Royall f-ed up my forks....

[granny_rocket]

Hey Folks,
Im in a bit of a pickle here and need some help - quick!

Was trying to replace fork seals - should be easy, but no, its always an ordeal with me!

Anyway, the situation:
Removed forks from bike, loosened the allen screw, and pulled on inner shock tube to pull the seal out. They come apart with no problem - inner fork tube, bushings, washer and seal in all....

I clean everything out and go to put it back, but can't get the seal driven below the spring clip indent.....so I pull everything back out and notice what looks like a bearing race where the upper busing is supposed to sit - or so I thought!

Stupid me drives the upper bushing into the race without thinking (with the inner tube off mind you) and now I can't get the fork tube back into the housing because there's a bushing sitting in the race and the lower bushing can't get passed it!

WHAT DO I DO? i've comtemplated just buying "new" forks from a salvage yard but they want $300 - NO WAY!

I could take it to a shop, but any idea how much it'll cost to have them do they job? What if I just had them pull the bearing that's in there?

My road test (still don't have a license) is next week and the bike has to be inspected before then too!! ANY help is greatly appreciated!

-Al Conforti

[Anonymous]

Looks like you need to pull it apart again and replace the parts that you messed up. Sh!t happens - I've goobered up my fair share of jobs.

As for the driving test, see if you can borrow a friends bike.

[Anonymous]

Can you rig some sort of puller to it?

Can you rig some sort of puller to it? If you have any sort of edge to grab on too you might be able to get it with a puller. They type that have the revesible arms on them for grabing the inside edge of somthing.

[Anonymous]

what kind of bike do you have? I have forks from a '81 gs450 that I would probably sell pretty cheaply.

[granny_rocket]

can't rig a puller up to it....it'll probably score up the insides of the tube really bad!

I guess I forgot to mention, its a GS550 L
Here's what she looks like if it helps ya! (don't mind the chica's )

Please email me if they'll work - conf6366@students.rowan.edu!





Thanks SO much!
-Al

[Anonymous]

I have no idea if the forks from a gs450L will work on a 550. Anyone know? if so, I'll sell them for $100.

[Anonymous]

I'll buy you new forks if you set me up with the blonde standing in the back

[Anonymous]

Puller..

I have an idea here. I have used this technique to get a stuck pilot bearing out of a Mazda pickup truck. You will need a lathe and milling machine to make the puller. If you can't get access to a metal lathe or mill,, I can make this puller for you, but I'll need EXACT dimensions or it won't work.

The plan is to turn a disc about 1/8"-1/4" thick very near the exact diameter of the inside diameter of the fork tubes. You then grind opposite relief on both ends and a flatten the sides so they will slide through the bushings. You put a long bolt with full threads through a hole in the center. There are shoulders milled on the back of the disc to keep the head of the bolt from turning once it is engaged. The hole in the center is slotted so that you can put this now oval shaped disc into the fork tube sideways, toggle it straight and it will engage the bushing. You will then need a piece of tubing turned to fit over the end of the fork without getting in the way of this disc and the bushing which will be pulled out.

You put the disc in sideways with the bolt in the center. Once it is past the bushing, you toggle the disc to engage it behind the bushing. You put the tuning on the end of the fork, put a washer (if there isn't one welded in to the tubing) on the end of the tubing, put a nut on the bolt and start turning. It'll slide right out.

If you need this made, let me know and I'll give you my email so we can get all the dimensions and details worked out.

[GNAHT-2]

Dear Mr. Granny-Rocket (this is being a very strange name?),

I am not liking what I am seeing here. If I am correct, I am seeing a party in which minors are being invited, and we have evidence of alcohol being served at this party.

Also, is this what you are calling proper riding attire, what these women are wearing? I am hoping this is not what you are calling 'safety-gear'. I am not liking what I am seeing, and am undergoing major contemplation of whether you will be on my list of members being banished.

P.S. I may be able to be forgetting about this incident if you can be setting me up with the "lifeguard". Perhaps you can be making mention of me to her, of my status here in the GS community and my newly provided promotion to "Moderator-In-Training". And you can be letting her know that I am being quite the "ladies man"!!!!!!

[Rocky]

Someone has deffinitely created a MONSTER here.

[Anonymous]

I didnt see a bike in that picture :P

[Anonymous]

oh, the general rule on any forum is if you post a bike pic with girls on them there a minimum of 10 pics you have to post

[Anonymous]

oh, the general rule on any forum is if you post a bike pic with girls on them there a minimum of 10 pics you have to post

A subsection of that rule states the bike has to appear in only one photo.

[Anonymous]

Why is the girl in the background getting all the attention?

Why is the girl in the background getting all the attention? The one on the bike looks way better. Oh wait.... is that a ring on her finger?

[granny_rocket]

Dear Mr. Granny-Rocket (this is being a very strange name?),

I am not liking what I am seeing here. If I am correct, I am seeing a party in which minors are being invited, and we have evidence of alcohol being served at this party.

Also, is this what you are calling proper riding attire, what these women are wearing? I am hoping this is not what you are calling 'safety-gear'. I am not liking what I am seeing, and am undergoing major contemplation of whether you will be on my list of members being banished.

P.S. I may be able to be forgetting about this incident if you can be setting me up with the "lifeguard". Perhaps you can be making mention of me to her, of my status here in the GS community and my newly provided promotion to "Moderator-In-Training". And you can be letting her know that I am being quite the "ladies man"!!!!!!

Dear Mr GNAHT-2 (this also being a strange name), Granny Rocket refers to my Oldsmobile - who's motors are known as a rocket motor....the granny comes from the part that my car is a 4 door granny car - and its quite unusual to see a 4 door granny car with a beefed up v-8 and a cool paint job!

Now I can asure you that **everyone** was of age at this party! I would NEVER break such a law and allow ANYONE underage to have a beverage without proper identification! :roll:
As for their "safety-gear" I would have to say you are correct as that is NOT the proper riding attire! They refused to wear white t-shirts for the picture!

I'll have some words with the lifegaurd and see's what she's thinks, but for the most part I think they are all (unfortunately) taken.....and the worst part, is that im not one of them!


ANYWAY, to get back on topic!!! (before you really do kick me off the forum for not following topics)

Im bringing the forks and such to the local shop! Since they are all apart, they guy was really cool and quoted me with labor of 3/4 to a full hour to fix the problem AND re-assemble the forks the correct way!

Thanks for all the help! And the humor to lead the way!

-Al Conforti