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Assembling forks

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Old May 29, 2019 | 11:06 PM
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Default Assembling forks

As I posted on the what did you do thread, about installing taller dampers, when reassembling the springs stuck about 2-3" above the top of the fork tubes, and were quire a challenge for me alone, to get the caps back on. Did I miss something somewhere? Saw a video on youtube and this guy dropped his springs in and had room afo about a 6" spacer on top,

He did not mention he had longer fork tubes so I do not know, but I see a lt of guys here talking about adding soacers for preload, etc. How the heck do you get the caps back on with that kind of load?
 
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Old May 29, 2019 | 11:08 PM
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This all concerns me because some day down the road I will have to change the fluid again and want to know if there is an easier way to do this. Might also add emulators then too.
 
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Old May 30, 2019 | 07:21 AM
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Im not sure what you have, but I used the 11 1/2 inch damper tubes with standard length Race Tech springs . I also installed preload adjusters which are longer than the oem caps, and I still had room for 2 inch spacers. The 2 inch spacers came to just the top of the fork tube. I did not need to go longer because the adjusters took care of that.
 
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Old May 30, 2019 | 08:26 AM
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Are you using stock springs? They are very long, while aftermarket ones are much shorter, require spacer tubes, but are also more user friendly to reassemble.
 
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Old May 30, 2019 | 09:15 AM
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R-length damper tubes with stock springs will stick out of the top of the L's front tubes. No need for spacers. No space for spacers actually.
 

Last edited by lewk; May 30, 2019 at 09:51 AM.
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Old May 30, 2019 | 09:17 AM
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Originally Posted by grbrown
... They are very long, while aftermarket ones are much shorter, require spacer tubes...
Speaking just for me, I prefer to fill the space up with springy material that with stiff pvc.
 
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Old May 30, 2019 | 10:35 AM
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All I have are the stock tubes from the '07 low with stock springs. OK I didn't realize the aftermarket springs were shorter, thus needing spacers. Lord, I had a heck of a time getting mine back in, could not imagine cramming anything else in that tube.

Is there a secret to getting the cap back on, on the stockers? I ended up using a 3 post clamp to force the cap down close enough to allow me to thread it into the tube.
 
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Old May 30, 2019 | 10:36 AM
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Like this


 
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Old May 30, 2019 | 10:53 AM
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Read through my how-to thread, may provide some help....especially the last 4 steps under FILL FORK OIL AND PREPARE FOR INSTALL
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/sport...placement.html

Did you slide the tube all the way up?

I had a spacer with burly slammer fork lowering kit


Stock diagram


To make life easier when changing fork oil later, you may want to replace the cap with one of these.
 

Last edited by hscic; May 30, 2019 at 11:08 AM.
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Old May 30, 2019 | 11:02 AM
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Oh yes, I did everything possible to gain more room. I have watched videos of guys that have one hold the tube and the other forces the cap down and on. They must be stronger than me. I could push the cap down but could not get the threads started that way, thus why I came up with the clamp idea.

I dropped the fork tube to the bottom triple clamp, and tightened the clamp. Then I put the 3 post clamp on. It does NOT clamp to the tube, merely touches it. The side arms use the bottom of the triple clamp to hold it down. Kinda spooky, since if it had flopped to one side those would have flipped off at me. Not good. I even still had to put the top post on top of the cap and force the spring down enough to slide the side posts under the triple clamp and onto the fork tube.

It worked but like I said, was spooky. There has to be an easier way.
 
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