbing on the fork shroud or "trousers".
Very common to find. Usually the metal of the shroud gets bent during removal or gets extra paint if painted or powder coated. Fit a new seal holder and the same thing will happen!
When refitting the forks, after the top nuts have been fitted and the wheel has been fitted undo the bottom yoke bolts and the headstock locking nut and bounce the forks up and down a few times to centralise them. You may still get a bit of catching but as long as the fork movement is not restricted I wouldn't worry too much about it.

[Phil C]

I think the running must be historic. I had a look to see if it was rubbing and it didn't seem to be. Maybe from long ago.

Anyway, when I refit, I might have more questions. Almost certainly.

Learning all the time though.

Phil

[Phil C]

The clip is even harder to get back in than it was to get out.  Phil

[Phil C]

In now.

[Phil C]

But will have to come out again as there's now a burr on it which prevents the slider going over the bottom bush

[Phil C]

Okay, sorted. Must stop putting every little thing on this forum!  Phil