'85 GS700e restoration

[GateKeeper]

call a friend, or grow another arm with a hand.....

[soundsource]

Hmmm, GateKeeper I'll think I'll go with your first suggestion. The second may end up taking too long... Thanks as always!

[GateKeeper]

after you get it out, see if you can find a snap ring, or another wire of the same thickness and bend some ears in it, for easier removal

[Good Times]

I wanted to see another creative use of a coat hanger!

[soundsource]

after you get it out, see if you can find a snap ring, or another wire of the same thickness and bend some ears in it, for easier removal

Now that, good sir, is a thoroughly solid suggestion!

[soundsource]

I wanted to see another creative use of a coat hanger!

Haha Good Times! I'm sure I can find another couple of uses for it before I'm finished! Maybe we could start a new thread: "innovative uses for coathangers and other bodges"

[Billy Ricks]

I'm not sure a circlip will fit in the groove right, the stock clip is a thin wire clip. It's easier to get the caps off with the fork assembled on the bike and fully extended. Your caps be frozen it place. I had one once that seized in place and I had to drill through it then cut from the center out in several places to knock the chunks out. No amount of banging would free it up. Try a hammer and drift to knock yours loose. If you see them budge with the impact you should be able to use a big a$$ screwdriver under your palm and your hand against your chest. Use your body weight to force the cap down. Have a shop towel or padding between your hand and the screwdriver. Use a small screwdriver to get under the clip and out of its groove. It's not easy but one guy can do it. If you have to pull the triple and at least have the tubes in them so you have more control.

[soundsource]

I'm not sure a circlip will fit in the groove right, the stock clip is a thin wire clip. It's easier to get the caps off with the fork assembled on the bike and fully extended. Your caps be frozen it place. I had one once that seized in place and I had to drill through it then cut from the center out in several places to knock the chunks out. No amount of banging would free it up. Try a hammer and drift to knock yours loose. If you see them budge with the impact you should be able to use a big a$$ screwdriver under your palm and your hand against your chest. Use your body weight to force the cap down. Have a shop towel or padding between your hand and the screwdriver. Use a small screwdriver to get under the clip and out of its groove. It's not easy but one guy can do it. If you have to pull the triple and at least have the tubes in them so you have more control.

Thanks for the detailed response Billy - I'm thinking I've got two options here:

1) Fix up some sort of jig in my vice that can keep the spring compressed while i deal with the cap or

2) Just paint and polish what I can then do the caps and replace the oil once the forks are back on the bike...

Which do you think is the best approach? Thanks in advance...

[jwhelan65]

Thanks for getting back to me Billy! So is it best to clean and paint with the hoses still on the shock? I only lost a dribble of oil when I cracked it open...

Also I've heard a lot on this forum about Hagon shocks - I've seen a couple of Bandit 1200 Hagons going quite cheap, would they fit or be close to it?

Hagon is the way to go if you want something that is of high quality and bolts in like OEM.

[Billy Ricks]

You don't want the forks compressed, you want them fully extended. If you can clamp them without damaging the tubes then that would work. If the triples are still on the bike you could just clamp them back in the triples. If the triples are off the bike then I'd mount them in the triples just so I have more control over the forks.

[soundsource]

Hagon is the way to go if you want something that is of high quality and bolts in like OEM.

Thanks jwhelan65, and thanks again for your rebuild thread! I've bookmarked it and along with tejasmud's thread I feel I've got a good standard to aim for (but a much smaller budget ).

[soundsource]

You don't want the forks compressed, you want them fully extended. If you can clamp them without damaging the tubes then that would work. If the triples are still on the bike you could just clamp them back in the triples. If the triples are off the bike then I'd mount them in the triples just so I have more control over the forks.

Billy you got any plans to visit England over the next couple of weeks? I think I'd have this baby up and running in no time if you were around!

Thanks again for some solid advice. I'll put the triples on like you say then use the vice with some wood blocks and some old rags I reckon. I'll try and get started on this tomorrow afternoon...

[Billy Ricks]

Billy you got any plans to visit England over the next couple of weeks? I think I'd have this baby up and running in no time if you were around!

My wife would love that, she was born in Mildenhall. We visited London for a couple of days six years ago when we visited her family in France. If you want a bad impression of England just visit London. We should have spent our time in the country elsewhere.

[soundsource]

My wife would love that, she was born in Mildenhall. We visited London for a couple of days six years ago when we visited her family in France. If you want a bad impression of England just visit London. We should have spent our time in the country elsewhere.

I know what you mean Billy! You can tell your wife it's not safe to come home just yet as they're making the A11 into dual carriageway all the way from Mildenhall through Elveden Forest (I and probably she thought it would never happen!).

Also ask her ha' ya' got a loit gel? To explain, we have a shared local vernacular. I was born in Halesworth, Suffolk and lived in Norwich, Norfolk for most of my life. Used to service the Mildenhall telephone exchange back when I was a sparky...

Are you ex-USAF? There's a big base in Mildenhall... If you were there then you'll understand the previous paragraph as well!

[Billy Ricks]

Are you ex-USAF? There's a big base in Mildenhall... If you were there then you'll understand the previous paragraph as well!

Her dad was stationed there. She was born in '61 and I imagine was gone before school age. From there they came back to the states for 10 years or so before being stationed at SHAPE in Belgium to be close to her Mom's family. I could have enjoyed London if people had been a bit more helpful. We took one of the double-decker tours which was supposed to last about 3 hours. Traffic was so bad that 6 hours later we got off of the bus and left for Dover. First we let the Hard Rock Cafe rape us on two sandwiches and soft drinks. Even the first evening in Rochester was more enjoyable than London.