My 'holding' tool is a broom handle with a sharpened end!

The purpose is to hold the damper rod in place whilst you undo the bolt at the base of the fork leg. With the broom handle you just wack it into the recess at the top of the damper rod, turn the fork upside down, press down on the the fork (which will be resting on the brrom handle sticking out the end) and undo the bolt.

The holding tool is just a special socket that fits in the recess on the end of the damper rod and goes on the end of an extension bar.

If you've managed to change the seals and get the damper rods out, then you've been lucky enough to manage without any special tools/broom handles! Have a look at the upper end of the damper rod and you'll see the square recess in the top where the special holding tool fits.

To aid retightening of the damper rod bolts, all you need to do is find/make something that is long enough to fit down the fork and fit into that recess.

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