Fork Disassembly

[Gord]

I need some help with my 73 WR250 Forks. Can anyone give me some step by step instructions on getting them apart?
Removed the caps, emptied the oil, but the 6mm hex bolt just spins freely. Will an impact gun help loosen it or do I need a special tool?
Thanks

 

[oldhuskychuck]

spcial socket is needed to hold the inside of the tube, i made one from a standard socket, look down the tube with a flash light...youll see it.

 

[Gord]

My eyesight sucks. I can see down the tube, but not sure what I'm looking at. Does anyone know what the head of the bolt is .... or looks like? What size socket did you use to make the tool?
Thanks

 

[Joe Chod]

Jam a wood broom handle down it...that works many times too. Best to loosen before dissassembly of forks as often the fluid and spring are enough to stop it from spinning.

 

[fran...k.]

I don't have anything that old however the ones I have don't need a tool if you break it loose while the spring and cap are on. Do you see somethinng which sort of resembles a very wide screwdriver blade? My tool is a socket with about half of the end gound off to leave two prongs which grab that big screwdriver like thing. Well it is big in width not how far it sticks up.

 

[Gord]

On my second look down the tube, I see that it is a circle with 2 flats cut out of it. If I take an old socket that fits losely in the tube, I can cut a wide path out of the bottom and make that work.
In the mean time I might try holding it with something else (broom handle) and hitting it with an impact wrench. And then again, I just remembered I don't have a long 6mm hex wrench with socketed end to put in the impact gun. DOOOHH!!

 

[retro rocket]

Gord,

See attached images. All measurement in millimeters.

Hope this helps, good luck.

Tom

 

[Gord]

Are you kidding me???
This is exactly why I joined this forum and what forums are about!!!
Tom, Thanks so much, Gord

 

[firecrackerkid]

Retro Rocket,
Second what Gord said. Thank you for the pics, looks like about 3000 words!

 

[retro rocket]

Gord, Firecrackerkid,

My pleasure

My only other advise is that there is more gunk in the bottom of those fork legs than you would think (it does not come out when you drain the oil) - Once stripped apart stand them up in a solvent/detergent to soak out the sludge at the bottom of the fork tubes...

Tom

 

[luvwoods]

I've also found that using a shotgun barrel cleaning tool works great to clean the inside surfaces of the upper sliding tube and lower fork bottom. Most kits have a round wire brush you attach to the handle; wrap a cloth rag around the wire brush, dunk it in gasoline and clean away. Works great to remove that crusted on old slime! Always remember to keep turing the tool clockwise or the tool will unscrew in the middle of the tube. If the rag is to tight is very difficult to remove once apart. Don't ask how I know that.....