NEED help removing fork tubes from triple trees
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Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2008
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NEED help removing fork tubes from triple trees
today I put my bike on the lift, I think put 2 small sizzor jacks below the frame and proceeded to lift the bike which did raise the bike and triple trees but not enough to remove them for my new fork boots and caps. Can someone who has done this post for me please some killer direction on what Im doing wrong. Lastly If I have to I can take the wheel off but Ive never done that so im pretty scared about it. Please help fellow forum members. Mahalo. PS getting the bike ready for a show tommarow .
RE: NEED help removing fork tubes from triple trees
all you have to do is disconect the brake caliper (make sure no one squeezes your brake) undo the 4 pinch bolts ont he trees and slide them down... slide on your boots, slide it all back up... be sure you measure to make sure you have equal amount of tubes on each side if you drop the front a bit... tighten everytihng up... then on your way to the show tomorrow pick up a service manual as that will have all the PROPER torque settings and what not... mine is at the shop or i would give you those as well... Use some blue lock tite on the pinch bolts when they go back in
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Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2008
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RE: NEED help removing fork tubes from triple trees
my problem is that I did all that but since the wheel was in the chock I had to try and lift the bike and that didnt work, what am I doin wrong, how do I suspend the bike and leave the wheel in the front free? any ideas buddy?
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,215
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From: Northern Arizona
RE: NEED help removing fork tubes from triple trees
I had mine on the lift, and removed the front wheel. Left the fender attached to aid in referencing putting the tubes back in. Slid them down enough to slide the boots on and then immediately back up. Used a pencil mark on the top of the tube for knowing how far to slide them back up. Was pretty painless. Just be careful not to scratch the tubes as you're sliding them out and back in. Biggest pain was getting the wheel back in with the spacers on the axle, but nothing a couple taps with a rubber mallet couldn't fix.
Pinch bolts on upper/lower triple clamps tighten to 30-35 ft/lbs for the 08s, 07's probably the same. Fork tubes should protrude above top triple clamp .450 t .500 in, measurement taken at the midpoint of fork tube between top surface or triple clamp to top of fork cap.
+1 on the service manual, takes away 90% of the guessing.
Pinch bolts on upper/lower triple clamps tighten to 30-35 ft/lbs for the 08s, 07's probably the same. Fork tubes should protrude above top triple clamp .450 t .500 in, measurement taken at the midpoint of fork tube between top surface or triple clamp to top of fork cap.
+1 on the service manual, takes away 90% of the guessing.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,438
Likes: 3
From: Chesterfield, VA
RE: NEED help removing fork tubes from triple trees
You can take your chances with ingenuity and find away to get you bike high enough to remove the tubes with the wheel still mounted, but your taking a chance of the bike coming back down unintentionally.
Go ahead and get a jack. Sears has one for $89.00 which can be a little challenging to use, but it works. They have one for $160.00 which works great.
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/search_10...otorcycle+jack
You will also need an adapter kit which Harley sells that allows the bike to sit level on the jack.
http://www.harley-davidson.com/gma/g...bmLocale=en_US
Some have improvised by making wooden blocks to accomplish this instead of buying the adapter. These jack come with tie down straps to stablize the bike, which is great for the type work you are doing.
Get the jack, remove the wheel, and the tubes will be a piece of cake.
Go ahead and get a jack. Sears has one for $89.00 which can be a little challenging to use, but it works. They have one for $160.00 which works great.
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/search_10...otorcycle+jack
You will also need an adapter kit which Harley sells that allows the bike to sit level on the jack.
http://www.harley-davidson.com/gma/g...bmLocale=en_US
Some have improvised by making wooden blocks to accomplish this instead of buying the adapter. These jack come with tie down straps to stablize the bike, which is great for the type work you are doing.
Get the jack, remove the wheel, and the tubes will be a piece of cake.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,215
Likes: 2
From: Northern Arizona
RE: NEED help removing fork tubes from triple trees
Mornin' JMPANCOAST. Nice day today I hope. Been peaking outside and see some clouds, but hopefully will get some riding in. How about you? By the way, brake has been working flawlessly, but I did order a new bolt for the caliper just in case down the road.
ORIGINAL: jmpancoast
You can take your chances with ingenuity and find away to get you bike high enough to remove the tubes with the wheel still mounted, but your taking a chance of the bike coming back down unintentionally.
Go ahead and get a jack. Sears has one for $89.00 which can be a little challenging to use, but it works. They have one for $160.00 which works great.
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/search_10...otorcycle+jack
You will also need an adapter kit which Harley sells that allows the bike to sit level on the jack.
http://www.harley-davidson.com/gma/g...bmLocale=en_US
Some have improvised by making wooden blocks to accomplish this instead of buying the adapter. These jack come with tie down straps to stablize the bike, which is great for the type work you are doing.
Get the jack, remove the wheel, and the tubes will be a piece of cake.
You can take your chances with ingenuity and find away to get you bike high enough to remove the tubes with the wheel still mounted, but your taking a chance of the bike coming back down unintentionally.
Go ahead and get a jack. Sears has one for $89.00 which can be a little challenging to use, but it works. They have one for $160.00 which works great.
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/search_10...otorcycle+jack
You will also need an adapter kit which Harley sells that allows the bike to sit level on the jack.
http://www.harley-davidson.com/gma/g...bmLocale=en_US
Some have improvised by making wooden blocks to accomplish this instead of buying the adapter. These jack come with tie down straps to stablize the bike, which is great for the type work you are doing.
Get the jack, remove the wheel, and the tubes will be a piece of cake.
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Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 136
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From:
RE: NEED help removing fork tubes from triple trees
so let me get this straight, If I use not my large lift but my small motorcycle lift and use tie downs etc and raise it up with the lossened pinch bolts and the caliper off, it should work? if im missing anything please let me know. Im totally freaking out.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,438
Likes: 3
From: Chesterfield, VA
RE: NEED help removing fork tubes from triple trees
Keep the lift as far forward as you can and still have the bike seated on so its stable. Raise the front end. Use tie down straps to ensure its stability. Remove the caliper, then the wheel, then the fender. Loosen the pinch bolts. Realize once the last of the two pinch bolts is loosened on each side, the tube will slide out pretty easily. Hold on to the tube as the last pinch bolt is loosened so you can guide the tube from the tree insteadof the tube freely falling from the tree.
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Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,435
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From: Living in open carry state :D
RE: NEED help removing fork tubes from triple trees
I just replace my sliders with chrome ones. I used a motorcyle jack to get the bike off the ground. I think the front wheel chock you are using is puttinga bind on the forks. AS Lonewatie said once the pinch bolts are loosened the forks should slide out real easy. I should know, I almost dropped one when I was doing mine.
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