Tech question:Removing damper tube without separating forks?
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Tech question:Removing damper tube without separating forks?
May be a dumb question, but is it possible to remove the damper tube and top out spring(s) from a heritage front end WITHOUT separating fork tube from sliders?
Reason is...this bike has recently installed new seals and regular progressive lowering kit and I want to change to a ''drop in'' lowering kit, which apparently requires removal of non-stock top out spring(s).
Any advice greatly appreciated! :]
Reason is...this bike has recently installed new seals and regular progressive lowering kit and I want to change to a ''drop in'' lowering kit, which apparently requires removal of non-stock top out spring(s).
Any advice greatly appreciated! :]
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,237
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From: Albany, OR
Yeah, but it could be more of a pain to put it back together, if not impossible. Disassemble the top, drain the fluid. Remove the lower allen head bolt and carefully turn over the fork assembly. The damper tube and top out spring will come sliding out from the tube. But now nothing is holding the tube in the slider except the seal and snap ring. You probably don't want to put a lot of pressure accidentally at that point.
Put the stock top out spring on the damper and slide it back down the tube. Now comes the fun part, you have to try and locate the damper cap that is below the tube in the bottom of the slider. You have to get the damper into the cap, then lined up with the hole in the bottom of the slider to get the allen bolt back in. Have fun with that. I'd just pop it all apart and reuse the seal. I've done this a number of times on seals with very low miles, no leaks. YMMV.
Put the stock top out spring on the damper and slide it back down the tube. Now comes the fun part, you have to try and locate the damper cap that is below the tube in the bottom of the slider. You have to get the damper into the cap, then lined up with the hole in the bottom of the slider to get the allen bolt back in. Have fun with that. I'd just pop it all apart and reuse the seal. I've done this a number of times on seals with very low miles, no leaks. YMMV.
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Thanks for that bcrdb! It actually started life as a FatBoy, but those are new tins and paint from HD with '04 Heritage decal.
Also, it was no problem to change damper spring without separating fork tube from slider.
One problem: I lowered the bike a bit more, as per instructions in the new progressive kit. Checked clearances, everything looks and sounds good, but AFTER i install fork oil...front end now sounds clunky (just working forks by holding front brake) WTF! I used HD type E oil, maybe i need something thicker? Any ideas would be appreciated guys, thanks!
Also, it was no problem to change damper spring without separating fork tube from slider.
One problem: I lowered the bike a bit more, as per instructions in the new progressive kit. Checked clearances, everything looks and sounds good, but AFTER i install fork oil...front end now sounds clunky (just working forks by holding front brake) WTF! I used HD type E oil, maybe i need something thicker? Any ideas would be appreciated guys, thanks!
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