special fork tool

[chuck hahn]

I want to make my own fork tool..the one with the nut that holds the insides so you can loosen the bottom bolt. I have a long rod to use as a shaft. I ned to know what size bolt head i need to fit into the end...

[rustybronco]

Is this for your 1000? then it should be 19MM.

[bonanzadave]

Gotta be on Cliffs info site....

[Sandy]

Use 1/2" ready rod about 2' long and double nut each end, one to hold with a wrench and one to slip inside the fork. 1/2" nuts take a 3/4" wrench which is also 19mm. I use a 2' rod so I can also put it in a vise if needed.

[hikermikem]

I want to make my own fork tool..the one with the nut that holds the insides so you can loosen the bottom bolt. I have a long rod to use as a shaft. I ned to know what size bolt head i need to fit into the end...

I think most of the forks are 19mm (or 3/4"), but I believe some smaller bikes (550?) use a smaller size.

[Billy Ricks]

There must be something special about everyone's forks. I've done a couple of sets of GS forks and a set of GSX-R forks. I never held the dampers with anything. Just pulled the bolt out of the bottom of the forks easy as pie. Reassembled without holding them too.

[tas850g]

Use 1/2" ready rod about 2' long and double nut each end, one to hold with a wrench and one to slip inside the fork. 1/2" nuts take a 3/4" wrench which is also 19mm. I use a 2' rod so I can also put it in a vise if needed.

This is what I use on the GSXR. Works well. Haven't had to work on the 79 forks yet.

[Octain]

There must be something special about everyone's forks. I've done a couple of sets of GS forks and a set of GSX-R forks. I never held the dampers with anything. Just pulled the bolt out of the bottom of the forks easy as pie. Reassembled without holding them too.

Yeah, with an air wrench.

[Billy Ricks]

Yeah, with an air wrench.

3/8" ratchet actually. You just unscrew the socket cap bolt out of the bottom of the forks.

[Nessism]

The hex on the bottom of the typical spark plug socket is 19mm. If you have some long 3/8" ratchet extensions it's an easy matter to stick the extension into the socket backwards and then stick the socket down into the forks to hold the damping rod. You need about 18" of extensions or so, although I haven't measured.

Salty_Monk (Dan) taught me this trick and it works great.

[sschering]

I just dug through the spark plug sockets with the 3/4" hex top and found one I could put on a socket extension backwards..

3/4"=19mm within a thousandth or so.

Works nice and easy

Edit:
Umm yeah what Nessim said..

or get this for $6

http://www.amazon.com/Titan-15666-Hex-Bit-Socket/dp/B004W7FOB2

Why do I find it funny that the 19mm costs a buck less?

http://www.amazon.com/Titan-19mm-Hex-Bit-Socket/dp/B004W7F6S8/ref=sr_1_6?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1304461937&sr=1-6

[Big T]

I prefer just using a bolt with a 19mm head X 40mm or so plus two nuts for the tools.

I use several extensions and a long Allen to break the bolt loose.

I've found that previous owners get a little heavy on the Locktite and the bolts doesn't want to break free without some BFM. That's why a prefer a relatively short bolt and extensions over a long rod.

I just did two sets of forks last Saturday and having my son hold the 18" breaker bar and giving it a good pull worked every time

BassCliff ran into the same issue not too long ago.

[Hammered]

3/8" ratchet actually. You just unscrew the socket cap bolt out of the bottom of the forks.

Yeah I did my 750 and the 650 without any issue same way.

[Sandy]

3/8" ratchet actually. You just unscrew the socket cap bolt out of the bottom of the forks.

Yes in perfect world this usually works provided there's no sludge on the threads or even worst thread sealer or loctite.

[SVSooke]

Done a couple of 3gen 750 forks with no holder in the legs.Just lucky?There was loctite IIRC.