Front Fork Damper

[wndsrfr48]

Renewing the fork seals on an '07 FZ6 along with installing Racetech springs. Having a problem getting the damper out. Tech Manual calls for a special tool to hold the damper while removing the bottom damper bolt. Anyone come up with a "shade tree" way to hold the damper? I have air but the damper still spins using an impact wrench.

 

[greg]

shove a wooden broom handle in there and hold it firmly, the bolt is threadlocked in, once you crack the seal it should come undone easily

 

[wndsrfr48]

shove a wooden broom handle in there and hold it firmly, the bolt is threadlocked in, once you crack the seal it should come undone easily

Thanks Greg, I'll give it a shot

 

[wndsrfr48]

Didn't have a broom handle so I used a piece of 1/2" quarter round molding that had a 45* angle already cut. Tapped that puppy in the damper and used an impact wrench, bolt zipped right out.

Many thanks

 

[greg]

no worries

i would recommend the a proper seal driver though, i had problems getting mine back in and ended up taking it to a mechanic to assemble

 

[wndsrfr48]

Re: Front Fork Damper revisited, installing seals

Found that a section of 1.5 in thinwall PVC pipe works well as a bushing installer. then adding a coupler to the 1.5 in PVC pipe makes a good seal installer. The coupler will need to be tapered a bit to fit down in the fork leg. 15 minutes on a grinder does it for the PVC coupler.

Bottom line is I was able to do the whole job with no special tools. Just the tapered broom handle mentioned in Greg's response and a length of 1.5 in PVC thinwall pipe with a coupler. Piece O' cake!

 

[red_rock_beetle]

let me know how those racetech springs work out, may be my next mod, did you use the calculator on thier website to add your weight and the bikes weight to see what springs you need?

 

[Gelvatron]

Same as above what size spring how much with gear do you weigh approx ? How does it feel?

 

[red_rock_beetle]

RACETECH


about a quarter of the way down there is a link to calculate custom spring rates for your rider weight

 

[wndsrfr48]

I used the FRSP S3732095 springs, but to be honest, I did not know the spring calculator was on the Racetech website. probably would have gone a step heavier had I known about the calculator.
Can't give any feedback yet as I am still rehabbing the bike and installing other mods. Leo Vince exhaust up next

 

[wndsrfr48]

Got a was to go yet

 

[FinalImpact]

Re: Front Fork Damper revisited, installing seals

Found that a section of 1.5 in thinwall PVC pipe works well as a bushing installer. then adding a coupler to the 1.5 in PVC pipe makes a good seal installer. The coupler will need to be tapered a bit to fit down in the fork leg. 15 minutes on a grinder does it for the PVC coupler.

Bottom line is I was able to do the whole job with no special tools. Just the tapered broom handle mentioned in Greg's response and a length of 1.5 in PVC thinwall pipe with a coupler. Piece O' cake!

A trick I've found is to cut a single slice up the side of the PVC. It allows it to expand to sizes greater than it is and even contract to smaller sizes if you cut out a bigger slice!

Good Job and let us know how it goes. What oil are you putting back in (weight) and did you opt for the emulators???

 

[greg]

Re: Front Fork Damper revisited, installing seals

i think pvc pipe must be a different size over here, as when i tried it it was too small. Cutting a slice down the side just resulted in bits of plastic goign everywhere, hence i ended up taking it to a mechanics (plus i just wanted it fixed )