fork caps | GTAMotorcycle.com

fork caps

Kuro

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Hey,
I was stripping down all the parts of my bike and without thinking, I removed my fork caps.

I got a bit of a fork fluid facial. After I lapped it all up like a dirty pornstar, I'm now trying to put the caps back on.

I don't have the strength to compress the springs down far enough for the cap to reach the threads on the tube.


I'd rather not remove the forks from the bike (I'll need to buy a stand that can hold the bike up by something other than the forks) but I'll do it if I must. But even if I removed the forks from the bike, I'm still not sure I can exert enough force to compress the fork springs.

What do?
I saw this video but didn't quite seem that helpful
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uO9ktcahYt0

Anyone pros have any tips?

TIA.
 
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Good that you didn't get a fork cap in the eye.

It will be a LOT easier to compress the springs when the forks are unloaded, so don't give up on it yet. Ideally you would hold the front up with a steering stem stand, but people on the internet have come up with some creative alternatives. If you have the bike in your avatar, you could probably support the frame under the motor somehow.

How much oil did you lose from the forks? If it was significant you may have to address that.
 
Unfortunately its not that bike
Its a 599 hornet.

Oh I guess I could get a piece of wood to prop the steering stem or something like that.
I lost probably 30 mls. If I'm going to remove the forks, I might as well change the oil too.

So you're saying that if I took the forks off, it'll be a lot easier?
I'm not sure how cuz the lower triple is holding on to the forks for me like a clamp or a vice.

Even if I took the forks off, the amount of force needed to compress is that same... no?
I basically put my whole body weight on the fork spring and I couldnt get it low enough...
Maybe I am doing something wrong
 
Even if I took the forks off, the amount of force needed to compress is that same... no?
I basically put my whole body weight on the fork spring and I couldnt get it low enough...
Maybe I am doing something wrong

It's easier with the fork leg off. If it were me being at that stage I'd want to drain the fork oil and set the height to factory spec. Also I'd want to closely examine the cap threads (last thread came out under lots of pressure) and see if they thread in smoothly. That requires pulling the spring, loosing more oil. I built a clamping stand from lumber to hold the lower fork leg (I'm assuming conventional fork on Hornet). But the number one reason for fork leg off is it's easier to turn the fork tube with one hand while holding the cap down and steady to thread in. Turning the cap and holding the fork tube steady is harder.
 
For clarification, when we say unload/deload the forks, we mean for them not to be supporting any weight. Like for the front wheel to be off the ground. Depending on how you end up doing this, the front wheel may or may not be attached, but the fork legs still shouldn't be resting on anything.
 
Last time I rebuilt forks, I put the cap in a vice with soft jaws and was able to lean into it with the tube, it went together easily. Obviously this requires removing the legs but it is a lot easier to control the force holding the leg than the tiny cap.
 
Last time I rebuilt forks, I put the cap in a vice with soft jaws and was able to lean into it with the tube, it went together easily. Obviously this requires removing the legs but it is a lot easier to control the force holding the leg than the tiny cap.

I'm trying to picture this without losing fluid. Can you explain further?
 
I'm trying to picture this without losing fluid. Can you explain further?

You keep the leg tipped up (requires the vice to be mounted to a solid/heavy mount). I don't know if this works for all spring weights, but it worked fine for me.

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Oh, I see.
 
For clarification, when we say unload/deload the forks, we mean for them not to be supporting any weight. Like for the front wheel to be off the ground. Depending on how you end up doing this, the front wheel may or may not be attached, but the fork legs still shouldn't be resting on anything.

Ah i get it now.
Ill give this a shot. Thanks
 
FWIW losing 30mL of fork oil out of each fork tube (or even 15mL from each if you meant 30mL total) will affect the handling of your bike. The amount of oil in each fork is intentionally set at a certain volume.
 
Yeah if I'm gonna take the forks off I might as well replace all the oil back up to spec
 

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