Supporting the front end for getting forks out
 

Lads,

What are you using for the front end ?

Got a paddock stand for the rear and need the forks out for new springs.

Most importantly, where are you jacking to ? piece of wood under the headers ? or sump ?

Block of wood under the sump than the jack, as you lift though make sure the wheels on the jack are free to creep a bit.

I was wondering if there was enough room between the headers. I guess your answer means there is :)

thanks matey.

Hmmmm can't say that's going well. Using a car scissor jack and it's either trying to slide on the paddock stand or pushing the whole of the bike up, not the front end.

Have to wait till i get a trolley jack on it i think.

I've not worked on forks myself, but wouldn't it be easier to get the front up without the rear paddock stand & have something hold/weigh the back down while jacking up?

That may be the only option, however due to location and tie down points that may not be possible.

Springs have just arrived in the post too :(

Well that's a bit of a bummer.

Due to the centre of gravity with the bike on rear paddock stand it's not possible to jack it up to get the forks out. Whenever you try, the back end flexes and moves not just the front. The more you go, the more the back goes as the bike seems slightly front heavy at the point where the jack is. Nowhere really to get it further forward to assist.

2 options then really.
1. Tiedowns from the back grabrails to the floor/tie point
2. Hang it from the rafters with tiedowns. (Rafters that i don't have lol.

Due to location, option 1 seems about the easiest. Sadly.. i'm not here for a couple of days now http://www.therevcounter.com/customs...milies/sad.gif

Good news is... Fork springs have arrived from Germany

Put the bike on a crate of some sort, high enough for you to work on the forks...

http://www.xt660.com/showthread.php?t=630

Supported on ? the Headers ? I can easily do that as i have a metal toolbox about the right height.... but i didn't think resting it on the headers would be a good plan.

Sorry, for some reason I thought you had a bash plate ;)

You can rest it ont he headers if needs be but its not really the most advisable thing to do. I cant see it doing much damage as long as you not bouncy about on the bike while its up there and its supported/stablized from not falling over.

If you do this i would suggest loosening all the bolts before hand to make sure you not needing to push down too much and un stablize the bike while its up in the air.

http://www.xt660.com/site/files/imag...s1.preview.jpg

I must say your method would trouble me greatly Kev. Didn't get a chance today as i was taking my parents to various hospital/doctors so will be tomorrow.

Any thoughts on which way round the springs go ? tighter end at the top ?

Works fine for me.

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa202/kevxtx/2-8.jpg

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa202/kevxtx/8.jpg

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa202/kevxtx/7.jpg

Ooooh interesting you have it jacked up on the mounting bracket...

Well that's the fork springs swapped out. New ones thrown in and new fork oil. Not tested it yet but will try and get a ride at lunchtime :)

Out of interest... i've tried it WITH Kevs fork spacer... be interesting to see how it rides... i will decide whether to take them out afterwards :)

Did you measure the spring lengths? All the aftermarket springs that I know of are 20 to 30mm shorter than the OEM Yamaha springs, the spacers would bring the ride height back to standard.

The springs are approx 50mm shorter than standard Yams... So with your spacer in i guess they come back about standard ride height. The forks do come with a spacer of their own, but i wasn't sure when fitting if i needed that or not... i guess in hindsight maybe so?

You can definately feel the increased stiffness when bouncing up and down on the forks in the car-park, of that there's no doubt.

Well i'd love to sit here and say "WOW that totally transforms the bike" but to be honest, it doesn't. It improves it, it makes the front end a bit stiffer and prehaps more responsive, but the difference isn't night and day, it's dusk and early evening.
Whilst i'm not unhappy with the improvement.. i'm not sure �100 (including oil) is really justified on it. It's possible when i ride again next week and push it a little more on the more bumpy stuff i'll notice a greater benefit, the roads today were quite smooth and nicely surfaced... But.... i'm happy i've done it, happy i've tried it and will leave as it is.

So would you fit the 50mm spacers instead for a try Kev ? Or not bother ?

If the springs are 50mm shorter you should fit 50mm spacers, to keep the same ride height.

Hmmmm OK buddy. I guess that's a job for Monday then lol

Apologies to Kev... Sidestand and trolley jack... REALLY easy. Don't think i'd have fancied it for taking forks out, but removing caps/spacers and refitting them was a doddle.

WAs bored at home so took my little man for a bit of spannering. 15 mins job :)

Can you use two sets of spacers in the suspension or will cause other problems? When i put the spacer mod in my front end all i did was keep it on the side stand, then put it in the one on the right which then takes presure of the left hand one, well it work that way for me.

You need to fit a spacer or spacers to = the difference between the two spring lengths

So i went back to the standard springs with Kev spacers... If you ask me, i was right (for personal preference), whilst i accept the other springs are 'better' the difference is marginal and to be honest, it makes such a small difference most of the time.. it's just irrelevent.

I do really adore my xtx though :)

Front Forks
 

Can anyone help with the end size of the Damper rod tool # 90890-01326 ? inorder to seperate the inner fork tube from the outer. peering down the tube dosen't give any indercation. Thankyou Cheers Lahami

Use a air gun on the bottom bolt with the spring still intact & it will come apart. I have done this many times.

Sorry I do not know the size.

I was told by an old bike mechanic, if you need to seperate the 2 fork legs but can't get anything on the head of the bolt on the inside, to use a broom handle and hammer it in!

It works too! When I did the fork seals on my old Honda CG, I needed to pull them apart so I just got an old broom handle, hammered into the head of the nut at the bottom and it come apart.

:eek2: