How to lower forks?

[racefactory]

I have put 1 of the forks too far up through the triple tree.

It's very easy to bring the triple tree down obviously due to weight of the bike but not so the other way.

Without specialist jacks etc (just in home garage here) is it possible to get the triple tree up the forks? I've tried tugging hard as on front of bike but it won't move up at all.

[NinjaNanna]

run a rope through the frame somewhere and support the whole frontend weight from the rafters???

[george formby]

run a rope through the frame somewhere and support the whole frontend weight from the rafters???

Yup, take the weight off the forks, use a hoist or car jack or whatever & think about how not too topple the bike. Make sure the clamps on the fork, not forks, are loose but not too loose & you can gently knock the yoke upward with something soft against them like a bit of wood. Trick is no metal to metal to contact & be gentle. Personally I would drop the yokes on the other fork & revel in the quicker turn in.

[racefactory]

Thanks guys,

I just tried correcting the other one to match since it was only a mm but it slipped and now they are down way too far... like 1.5cm (I need to make them 6.5mm) .

My garage has no rafters or anything otherwise I would have tried hoisting it up. Fuck, why wasn't I patient and thought about this.

I'm guessing I'm going to need to hassle someone for a triple clamp stand now?

I dunno, can't think of anything else.

[racefactory]

I don't like the idea of putting it on a car jack not because it will topple but because something might break.

Will the sump take the weight or is it better to put it under the exhaust pipes? Shit sounds dodgy eh.

[george formby]

Thanks guys,

I just tried correcting the other one to match since it was only a mm but it slipped and now they are down way too far... like 1.5cm (I need to make them 6.5mm) .

My garage has no rafters otherwise I would have tried hoisting it up. Fuck, why wasn't I patient and thought about this.

I'm guessing I'm going to need to hassle someone for a triple clamp stand now?

I dunno, can't think of anything else.

If you can get a car jack underneath it would do the trick, you just need to get the weight off the forks not lift the wheel. Again use some wood between the jack & the bike. A glamorous assistant can pull back on the bars while the fork is held to help inch the yokes up but don't bounce it!
I found out the same way as you "how hard can it be? twiddle, loosen, bounce, BUGGER! ARSE.

[george formby]

I don't like the idea of putting it on a car jack not because it will topple but because something might break.

Will the sump take the weight or is it better to put it under the exhaust pipes? Shit sounds dodgy eh.

Not on the pipes but the sump should be fine, lift enough to extend the forks not hoist the front wheel. Use a bit of plank to spread the load & prevent scratching. It's not pleasant but worked for me when I had 200mm of forks poking out the clamps.

[racefactory]

hahah yeah, thanks man.

Ah yes, wheel does not need to be lifted, just weight supported you are right!

Ok will give the car jack and plank a go... shit me.

[george formby]

hahah yeah, thanks man.

Ah yes, wheel does not need to be lifted, just weight supported you are right!

Ok will give the car jack and plank a go... shit me.

A spare pair of hands would be of great help to you keeping things steady & supplying a bit of pull to your push or vice versa then passing you the Allen key which is just out of reach when you get the fork spot on.

[george formby]

I have a vivid picture of how this is going..

[racefactory]

Just waiting for assistant to come over now.

The sump is not going to break is it? If I am going to jack it by the sump it will have to be done on the plug because on this bike the sump is like a point with the bolt on the end. fuck this is annoying, need to get to work tomorrow on it.

[Tony.OK]

It should be a piece of piss dude, once ya mate turns up just have him put the sidestand down and standing on the same side just pull the bike onto the stand. Don't need to lift it clear but take enough weight off the front to push the fork down in the clamp.

Easiest to loosen the lower clamp first, then once fork leg is in right place just nip up the top clamp.

Don't overtighten them

[Kickaha]

I have a vivid picture of how this is going..

So do I, it involves him lying on the ground under his bike calling for help

[racefactory]

It should be a piece of piss dude, once ya mate turns up just have him put the sidestand down and standing on the same side just pull the bike onto the stand. Don't need to lift it clear but take enough weight off the front to push the fork down in the clamp.

Easiest to loosen the lower clamp first, then once fork leg is in right place just nip up the top clamp.

Don't overtighten them

Don't overtighten them? I thought these bolts should be torqued up hard as? What if the fork comes through and knocks my head off during a bump or hard braking lol?

[Tony.OK]

Don't overtighten them? I thought these bolts should be torqued up hard as? What if the fork comes through and knocks my head off during a bump or hard braking lol?

Nah mate, its easy to overtighten them and they can bind the forks from working properly.

The clamping surface area does most of the work, max 20 ft-lb is about right for a Kwaka