Poor man's fork spring compressor tool?
RE: Poor man's fork spring compressor tool?
Somebody must have some idea's. Bikers Choice wants $300 for the tool. Lot of money for something that won't get used alot.
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 973
Likes: 0
From: Mt Dora Florida
RE: Poor man's fork spring compressor tool?
Never tried this idea on forks, but sometimes I've been able to use a padded vice and a drill press with a deep well socket. Makes a good makeshift arbor press.
Road Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,229
Likes: 20
From: Greater St Louis, MO
RE: Poor man's fork spring compressor tool?
I just clamp the leg in a vise and push down on a socket (muscle it in)and turn it when the threads lineup. Done a couple this way. You just want to make sure that you don't get your face/head over it in case it launches.
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 535
Likes: 0
From: Mont. Co. Maryland
RE: Poor man's fork spring compressor tool?
put it in a vice....my buddy stood on a step stool and pushed down, while I rotated tube......
VERY Cheap..........less like to cross thread if you rotate tube instead of pressing down and rotating cap
VERY Cheap..........less like to cross thread if you rotate tube instead of pressing down and rotating cap
RE: Poor man's fork spring compressor tool?
Those idea's might work with a conventional fork, but on the '06 flht, the forks have a damper cartridge. After the fork tube plug is removed, and the spring is exposed, you need to compress the spring to remove the "jam nut" and release the spring from the fork tube.Still looking for an alternative.
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Road Master
Joined: May 2006
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From: Greater St Louis, MO
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RE: Poor man's fork spring compressor tool?
Dougbk,
I read your response, thought about it, watched the video again of the fork disassembly. I believe a person might be able to "muscle" the spring on a damper type fork and remove it. But to reassemble it, you would need four arms to compress the spring, hold the damper cartridge up, and thread the jam nut onto the damper all at the same time.
I read your response, thought about it, watched the video again of the fork disassembly. I believe a person might be able to "muscle" the spring on a damper type fork and remove it. But to reassemble it, you would need four arms to compress the spring, hold the damper cartridge up, and thread the jam nut onto the damper all at the same time.